Bodies and Souls: The Century Project

Book Description

Viewed in exhibitions by over 100,000 people across the continent--now a book! Frank Cordelle'ss work is an inspiring series of nude photographic portraits accompanied by personal statements. The subjects are more than 90 girls and women aged 0 to nearly 100 and of very diverse shapes, sizes, and conditions. They also write powerfully about their bodies and experiences.

Customer Reviews:

Bodies and Souls, The Century Project.......2007-09-27

It's hard to call this a book, as it is an experience of a lifetime.
If everyone would openly talk, violence would be drastically reduced. I am sorry to the brave women in this book who were harmed by someone's violence. The wowen are a testimony to courage. Frank's courage, as well, for following his heart and soul. As, art it is a monumental master peice. A must experience for all those who have suffered from hiding, secrets, and sexual violation.

Incredible! Powerful! Life-Affirming!.......2007-07-19

This is an incredibly powerful book I wish everyone could own. My 15 year old daughter and I read it together and it the experience was unforgettable! The photographs paired with the real, raw stories of these girls, young women and women opened up a dialog between my daughter and I that could not have happened in any other setting. This book looks at bodies and the lives behind them with a sense of dignity and truth that you rarely find.
Some images and stories may be disturbing and/or inappropriate for younger children, but for me this book was a powerful way to see body image in a healthy light for me and my daughter.

For my daughter.......2007-07-19

I bought it for my 14 year old daughter who at first thought it was 'yucky' but later appreciated the stories that accompanied the photos. Great job of using pictures to paint the story of challenges that so many women continue to overcome.

bodies and souls: the century project.......2007-06-30

The powerful images and stories in this book are empowering and educational. This book is an antidote to the media-generated myths surrounding women's bodies, depicting the truth, instead of fabrication. These are real people and real stories. I recommend it highly to anyone's mother, daughter or sister.

Reality.......2007-05-15

Frank Cordelle's " The Century Project" is a remarkable work of female nudity and perception,concept and composition.It's a revelation of humanity.

Women: Images & Realities, A Multicultural Anthology

Average customer rating:

Aishe Berger Is a Wonderful Poet
Feminists buy this book

Women: Images & Realities, A Multicultural Anthology
Amy Kesselman , Lily D McNair , and Nancy Schniedewind
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Feminist Theory | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0073127647

Book Description

This best-selling anthology is a unique introduction to feminism and women’s studies. It presents a multidisciplinary collection of academic essays and analyses, personal narratives, and fiction and poetry about women’s lives. The selections illustrate the variety of women’s experiences, primarily in the United States, considering both commonalities and differences among women and appreciating women’s diverse approaches to living and fostering change.

Customer Reviews:

Aishe Berger Is a Wonderful Poet.......2005-02-26

There are so many wonderful pieces in this collection, but my favorite is Aishe Berger's poem Nose Is a Country...I Am the Second Generation. She deserves to be read and re-read. Buy the book, if only to read her work!

Feminists buy this book.......1999-04-26

I originally read this book for a women studies class at SUNY New Paltz. Here I am two years later, unable to find my original buying it again. It is a helpful book for all women studies courses, and an excellent book for one's own life, using personal essays relating to women's issues.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

This is not a new book
YOU CAN'T FEEL FAT -- BECAUSE FAT IS NOT A FEELING...
incredible
Genuine connection heals.
A Good Read for Those Struggling with Body Image

Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds from Now
Jessica Weiner
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Eating Disorders | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Drug Dependency | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Self-Esteem | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Eating Disorders | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Applied Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 141693538X

Book Description

Did you know the language you speak is as important as the food you eat?

Whether you're a size 2, 12, or 22, it's considered normal to hate your body. Society practically encourages it. But this discontent is really just a way of masking deeper issues such as insecurity, low self-esteem, or a longing for love and acceptance. By focusing on what others tell you are your shortcomings, you miss countless opportunities to feel connected, sexy, and powerful.

Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds from Now brings good news: By changing your thoughts, language, and actions, you can truly begin to love and appreciate your body today. In this book, acclaimed author and motivational speaker Jessica Weiner provides real solutions to real problems and helps women everywhere begin to decode the Language of Fat while discovering how to feel good in the here and now. With quizzes, tips, and tools, Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds from Now offers a step-by-step guide for creating a more fulfilling and positive life. You'll feel better about your relationships, your job, your family, your friends, and yes, even your body!

Download Description

"For any woman who has bonded with a stranger by complaining about how fat she feels, here is a thoughtful and inspiring guide to breaking the cycle of body criticism and creating a powerful and healthy self-image. Do I Look Fat in This? brings good news: Life doesn't begin five pounds from now. In this book, acclaimed author and speaker Jessica Weiner provides real solutions to real problems, from surviving a closet meltdown when you can't find anything to wear, to how to cope with being bombarded by images of perfect-looking models. With quizzes, guides, tools, and tips, Do I Look Fat in This? offers a step-by-step plan for creating a more fulfilling and positive life. You'll feel better about your job, your relationship, your family, your friends -- and most important, yourself.

Customer Reviews:

This is not a new book .......2007-03-13

I loved Jessica Weiner's books A Very Hungry Girl and Do I Look Fat In This. Therefore, when I saw she had a "new" book out, I immediately ordered it from Amazon without paying attention to details. Please be aware that if you already own Do I Look Fat In This, you do not need to order Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds From Now; this is the same book with a different title and a new forward. So now I own two copies of this book with different covers, but I don't mind so much because it is filled with wonderful information for not-slim women like me. Guess I must have needed to re-read it, huh?

