The appendix alone ("The burning times") alone makes this book a must-by. It's a very clear, engaging and extremely moving account of the many years that women were called "witches" and murdered in the most gruesome manner. Burning alive was a favorite method, thus the title of the appendix. The entire scam of labeling women witches was done to remove them from positions of power. For example, women who were midwives, healers ("doctors" but not called that at the time) and/or had a substantial amount of knowledge regarding the healing properties of various plants were said to be in league with the "Devil." Men tagged them witches, killed them, and created universities which women were not allowed to attend. Thus men seized control of a very powerful and very economically profitable industry.