Name: What is Success? A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities from Women in the World Around the World
SKU: 1-0364-5709-5
Availability: InStock

What is Success? A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities from Women in the World Around the World

Edited By: Rana Dajani

£66.99

This book challenges conventional definitions of success. It argues that essential human work like caregiving is deeply undervalued in modern economies. By re-evaluating what we celebrate, this work calls for systemic change to build more inclusive and sustainable societies.

This timely and thought-provoking book challenges conventional definitions of success—wealth, fame, and power—by proposing a more inclusive, human-centered perspective. Drawing inspiration from scientific breakthroughs and cross-cultural analysis, it explores how societal norms and materialism distort our understanding of value, particularly in relation to women’s roles in work and caregiving.
Despite high educational attainment, women remain underrepresented in the workforce, with motherhood further compounding the challenge. The book argues that caregiving, deeply rooted in human evolution, is undervalued in modern economies.
By re-evaluating what we celebrate as “success,” this work calls for systemic change that embraces biological diversity and nurtures social equity. Scholars of gender studies, sociology, and development—as well as policymakers and advocates—will find powerful insights into how shifting our values can lead to more inclusive and sustainable societies.

Rana Dajani is a leading molecular biologist and social entrepreneur, known for her groundbreaking work on epigenetics and the impact of trauma on refugees. A professor at the Hashemite University in Jordan and Yidan Global Fellow at Harvard, USA, she has shaped science policy across the Arab world and served on global advisory boards, including the United Nations. As founder of We Love Reading, an award-winning literacy initiative in over 70 countries, she champions education, equity, and grassroots change. Dajani has held visiting positions at Harvard, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Cambridge, all based in the USA, and is the author of Five Scarves, which challenged conventional ideas of success and inspired a global conversation about equity and potential.

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