YOU CAN'T FEEL FAT -- BECAUSE FAT IS NOT A FEELING..........2006-10-23

If you're tired of dieting, this may be the book for you. Jess's book is a breakthrough experience for anyone who has struggled with self-appearance and self-esteem....and isn't that most of us. She believes that by focusing on what others tell you are your shortcomings-- you miss opportunities to feel connected, sexy and powerful. Whether you're a size 2 , 12 or 22 or beyond-- you can benefit from Jess's words of wisdom. The motivational speaker, author and self-described "actionist" versus Activist...writes in plain English and tosses in some great motivational quotes from famous people and some fun facts about self approval and more. Twelve chapters plus an afterword are included..and the chapters are fun to read-- get this even if you don't have the time to read it-- just scan it and you'll benefit -- I promise...ANyway the chapters range from Decoding the Language of Fat...to the Famous or should I say infamous question most women ask daily "Do I look Fat in This? to "I Feel Fat" to If I were Thinner, He'd Love me" to Thunder Thighs Run in my Family to Ch 6-- I'd be so happy if I looked like a Celebrity to 7) Once I lose some weight..... to 8) All of my Friends are not and I'm not...9) But I'm jsut trying to be healthy to 11) [...] 12) Sorry I don't speak that language. Quizes, roleplaying experiences and fun quizes are interspersed with TAKE ACTION steps...Probably the most important thought though is that YOU CAN"T FEEL FAT -- because fat is not a feeling-- and if you read that section alone (I don't want to steal her thunder with her response to this) ...you'll benefit greatly...AN amazing lady and a fun, easy-to-read book that's great for girls above 12, teens, college chicks and women of any age...great to get this before the holiday parties start! Fun birthday gift...

incredible.......2006-06-28

I can't begin to describe my difficulties of growing into the body I am going to have as a woman, but I don't have to because Jessica did it for it for me. There are very few ways to describe how it feels to read "Do I look fat in this?" except to say it's freeing. As I turned the pages I would eat up every word & little by little i could breathe easier.
Jessica is the start of something amazing that i want to be a part of!!

"She wins who calls herself beautiful and challenges the world to change tp truely see her" - Naomi Wolf

Genuine connection heals........2006-05-11

I have been a psychotherapist for about as long as Jessica has been on the planet and a writer longer than that. From both of these vantage points I applaud this excellent book. Most of all, Jessica is honest and vulnerable in what she has to share and teach and it is that kind of genuine connection that really helps people heal. Buy 2 copies; you'll want to give one away.

A Good Read for Those Struggling with Body Image.......2006-02-23

This is a good book for young women struggling with body image and self-loathing. Those suffering from an eating disorder often feel alone and isolated - this will help them to know that they are not alone. The book sends the message of learning to accept themselves and reject the unattainable quest for perfectionism.

Average customer rating:

no fear
A Knock(er) Out!
Too bad I can't rate this book 6 stars
Entertaining and Interesting!

Stacked: A 32DDD Reports from the Front
Susan Seligson
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Anatomy | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1596911174
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Book Description

What is it about breasts—or if, you prefer, bazoombas, melons, Dolly Partons, or breastasauri—that inspires such fascination? No one is even sure why women have breasts when not pregnant or nursing, but start a conversation about them, Susan Seligson discovered, and every woman, man, child, and drag queen has something to say. In Stacked, this intrepid 32DDD writer takes us on a journey through a culture where breasts have come to stand for all that is woman. Seligson introduces us to the proud owners of the world’s largest augmented breasts; crusaders for the right to parade bare-chested in public; and women pining for larger breasts or smaller ones, who may resort to surgery or stranger fixes (breast-enhancing gum? giant suction cups?) to get the breasts of their dreams. She relates the history of the bra and takes us on a quest for the perfect one. She explores the thinking of surgeons who do hundreds of breast implants a year, academics suspicious of our changing standards of femininity, and the editor of Busty Beauties magazine. And she writes throughout with the wisdom and humor of a woman who knows what it is to wield body parts so powerful they can make men crash cars.

Customer Reviews:

no fear.......2007-07-30

There's no point in repeating the other reviewers' praises. Suffice it to say that they're right. I have just two things to add. First, setting the subject matter aside for a moment, this is a great example of how to construct a series of articulate, graceful, and witty essays. Second, as you read, you'll come to admire how carefully Seligson maintains her tone throughout - she wryly accepts the reality of her own body and the attention it gets; she enjoys (and is sometimes amazed by) the quirks of her fellow human beings, endowed or not; and she centers every observation with cheery humanity. It's never smarmy, never too-cute. Don't be embarrassed to be seen reading it (and laughing) on the subway.

A Knock(er) Out!.......2007-03-18

When I got this book in my grubby little hands I thought, "Great! A book on two of my top five favorite subjects!" I could direct my focus entirely on breasts -- even in a public -- and appear to be improving my mind. The only problem with this plan is that an intellectual with his nose buried in a book rarely laughs out loud, and certainly not as much as I did.
By the end of the section that categorizes all of the slang terms for breasts, you might think Seligson has decided to skip any serious discussion of the topic. But instead she uses her sense of humor to deflate the hype and mystery that accompanies the subject, exposing it in broad daylight for an objective yet sardonic look. Through a series of interviews and anecdotes, I learned more about breasts, and the fascinating people on which they grow or have been installed. In the book, Seligson interviews a long list of unlikely characters -- the 90201 plastic surgeon, a former Hustler editor, the moribund attendees of a stripper's convention, and even a supposedly straight man with implants. These people -- and Seligson's affectionate take on them -- are what stands out when the book is finished. As the title of one of the chapters points out, "The face is up here, pal." If there's a book that can impart this valuable lesson, then "Stacked" is it. At least until the next well-packed blouse comes into view.

