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

A photo of a woman and book cover side by side.
Remember when air travel was glamorous – and often, blatantly sexist? Novelist Ann Hood recounts her days as a TWA flight attendant in her new memoir, “Fly Girl.”
Photo courtesy of Beowulf Sheehan. Book cover courtesy W.W. Norton.

When Ann Hood was a flight attendant in the late 1970s, airlines were only a few years past using blatant sex appeal to sell tickets.

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.

In her new memoir, “Fly Girl,” 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.

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Guest:

  • Ann Hood is the New York Times best-selling author of several novels. Her newest book, “Fly Girl,” is a memoir about her years as a flight attendant.

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

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