Reviews
You Don't Have to Like Me: Essays on Growing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding Feminism by Alida Nugent
manuelte's review
5.0
Absolutely loved the book and consider it required reading. Alida presents clear and important reasons why we need feminism and it is an empowering message.
emily_nelson's review
3.0
(2.5) I'll be honest, this book didn't do a whole lot for me. I picked it up based on positive reviews, and while I found her style very easy to read and her subject matter pretty engaging, the content was lacking. The book opens with a primer on why Nugent became a feminist and outlines the pitfalls of navigating feminism in a vaguely ingratiating style that seems more appropriate for a Huffington Post blog article or a Buzzfeed listicle. The rest of the essays tackle all the hot "feminist topics" - female friendships, the politics of feminism, dating, birth control, eating disorders, etc., and rarely did I feel that her reflections were bringing anything new to the discussions. There were a few standout essays - her essay on school sex ed was pretty funny and I related to "Girl Under Control." But on the whole, I didn't find it a super interesting or compelling read.
ciaralo's review
5.0
THIS BOOK THOUGH.
Not a single essay in this collection I didn't love. Laughed out loud MANY times and connected to so much Nugent had to say. It's short and powerful and if you are a young woman you need this book on your radar. (Really, if you're a person you need this book on your radar because it is wonderful).
Not a single essay in this collection I didn't love. Laughed out loud MANY times and connected to so much Nugent had to say. It's short and powerful and if you are a young woman you need this book on your radar. (Really, if you're a person you need this book on your radar because it is wonderful).
rebbysetread's review
2.0
I am the wrong audience for this book. I think this is more of a "how-to guide for feminism" (coming from the lens of someone straight and cisgender). There are some important topics addressed here like sexual assault, embracing masturbation and being true to oneself. However, aside from the preachy nature better suited for 16-year-old-me... Something about the overall tone really irked me. Some essays were stronger than others. There were certainly passages that made me chuckle - notably the section on catcalling and MAC lipstick. But, overall I did not enjoy the blog-like nature of this. Not to say it's terrible, per se, but just not for me.
solitarysoul's review
4.0
Yes! This is the book I've been looking for when I've read a variety of books with essays by young female writers.
airsosweet's review against another edition
2.0
It was meh.
I don't really have any criticisms because it wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special or noteworthy, especially considering all the other books you could read about feminism.
Felt very blog-like which personally wasn't for me.
I don't really have any criticisms because it wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special or noteworthy, especially considering all the other books you could read about feminism.
Felt very blog-like which personally wasn't for me.
baskinkrobbins's review
4.0
This was awesome and I highly recommend to fans of Jessica Valenti. Alida is a comedian of sorts, so she makes everything funny. I think it takes a special person to be funny and also remain feminist.
4 stars
4 stars
bluenicorn's review
2.0
This wasn't bad, per se- thus the "it was ok" star rating. There were a few lines that I thought were great, such as the following:
"Going on a porn site as a woman is also like going to a crap retail store and being plus-sized: here's a tiny section devoted to you that has nothing you like. Good luck! We hate you!" p 205
"Never once do they consider that I might not want to be bought, and that I am not a cow at all." p 141
I guess there were just a few too many topics that while I'm glad she supports and discusses them, she really doesn't have much experience with them. Also, the writing felt a little scattered all over the place. She speaks of inclusion and accepting women, but then says things about going on a juice diet so that she can look good- as if thin is the universal definition of "good"; or being grossed out by the pubic hair on a woman in a childbirth video- as if pubic hair is something disgusting. The writing felt a little... bloggy- and there are good books out there that started with blogs, so it's not blogs I'm criticizing. Her heart is in the right place- I just think the writing needs refining.
"Going on a porn site as a woman is also like going to a crap retail store and being plus-sized: here's a tiny section devoted to you that has nothing you like. Good luck! We hate you!" p 205
"Never once do they consider that I might not want to be bought, and that I am not a cow at all." p 141
I guess there were just a few too many topics that while I'm glad she supports and discusses them, she really doesn't have much experience with them. Also, the writing felt a little scattered all over the place. She speaks of inclusion and accepting women, but then says things about going on a juice diet so that she can look good- as if thin is the universal definition of "good"; or being grossed out by the pubic hair on a woman in a childbirth video- as if pubic hair is something disgusting. The writing felt a little... bloggy- and there are good books out there that started with blogs, so it's not blogs I'm criticizing. Her heart is in the right place- I just think the writing needs refining.