Too bad I can't rate this book 6 stars.......2007-03-14

Susan Seligson writes like silk. Smooth.. and funny. There is a serious side to Seligson's book, Sure, she's a first rate journalist, but she's also a top notch humorist and most of the book is laugh outloud funny. Her timing is immaculate.
As silly as many of the real life characters she writes about are, she always gives them her respect to be outrageous as they follow their crazy dreams (like Maxi Mounds, who has the largest breast implants in the world). Because Seligson is self-effacing herself, you love her and her pursuit of everything boob-like.
And when all was said and done, besides being tickled, I learned a lot of stuff about breasts from a woman's point of view. Bravo!

Entertaining and Interesting!.......2007-03-01

Seligson writes in a brisk, clear and often funny style. Her subject matter needs no hype; it hypes itself. Few other body parts, if any, are so politically and sexually charged. So instead of engaging in the kind of lurid, titillating sensationalism that might tempt other authors, she instead approaches her subject with a respectful, matter-of-fact, down-to-earth and often gently self-deprecating tone that allows both the poignancy and the frequent silliness of the topic shine through. She treats the undertaking with loving, brutal frankness. The book covers ambitious ground: gender identity, cultural standards of beauty, the paradox of male and female attitudes towards breasts, the moral, ethical and medical questions swirling around elective cosmetic surgery, equal rights, pornography and of course the tender issue of what comprises a normal healthy self-image. She skims over this familiar territory with surprising neutrality, exploring the characters she meets along the way in much more depth than she explores the underlying puzzles and competing arguments. This is more of the story of a journey than an essay, which is refreshing. It does not attempt to be a comprehensive and scholarly survey of all the areas listed above. It simply relates how one woman has made peace with her body and the love-hate relationship she has with it -- and also what she has learned from the many, many others she has met as she sought out their input on something that we will never, ever get tired of looking at or reading about. She mentions at one point that every man she ever told about this project asked the same question: "will there be pictures?" You are probably wondering the same thing. Answer: yes and no. There is one picture, but it is not in the book. And I'm not talking about the headshot on the hardcover jacket. In order to find this picture, you will have to delve deep into the text. If you read the whole book carefully, you will discover where to find the one image that everyone, male or female, will be curious to see.

Average customer rating:

Common Sense Approach to Rules
Overall good but, very outdated
Not very helpful for business casual
Still Relevant For Today
read it and do what it says

New Women's Dress for Success
John T. Molloy
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Women & Business | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Fashion & Image | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Money Management for Women | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0446672238

Customer Reviews:

Common Sense Approach to Rules.......2006-11-10

I think this book is great. I am a young (under 30), short girl. Do you know how hard it is to be taken seriously in an all-male manufacturing environment? These are classy ways to still be a woman and taken like the professional I am. I notice the difference in obeying the rules and then sometimes just wearing whatever I want. This book is valid to my career. I am a Finance Manager, the financial consultant to the business.

Overall good but, very outdated .......2006-11-04

Good overall message about dressing professional but, the clothing styles he writes about are from the 1980's.

Not very helpful for business casual.......2006-11-03

I appreciate John Molloy's research into business clothing; however, this book is only helpful if you work in a company where clothing is not too casual, or if you need to figure out what to wear for job interviews. If every day is "business casual" at your job, this book will help you figure out the best colors and quality, but it won't help you understand what to wear. John advocates always wearing a business-like skirt when possible, and always having a jacket on hand. In my job as a computer programmer, where most men where slacks and polo shirts, this would be too formal.

The book is somewhat repetitive, but it helps to drill the right attitude into your mind - clothes are important, quality is very important, and navy blue is always a good choice. There are a few black-and-white illustrations, but they seem outdated to me.

[...]

Still Relevant For Today.......2006-07-15

I was never a fan of Malloy's books when I first read them in the 1980s and 1990s. But I must admit that his basic principles hold true today. Classic attire is best for interviews and companies (such as pharmaceutical sales) that are still traditional suits-only fields. He is also correct when he says that the fashion industry works against professional attire for women, and that if you are excessively stylish in a corporate setting, you will lose credibility. Changing fashion styles are an incredible waste of money. However, you should disregard the outdated suits, rigid hairstyles and hard attache case in favor of more contemporary classic styles. A better book for that is "Dressing Smart" by Chic Simple Author Kim Johnson-Gross. Moreover, if you work in a creative field, you must not follow the navy & white starched formula of dressing--this could get you demoted. Malloy does mention this point, but doesn't really advise for creative jobs.

read it and do what it says.......2006-03-22

All women should read it and do what it says. As a manager, I know what high importance is placed on presentation. In the workplace today, people have become too casual. Why not do all you can to earn more money, gain more respect and be percieved optimally as a professional? It is very easy for women to make wardrobe mistakes at the office today because of the sexy and casual fashions we see in all the stores. This is a bible for the working woman!

