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When Ann Hood was a flight attendant in the late 1970s, airlines were only 

a few years past using blatant sex appeal

But the recent college graduate didn’t see that at the time. She just saw the glamour and freedom that could be hers, if she could complete the training, follow the rules and maintain her original weight. 

,” the novelist writes, “I worked in one of the most demanding, sexist, exciting, glorious jobs a person can have. I was a flight attendant.” 

This week, Hood joined MPR News host Kerri Miller on Big Books and Bold Ideas for a conversation about her years traveling the world in a small silver tube, and why she didn’t recognize the sexism of the industry when she was in it. 

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on 

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Ann Hood was a recent college grad in 1978 who couldn’t imagine a better way to see the world - and gather experiences for future writing - than being a flight attendant. Her new memoir, “Fly Girl,” chronicles her days flying the friendly and not-so-friendly skies. 

Novelist Ann Hood recounts her days as a flight attendant in 'Fly Girl'

A photo of a woman and book cover side by side.

Novelist Ann Hood recounts her days as a flight attendant in 'Fly Girl'

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