Books in Why in the World? series

Many women have broke the glass ceiling of sports, including tennis star Serena Williams, race car driver Danica Patrick, and soccer player Abby Wambach. These women have fought hard to reach the summit of their sports, and many women in sports continue to fight to be taken seriously or to be paid the same as men. This text examines female athletes, their struggles, as well as representations of women in sports. It includes a glossary, a list of organizations for women in sports, and additional suggestions for research.

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, lived a life of luxury in the Palace of Versailles. But in 1789, her country erupted into violent revolution. Everywhere, the 1700s were a time of turmoil. New scientific ideas transformed people's understanding of the world, and prompted explorers to set sail in search of more knowledge. New political ideas led to new forms of government, and in America to independence from Britain. International trade spread goods and people around the globe. Using paintings, manuscripts and pictures of contemporary objects, this book tells the story of Marie Antoinette and gives an account of the world in her time. To help the reader find their way about the book, each chapter has been divided into seven sections. Each section describes a different part of the world, and is headed by a colour bar which indicates which areas are relevant in the text below. There is a time line giving an outline of world events in Leonardo da Vinci's time, and a map which shows some of the most significant places in this book.

Societal norms have placed large burdens on how women perceive themselves, and how they want others to perceive them. This has led to some distressing statistics, with up to 10 percent of college-aged women in the United States suffering from an eating disorder. While individual women can focus on cultivating a healthy body image, it is important for young women to analyze how the media and others encourage unhealthy perceptions of what women's bodies are supposed to look like. A glossary, a "For More Information" section, and additional avenues of research are provided to guide readers to better understand the importance of a healthy female body image.