The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls

Average customer rating:

Understanding a Cultural Obsession
Fabulous
Fair Attempt to Explain a Growing Problem
Why "beautiful on the inside" doesn't seem to matter anymore
Unworthy of "American" in its title

The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls
Joan Jacobs Brumberg
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Teenagers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

History & Nonfiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Parenting Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0679735291
Release Date: 1998-09-01

Amazon.com

Adolescent girls today face the issues girls have always faced: "Who am I?" and "Who do I want to be?" Unfortunately their answers, now more than ever before, revolve around the body rather than the mind, heart, or soul. "The body is at the heart of the crisis that [Carol] Gilligan, [Mary] Pipher, and others describe.... The fact that American girls now make the body their central project is not an accident or a curiosity," writes Brumberg, "it is a symptom of historical changes that are only now beginning to be understood." The historical photos, thorough research, and political even-handedness make this a book of worth and sincerity. The Body Project is also comforting for women, adolescents, parents, lesbians, and male lovers of women--helping us sort out the roots of female insecurities, obsessions, and angst.

Book Description

"Timely and sympathetic . . . a work of impassioned advocacy." -- People

A hundred years ago, women were lacing themselves into corsets and teaching their daughters to do the same. The ideal of the day, however, was inner beauty: a focus on good deeds and a pure heart. Today American women have more social choices and personal freedom than ever before. But fifty-three percent of our girls are dissatisfied with their bodies by the age of thirteen, and many begin a pattern of weight obsession and dieting as early as eight or nine. Why?

In The Body Project, historian Joan Jacobs Brumberg answers this question, drawing on diary excerpts and media images from 1830 to the present. Tracing girls' attitudes toward topics ranging from breast size and menstruation to hair, clothing, and cosmetics, she exposes the shift from the Victorian concern with inner beauty to our modern focus on outward appearance--in particular, the desire to be model-thin and sexy. Compassionate, insightful, and gracefully written, The Body Project explores the gains and losses adolescent girls have inherited since they shed the corset and the ideal of virginity for a new world of sexual freedom and consumerism--a world in which the body is their primary project.

"Joan Brumberg's book offers us an insightful and entertaining history behind the destructive mantra of the '90s--'I hate my body!'" --Katie Couric

Customer Reviews:

Understanding a Cultural Obsession.......2007-04-23

Topic: - The book is the author's historical perspective, suggesting there are ever increasing visual evaluations and body standards being placed on American Girls.

Commentary: - The book does an excellent job of bringing attention to the messages girls are constantly bombarded with from all forms of media, advertising and cultural rules, messages that try to persuade them their body should have certain attributes and not have other attributes. It outlines how with each new generation, new social visual ideals are added. From shaving legs, to waxing, to eyebrow control, to hairstyles, to overall weight, to muscle tone, to bad breath, to body odor, to feminine hygeine, to piercings, to tattoos, to teeth straightening, to belly button length, to breast shape, to teeth whitening, and on and on.

Writing Style: - I thought the premise and supporting facts of this book were excellent, but if I have to fault one aspect of the book, it is that the writing sometimes lost my attention - this occurred even though I greatly care about the issues discussed in the book.

What would have made this book better?: - There is an inherent conflict in these issues: How do you make "not being a pawn to these social pressures" interesting and sexually attractive? One of the main draws that advertisers and social forces use is: IF you perfectly control your body and develop these many attributes, THEN you'll be more well liked, treated better, more in control, or more sexually attractive. For the book to have been even better, it needed to spend more time promoting non-conformist beauty ideals and conceptual frameworks.

In other words, it needed to do more to show how NOT persuing a "body perfect" can lead to better social relationships, understanding, attractiveness, etc. It's not enough to tell a person, "Don't do that." It's better to show them how alternative paths can produce more fulfilling and better outcomes. This is because women are constantly bombarded with the opposing messages of: "Make your body perfect" and you will receive _____ (fill in the blank).

Why did I write this review?: - I read this book about a year ago, and I didn't feel compelled to write a review. But one of the attributes of a great idea or a great book of ideas is the longer the ideas are considered in your brain (the more evidence and scenarios you evaluate using those ideas), the more those ideas resonate with 'truth' or significance.

Like most people, I use the internet often. I'm just sickened by the frequency of visual beauty ads. From wrinkle creams, to Stry-Vectyn, to Bo-Tox, to acne-fighters, and every other blemish or age-fighting cream, lotion, or potion. The same messages are coming from T.V.

Dove has launched a "Real Beauty" campaign, where they show women with "non-ideal" body types and weight ranges. And while I can admire some of the premise, which is: "Beauty is broader than the narrow definitions of supemodel advertising," I am also saddened as Dove, a cosmetic company, has also introduced the suggestion: Older women and non-ideal women need to spend more money on our beauty products. Olay's campaign of "Fight crows feet . . . on your elbows and your legs" is creating additional Body Projects for women to be concerned about.

Given the constant messages and pressures American women receive, I expect most women have dealt with an eating disorder or OCD mindset about their physical appearance. After reading this book, I admire every woman who has managed to overcome our culture's body obsession and who has found a way to moderate their eating habits and perceptions of their body.

I recommend at least scanning this book to find any topics of interest. Hopefully, young women who have read this book will be more able to recognize the unnecessary demands and often unreachable standards being asked of them. Hopefully they will learn to define their beauty, and the beauty of the women around them, using more non-body-defined benchmarks.

Fabulous.......2007-04-04

This book was the best non-fiction I have ever read. It details the changing attitudes towards girls' bodies from the Victorian era to now. It's a sad, hard truth, but opens readers' eyes to the stark reality of girls' bodies going from prime real estate -joint owners being parents and the future husband- to nothing but over-sexed, under nourished, under appreciated, and under protected citizens of society.

