Gloria Steinem’s final autobiography, An Unexpected Life, soared to the top of the New York Times bestseller list—a deeply poignant achievement for a volume published mere weeks following her passing on September 2, 2026.

Originally slated to interview Gloria regarding the book on October 7, her death prompted a profound period of reflection. Drawing on more than thirty years of friendship, mentorship, and shared conversations, the focus shifted toward preserving and amplifying the lasting insights she intended to impart to the world.

Within An Unexpected Life, Gloria revisits the defining relationships and experiences of her journey while contemplating the unfinished work ahead. To honor that vision, a diverse circle of prominent activists, authors, longtime collaborators, and cultural leaders who knew her well were invited to share the passages and lessons that resonate most in today's landscape.

Their reflections provide an intimate look into Gloria's final literary work, highlighting themes of courage, active listening, shared humanity, and collective mobilization that continue to light the path forward.

Featuring insights from: Jimmie Briggs, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Anita Hill, Carol Jenkins, Pat Mitchell, Jessica Neuwirth, Ky Polanco, Tony Porter, Danielle Robay, Marlo Thomas, and Jamia Wilson.

Marlo Thomas | Award-Winning Actor, Bestselling Author, and Activist

Gloria possessed a unique talent for translating purpose into powerful imagery. In An Unexpected Life, she evokes the concept of the circle—a symbol that deeply resonated.

She maintained that truly human societies are structured around circles rather than hierarchies, harkening back to ancient villages gathering around campfires to share stories, resolve disputes, and dream together. Gloria viewed face-to-face communication as the most peaceful and egalitarian method for bridging divides, completely devoid of elevated podiums or desks, and far more compassionate than anger or conflict.

Recalling the consciousness-raising sessions held in Gloria’s living room during the 1970s, a vital part of her legacy lives on in the purposeful actions born from those gatherings. In a final, meaningful gesture, she bequeathed her brownstone apartment to ensure such vital dialogues could endure, offering a timeless blueprint for living fairly and authentically: looking at one another eye to eye.

Carol Jenkins | Emmy-Winning Journalist, Author, and Equality Advocate

Near the very beginning of her final book, Gloria explicitly states her ultimate objective: “I would be happy if my words here contribute to each reader finding a unique life that also has universal value.”

Reading this feels like the ultimate summary of her philosophy. Having carved out a remarkably distinct existence, she wished the exact same fulfillment for others. Regardless of individual circumstances, the core message remains clear: discover your identity, declare it proudly, and meet others wherever they are.

In An Unexpected Life, this philosophy shines brightest as she revisits her childhood. Confronting poverty, distress, neglect, and the heavy burden of caring for a parent at a young age, she had every right to harbor bitterness. Instead, she chose to describe her parents simply as being “big on hope, but short on cash.” True to form, Gloria herself remained overflowing with hope.

After underlining those words, a folded piece of paper—folded just as her mother taught her during childhood into the shape of a reporter’s notebook—became a physical repository for that thought, serving as a guiding compass left behind in her final publication.

Anita Hill | Law Professor, Author, and Activist

An Unexpected Life serves as a clarion call, urging all who knew Gloria Steinem to remain courageous and hopeful throughout their lives. Reflecting on her upbringing highlights Gloria’s enduring conviction that “the most important thing for [her] mother was belief and behavior in the democracy of the future.”

Sharing a similar age demographic, Gloria’s mother and my own both held a fierce faith that their children would actively participate in a future democracy far superior to the realities of the early 20th century. Betraying the disappointments of the present to wager on tomorrow requires immense courage and unyielding hope. Gloria placed that exact wager through compassionate advocacy, ultimately proving victorious in her unwavering belief that shared humanity is the bedrock of true democracy.

Gloria earned every bit of the extraordinary life she lived and generously shared with the world, leaving us the vital responsibility of carrying her message forward.

Pat Mitchell | Award-Winning Journalist, Producer, and Media Executive

Meeting Gloria Steinem in 1974 as a young television producer in Boston with a bold ambition—launching an all-day broadcast entirely for, by, and about women—felt daunting. My employer conditioned approval on securing Gloria's participation, a figure I admired deeply but had never met.

To my astonishment, despite her national prominence and my complete anonymity, she accepted my invitation, traveling to Boston alongside Florynce Kennedy and other movement icons to address more than 25,000 local women.

That experience cemented a foundational lesson: building a movement requires us to genuinely show up for one another. Conversations with Gloria and Flo Kennedy that day sparked a lifelong conviction that women achieve unstoppable momentum through mutual support.

An Unexpected Life illustrates how deeply Gloria’s own path was shaped by nurturing relationships, proving that lasting social change begins with the simple act of showing up for your peers.

Jimmie Briggs | Documentary Storyteller, Writer, and Advocate

As a writer and activist managing health challenges in early middle age, Gloria’s perspective struck a deep chord: “Even painful events can be grist for the mill of understanding and for writing… The more meaningful measure might be: What did I learn?”

Despite personal hardships and witnessing widespread social turmoil—particularly during her formative post-college years in India—Gloria maintained an enduring gratitude for her journey. That perspective is profoundly vital amid today's poly-crises, where cynicism and despair so easily take root.

Her life's work reminds those in contemporary and future struggles to remain resolute, undeterred, and persistent in the ongoing pursuit of collective liberation and healing.

Danielle Robay | Journalist, Host, and Endowed Fellow in Media, Culture and Feminist Studies

“I never learned how to ‘orate,’” Gloria documented, “but I did learn something even more valuable: how to listen.” Despite being among the most quoted figures of her era, she valued active listening above all else.

Whether sitting by campfires in Indian villages or hosting living room talking circles, she understood that movements ignite the moment someone shares their truth and another responds with shared recognition. Cultivating that level of humility requires shedding ego, approaching curiosity not as a persuasion tactic, but as a genuine form of respect.

In an era defined by endless broadcasting and minimal listening, Gloria’s legacy reminds us that true transformation begins the moment we truly hear one another.

Jamia Wilson | Activist, Writer, and Executive Editor

In 2004, while preparing Planned Parenthood organizers for the March for Women’s Lives, a 23-year-old version of myself sought Gloria’s guidance amidst systemic betrayals by leaders of color. Her response sharpened my focus toward organizing and actionable solidarity.

Editing An Unexpected Life brought those lessons full circle. Gloria’s reminder that “ideas change history” and that “systems of dominance are rooted together, and must be uprooted together” remains a guiding light. Emphasizing that people connect “not as mentors and mentees, but as offers of unique value,” she continually reinforced the principle that we are linked, not ranked.

Jessica Neuwirth | Cofounder of Equality Now and the ERA Coalition

Capturing Gloria’s vibrant essence, An Unexpected Life highlights timeless truths: “Kindness is the most important quality on earth,” and “There is nothing more basic or radical than telling the truth and listening to others do so.”

When a shy, young advocate introduced the concept of creating an Amnesty International for women to end human rights abuses in 1992, Gloria listened intently before responding with characteristic grace: “That sounds like a good idea. How can I help?” Her immediate willingness to lend her platform helped launch Equality Now, cementing a legacy defined by profound kindness and unwavering support.