Every one of the twelve women in the book wrestled with challenges and triumphed. In fact, the book includes an entire section devoted to these personal life lessons. Women include Abigail Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Anne Bradstreet, Margaret Fuller, Edmonia Lewis, Judith Sargent Murray, Elizabeth Peabody, Sarah Parker Remond, Maria Stewart, Lucy Stone, and Phyllis Wheatley.