This book is a wonderful chronicle of the changes in physical appearance, as well as mental status, in the ever-changing world of girls in society.

Fair Attempt to Explain a Growing Problem.......2006-06-10

I bought this book because I see how girls/young women stuggle to achieve a very unrealistic ideal of beauty and how middle aged women stuggle to hang on to what they had as young women. As I approach 50, I know I am expected to stay trim, fit and muscular in spite of the fact that my body struggles mightly against it, especially since pregnancy and child birth.

As for the book, it is heavily researched and some of that research does involve journals from the 19th century and beyond. The first chapter is about how girls' bodies are maturing at a much faster rate than those of their fore sisters and the implications of this. Interesting.

The second chapter covers menstruation and menarche in detail. It is really too long. The basic premise of the chapter is how menarche has become consumerized. Mothers provide their daughters with all the mass manufactured equipment and not much else. The author wants menarche to be explained to girls as the time they enter womanhood, but I have a problem with this for two reasons. #1 Most girls are entering menarche at a time when they are not even remotely ready to be women. #2 When I enter menopause, am I exiting womanhood?

The third chapter covers the quest for perfect skin. It is page after page covering the subject of acne and how it has been dealt with over the past century. This, also, the author feels has been very much consumerized, as mothers take their daughters to the doctors and buy any and every cream and potion to relieve their daughters' agony.

The fourth chapter deals with the history of girls trying to achieve the perfect body and the fifth with the disappearance of virginity and how women have gained sexual freedom, but this has also filtered down to girls in middle school and high school and most of these girls and young women are ill equipped mentally and emotionally to deal with the ramifications of their sexuality.

The overall ideals in the book are excellent. The fact that girls have lost their closeness with mothers, aunts, teachers and other female role models. The fact that most of their learning comes from the media and girls their own ages. The fact that outward beauty is what females are judged by rather than beauty that comes from inside. The fact that girls are no longer protected through the family unit. They are sexually active earlier and earlier and often with older men and not boys of their own age. They have been sold the goods of freedom and independence when they are really not ready for them, etc.

Unfortunately, the book did not so much back up these ideas, but more harped on consumerism...the buying of feminine products, make up, clothes, etc. I am pretty sure this is but I small part of the problem.

Why "beautiful on the inside" doesn't seem to matter anymore.......2006-01-19

What happened to American girls, to women, over the past hundred years, that caused a quantum shift in how they present themselves to the world?

Intelligence, spirituality, charity and volunteerism, and skills for all things domestic were once revered. The most popular girl in her class wasn't the prettiest girl. The girl considered best for marriage had the qualities desired for a wife and mother and not what she looked like on her husband's arm.

We are all victims of this shift.

I admit I first noticed this book on a shelf in a train-station bookstore because of the flat, tanned belly on the cover. We've become a society obsessed with pieces and parts and appearances of the pieces and parts rather than the beauty of the whole person. Our self-esteem is measured by the numbers on the scale or the size of our jeans or the clarity of our skin.

Over the past six years, I've reread this book a few times, and always find a new point that rings true.

In her revealing (yet not surprising) sociological history Blumberg uses the best and most frank sources to illustrate her case: the private diaries of young women, from the Victorian era to present day (the late 90's). Blumberg theorizes that it's the media and consumerism that are the biggest contributors to the shift and uses excerpts from the diaries to make her point.

Blumberg focuses on middle-class Caucasian girls circa 1998, and perhaps the book needs an update to focus on a broader demographic as well as address the influence of the internet which has since become an increasingly important factor in the socialization and self-awareness of young women.

I think this is a decent book for a teenage girl, but I'm not sure it will have much of a positive influence. Girls are constantly being fed about how they should look and what products they should buy to achieve beauty.

It's a better book for a woman in her 20's or 30's who might want a better understanding of why we've become the way we are.

Unworthy of "American" in its title.......2005-10-02

The Body Project provides very selective leeway into the societal effects of African-American adolescent girls and their personal body projects. The main focus of this book is on the evolution of the white middle-class adolescent girl throughout American history. African-American and Jewish girls are mentioned briefly in a few chapters, while other ethnic groups are simply never discussed. Are these other various ethnic groups not worthy of their equal place in Brumberg's book?
Brumberg focuses on the evolution of the white middle-class female adolescent starting in the early 1800s and ending in the late 1990s. An evolution of the African American adolescent also took place during these times, but differently than that of their white female counterparts.
In order to understand black American adolescents today, foundation for cultural practices must first be established. Brumberg never mentions the coexistence of enslaved blacks, in America during the 18th or 19th centuries.
Though all women have the same biological anatomy, our genes vary, our cultures vary, so we should dispel the idea that when certain groups of women who menstruate earlier than others are abnormal or inferior. Brumberg reveals that this type of thought was well circulated throughout the medical community remained true during the Victorian period. The notion that black health was considered an expendable asset in the American medical community well through the early 1970s.

One major issue that Brumberg avoids is the abuse of children and adolescents. There is probably a close connection between the body projects that adolescents undertake and their harsh self-image.

Brumberg fails to expand on the greater idea that people exist who can never truly choose their identity before it first chooses them. Many girls are intrinsically bound to a stereotype, despite self-image. Possibly everyone has small things that they would like to alter about their physical appearances; however Americans also fail to see these "body projects" as a form a western female mutilation, of which millions of women have fallen victim. Plastic surgery is an ever-growing project that young girls obsess about. This standard idea of beauty that girls manipulate themselves on must disappear, before our individuality as women disappears.

The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image

Average customer rating:

Interesting philosophical premise weighed down by redundancy
Thought provoking
Quasi-science at best
Provocative thesis, interesting facts, readable style, sensible call for balance
Pleased and surprised

The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image
Leonard Shlain
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Literacy | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Feminist Theory | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Literacy | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140196013

Amazon.com

"Literacy has promoted the subjugation of women by men throughout all but the very recent history of the West," writes Leonard Shlain. "Misogyny and patriarchy rise and fall with the fortunes of the alphabetic written word."

That's a pretty audacious claim, one that The Alphabet Versus the Goddess provides extensive historical and cultural correlations to support. Shlain's thesis takes readers from the evolutionary steps that distinguish the human brain from that of the primates to the development of the Internet. The very act of learning written language, he argues, exercises the human brain's left hemisphere--the half that handles linear, abstract thought--and enforces its dominance over the right hemisphere, which thinks holistically and visually. If you accept the idea that linear abstraction is a masculine trait, and that holistic visualization is feminine, the rest of the theory falls into place. The flip side is that as visual orientation returns to prominence within society through film, television, and cyberspace, the status of women increases, soon to return to the equilibrium of the earliest human cultures. Shlain wisely presents this view of history as plausible rather than definite, but whether you agree with his wide-ranging speculations or not, he provides readers eager to "understand it all" with much to consider. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

Is it sheer coincidence that the European witch hunts quickly followed the invention of the printing press? In his groundbreaking work The Alphabet Versus the Goddess, Leonard Shlain proposes that the invention of writing, particularly alphabetic writing, rewired the human brain, causing profound cultural changes in history, religion, and gender relations. While the advent of literacy brought innumerable benefits to society, the switch to left-brain thinking upset the balance between men and women. The rise of male dominance led to a corresponding decline in goddess veneration and the status of women. Ending on a positive note, Shlain notes that the return of an image-oriented culture - through the media of photography, film, television, and the Internet - has brought about a sharp rise in the feminine values denigrated during the 5,000-year reign of patriarchy and literacy.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting philosophical premise weighed down by redundancy .......2007-10-13

The author states his premise (an interesting one that I find to be a valid possibility) in the opening chapters of the book. Thereafter he proceeds to repeat himself ad nauseum. "Redundant" lacks the sufficient punch needed to describe the effect. This is perhaps the book's largest problem overall, but not the point that stuck in my own personal craw, as it were.

While describing the basics of his theory in chapter one (image and word being the themes at hand) and referring to feminine and masculine archetypal views of the world (and styles of communication and the affects on society of said archetypes) he launches into a harangue that compares and contrasts the two.

From p7:

"Whenever a culture elevates the written word at the expense of the image, patriarchy dominates. Whenever the importance of the image supercedes the written word, feminine values and egalitarianism flourish."

There are so many logical problems with this statement (that is an unfortunate running theme in his world view as expressed in the book) that I don't quite know where to begin. The easiest way to address it is by rephrasing it as such:

When masculine language archetypes are used by a society, said society can expect male dominance over women and all of the assorted associated problems. But when a society values the feminine archetypes over the masculine ones, there will be peace on earth and everyone will be happy.

Funny, I thought imbalance was imbalance and one could expect repercussions of a negative variety from an imbalance at either end of a spectrum. And for whatever it is worth, I say this as a woman who has certainly taken advantage of the positives brought about by Women's Lib while at the same time noticing many negative backlashes from the same movement.

Ironically, this quote is preceded by a statement that these archetypes are COMPLIMENTARY opposites and the very next chapter of the book is started off with a Virginia Wolf quote regarding the of an "androgynous mind" as ideal. Even the opening quote of the first chapter seems to contradict the author's strange dogmatic stance; "Even a positive thing casts a shadow....its unique excellence is at the same time it's tragic flaw." Too bad the theme continues until the end and Mr. Shlain does not apply his thoughts on balance to his own theories.

TO be fair, in the epilogue, he goes on to say that he saw no reason to expound on the positive contributions of masculine communication models in society since there is already a wealth of work on the subject. But by the time I got to that point, it felt like faint and damning praise as well as an attempt to cover his own unbalanced thoughts; almost as if he looked back at the end of writing it and realized he sounded a bit off in the head. If I wanted to be the author's therapist I would have charged him instead of paying for his work.

TO sum up, there are some very interesting thoughts (and fascinating research into other fields of research) in this book. But one needs a very heavy filter to weed out the garbage to get through them. And you can expect to have them restated continuously until many will want to throw the book across the room. I recommend reading the titles, opening quotes, preface and epilogue. You'll more than have the gist. If you want the extras, find his bibliography.

Thought provoking.......2007-04-09

At first it seems like an absurd idea, that the printing press could have had a bad effect on society and culture; it becomes completely engrossing and intriquing. If you can open your mind, this book isn't negative towards women at all, it is just the opposite. Very well researched.

Quasi-science at best.......2007-02-13

This book is awful. It is full of speculations and just bad science. I am going to quote one egregious example. The comments in brackets [ ] are mine:

"Like the brain, the human eye also evolved opposite [really!] but complementary functions. Each human eye is a perfect mirror image of the other; yet within the each retina there resides two functionally different types of cells. With elegant symmetry, the contrasting functions of the rods and cones correspond to the division of tasks between the right and left brain [that is quite a comparison].
"Rods named for their cylindrical shape, are extremely light sensitive.
Distributed evenly throught the periphery of each retina, they see in dim light and appreciate [the rods have feelings??] the totality of the visual field, seeing images as gestalts. Rods share with the right brain the ability to perceive [the rods can think??] reality all-at-once [as opposed to what, a little bit at a time?].
Cones, in contrast congregate densely in a small spot in the central part of the retina...Cones have two attributes. They appreciate [there he goes again] color and intensify clarity [whatever that means]. Concentrating on one aspect of reality at a time, [huh?] cones view the visual field as if through a tunnel. [Actually cones and rods sense light together, at the same time, and your brain integrates and intreprets all that information into a perceived image. But the most fantastic statement is the last sentance of this quote:] Like rods, cones report to both hemispheres, but the left is metaphorically best suited to process their input. [That is such an absurd statement that Shlain gives a footnote, right on the same page, contradicting his non sequitor.]"

And so it goes on for page after page of drivel, I finally gave up after 6 chapters. A lot of reviewers find this book to be thought provoking. I think it is a sad state that our appreciation of science is so dim that people can actually find this nonsense to be of interest.

Provocative thesis, interesting facts, readable style, sensible call for balance.......2007-01-23

The Alphabet Versus the Goddess is a valuable work. From the depths of the human brain to ancient religions to scientific advancement to modern times, Dr. Shlain has molded a fascinating thesis, bringing together much complex human behavior in a large-scale synthesis. If you are willing to open your mind to his numerous ideas, you may find yourself convinced that the rise of the alphabet and wide-spread literacy did indeed spark humans to an imbalance between the genders and the masculine/feminine values of society. If you are willing to understand what I believe he means to teach, you will see that this reoccurring problem in human history has a cure, and it is balance.

There are many facets of his claims and research that merit thought and attention. I personally was inspired to research further into brain characteristics and examine that aspect of the book. You may disagree with which values in the mind are masculine and feminine or even anything from certain historic dates to the discussion of the Bible, but whether or not every fact is unquestionably true is not the entire point. The ancient myths are gruesome at times, the periods of madness horrifying, the suppression of women dismaying, and the final message--hopeful. Dr. Shlain loves words, and it is apparent in his writing (which is readable and flowing), so clearly this work is not an attack on literacy; it is a new and unique examination of patterns throughout history.

Pleased and surprised.......2007-01-23

I picked up this book after seeing numerous references to it on websites I was searching. As a writer and an avid reader since, well, forever, I opened this book fully prepared to completely disagree with everything it was going to present. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the author was well aware 1) the contradiction of using literary media to discuss a theory of historical social disruption based on literacy 2) that the evidence he was presenting to support his theory was highly subjective, though I must say compelling.

Rarely have I encountered such a well written work about a controversial idea. I found the writing provacative and the subject matter well handled. I have read other reviews saying this book tells the reader literacy is evil/bad..I am wondering if those reviews read the same book I did? It is clear from the first page that Mister Shlain loves reading and writing. He is aware of the power and magic of the written word and it is the historical reprecussions of that power that he is discussing. The notion of literacy as a tool of social upheaval is fascinating in and of itself even without the idea that the physiological effects of the act of reading and writing contributed to the demise of goddess worship.

As woman I was prepared to be disturbed by a "poor women" approach - but this book turned out to be bigger than that. Nothing I was reading felt trivialized or stereotyped.

I don't agree with every premise set forth in this book, and I don't think every example Mister Shlainuses 100% proves his theory, but this is a book about new, big and challenging ideas and it is well worth a read by anyone interested in seeing a different perspective!

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women

Average customer rating:

Brilliant and life changing
New revised version supposedly has all the lies removed
Must Read For Feminists
This might help
an oldie, but a goodie

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
Naomi Wolf
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Feminist Theory | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0060512180
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Amazon.com

In a country where the average woman is 5-foot-4 and weighs 140 pounds, movies, advertisements, and MTV saturate our lives with unrealistic images of beauty. The tall, nearly emaciated mannequins that push the latest miracle cosmetic make even the most confident woman question her appearance. Feminist Naomi Wolf argues that women's insecurities are heightened by these images, then exploited by the diet, cosmetic, and plastic surgery industries. Every day new products are introduced to "correct" inherently female "flaws," drawing women into an obsessive and hopeless cycle built around the attempt to reach an impossible standard of beauty. Wolf rejects the standard and embraces the naturally distinct beauty of all women.

Book Description

The bestselling classic that redefined our view od the relationship between beauty and female identity.

In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the traditional image of homemaker and wife. It's the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of "the flawless beauty."

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant and life changing.......2007-10-12

I picked up this book by accident and literally every other page am surprised by how many things are relevant in my own life. A fascinating look at our culture, and the many unquestioned "truths" used to place a higher value on female beauty than male beauty. I would be interested in the authors take on the metrosexual movement that has emerged in the 10 years since she has written the book, and how that would fit into her arguments. But this is a book I will be buying for my my Mother, sister, and close girlfriends. An important book for men to read as well.

New revised version supposedly has all the lies removed.......2007-09-05

In a Stalinesque move that would have impressed him, Wolf has quietly edited out all the false statistics and bogus claims of the original book and released the leftovers. No mention of this deception is given anywhere in the book, like when Stalin would remove people from photos and pretend they had never existed in history. Ha Ha! Nice try Wolf. It IS embarrassing being publicly exposed as a liar, isn't it? Maybe stick to facts the next time. Whoever is impressed by this bilge deserves to be misled, and will continue to be misled until they educate themselves with facts, or raise their intellects so as to be able to separate fact from fantasy. It would have won her a doctorate in Creative Statistics if it was an area of academic study. The problem with many of the 5 star voters of this book is that hatred too often leads to outrageous statements that can be accepted as fact only by fellow haters. Hatred distorts one's mental evaluative machinery, which is only too evident when one looks at works by fellow heterophobics Mary Daly, Andrea Dworkin, Susan Faludi, etc. The Germans made use of this principle well in the 1930s and 40s too, and it also worked here for a while.

Does Naomi Wolf realize yet that she has done more damage to the women's movement than help it in any way? The ammunition she has provided to men's groups has been like manna from heaven, as it is so easily disproved (see Christina Hoff-Sommers) and her thinking is sadly representative of a generation of women who have grown up with the distorted, 50% view of reality seen through a pair of feminist-colored spectacles. They earnestly believe they can make up statistics and get away with it like they get away with everything else in the society they grew up in. Well, a wake-up call for you, Wolf. Objective truth is no respecter of the hypocrisies of feminism and political correctness. Time will see your drivel condemned to the world's literary garbage bin where it belongs, where it will nestle comfortably with similar drivel from Daly, Dworkin, Steinem, MacKinnon, Faludi and other mysandronists.

Must Read For Feminists.......2007-07-30

From the affluent, white female perspective, but still very relevant. Wolf explains how women adopt a third shift to take care of their beauty. It keeps our minds occupied and our pocketbooks empty so we don't start a revolution. I consider it a must read for feminists and pro-feminists.

This might help.......2007-05-22

I actually wrote this comment as a reaction to one of the posts (under the comments section) but then realized that I meant it as a general comment on the book and people's reactions to it. I was fortunate in that I read this book in an academic setting. It was assigned along with many other supportive books, which together shore up any weakness in each respective argument.

But since that is not possible for everyone, I think that if you read this book along with Susan Faludi's "Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women," you might find yourself surprised about the subject of a conscious conspiracy to keep women down. Susan Faludi, as opposed to some of the complaints against Naomi Wolf, actually uses real interviews and facts to back up her arguments about the state of the public sector.

I completely agree with many reviewers that say it is important to read the book and make up your own mind, but you might get a better understanding of the situation, and what Naomi Wolf is trying to say, if you also read Susan Faludi's book. I was shocked and amazed by what I read, and without substantial facts to back up her arguments I'm not sure I would have put as much stock in them.

an oldie, but a goodie.......2007-04-16

Some of the stats and facts contained in this book are a wee bit dated, but that's a small minus in light of the many plusses of this powerful book! I started reading it, hoping I wouldn't like it and could put it aside but from the first opening pages, I was hooked!

On page three, Ms. Wolf writes, "The stronger women were becoming politically, the heavier the ideals of beauty would bear down upon them, mostly in order to distract their energy and undermine their progress."

Wow. So, fiddling around with beauty is something that keeps us distracted and distressed, and inhibits the realization of our full potential! Further, she writes, "The beauty myth is not about women at all. It is about men's institutions and institutional power" (p. 13).

If you're ready to have you eyes opened to the facts of women's beauty, take a few hours and read this book. You'll never look at a glossy woman's magazine the same way again.

Average customer rating:

Dare to Lose
Dare to Lose
Best weight loss tool I own
Intelligent and interesting
Dare to lose

Dare to Lose PA
Shari Lieberman , and Nancy Pauling Bruning
Manufacturer: Avery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1583331514
Release Date: 2003-02-24

Book Description

Dare to Lose is an empowering, innovative approach to weight loss that can help anyone transform their bodies and rev up their metabolism to keep weight off forever. In her trademark no-nonsense style, Shari Lieberman candidly challenges women to get serious and commit to her lifelong weight-loss program, geared to their individual needs.

Lieberman explains the importance of metabolism in weight loss, pointing out the factors that slow down metabolism-such as stress, yo-yo and crash dieting, and sedentary lifestyles-and ways to counteract them. Her four-step program includes eliminating stress and toxins from the body; following sound nutrition guidelines; engaging in fat-burning, muscle-building exercise; and taking nutritional supplements that help boost metabolism for quick yet lasting results.

Customer Reviews:

Dare to Lose.......2007-07-18

Excellent resource! Very understandable and effective. Great addition to the Transitions Lifestyle 12 week class.

Dare to Lose.......2007-01-28

I have lost over 4 sizes, 22", 20 # since reading and applying Dr. Lieberman's protocol. A must for anyone wanting to get thier weight under control once and for all!

Best weight loss tool I own.......2005-07-21

I really got a lot of good from this book! She just makes so much sense and it is so easy to implement her suggestions into my day to day life. I actually borrowed a copy and then ordered 4 copies so I could share them with friends!
As I have added some of her wisdom into my daily routine I have finally been losing some inches instead of doing the steady gaining that has been going on since my mid 30s. I never did typical diets and this was the first weight management book I have ever purchased. Great book to start with as I'll never need anotherA!

Intelligent and interesting.......2004-12-26

I bought this book and I really like it. I heard SL on WBAI and she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. I read this book a lot and try to follow her guidance when it comes to dieting. I try to incorperate her ideas into my own eating habits and I follow her advice about excercise and supplements, I really see a difference in my body and fat loss.

Dare to lose.......2002-07-28

This book is written clearly and is easy to follow. The book has great sample meals to help you with the program. It is easy to eat out because the author gives you great examples to follow. I highly recommend this book.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books