alh118's review against another edition
3.0
I found myself agreeing with many ideas and those that I disagreed with were thought provoking. But it was far too disorganized for me to follow where she was ultimately going with this.
reasie's review against another edition
3.0
At times humorous, I wished for more depth. Dowd's breezy prose is rife with asides and references to the point where you feel almost breathless keeping up. Sometimes I wondered if she wasn't being too breezy, too full of quips, as though, like the professional women facing the feminist backlash she focuses on, she feared being unable to say her piece if she didn't also play cocktail waitress to our minds.
She's a political corespondent, so the political parts are the juiciest. I can't forgive her for calling Anastasia a "Disney Princess" in her section on "Why aren't women attracted to cartoon guys?" where she leaves the answer "Because they are drawn by and for men, just like cartoon girls" unspoken. Or maybe I was just annoyed because I had a massive crush on Goliath on Gargoyles.
She's a political corespondent, so the political parts are the juiciest. I can't forgive her for calling Anastasia a "Disney Princess" in her section on "Why aren't women attracted to cartoon guys?" where she leaves the answer "Because they are drawn by and for men, just like cartoon girls" unspoken. Or maybe I was just annoyed because I had a massive crush on Goliath on Gargoyles.
heathernj9's review against another edition
3.0
OK, don't be put off by the title (as everyone reacts when they see it on my bookshelves). It's a bit misleading. This was a really interesting read on gender politics, with a lot of pop culture thrown in. I really enjoyed the section on why smart men don't date smart women, something I have always wondered myself. I really recommend this book as food for thought. And hey, if you happen to commute via public transportation, this is sure to start random conversations if you read it there!
krismarley's review against another edition
4.0
Reading Newsweek book made me remember that I've read this
thektron's review against another edition
4.0
in the midst of the audiobook... i think it might work better if i were single and/or bitter, but thus far there've been several thought-worthy points. and the snarky's always fun.
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i wasn't expecting the audiobook to end, and i was kinda disappointed when it did, right at the beginning of my commute to work! there were some repetitive bits, but i've found it creeping into my conversation quite a bit.
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i wasn't expecting the audiobook to end, and i was kinda disappointed when it did, right at the beginning of my commute to work! there were some repetitive bits, but i've found it creeping into my conversation quite a bit.
chajara's review against another edition
2.0
Maureen is witty and entertaining. The first half is by far the funniest portion and there appears to be hints of bitterness as the book progresses. However, well worth reading
spiralbound's review against another edition
2.0
While I hate admitting it, especially since I know a couple people who will read this review and think "I told you so," this book was disappointing. I expected a bit more from Ms. Dowd. While her usual wit and charm make occasional appearances in the book, I didn't really come away from this one feeling like I had learned anything. To be fair, I'm not quite sure what I was looking for - but I think I just came away annoyed and possibly more confused than I already was. If this book had a clear point, I think it went over my head. I usually enjoy Maureen Dowd's columns and I think some of the chapters read like a longer version of a column but I failed to reach a conclusion or see an overarching theme. Needless to say, I wouldn't waste your time or money on this one.
spoerk's review against another edition
1.0
Huh. I guess I didn't like this all that much if it didn't stick with me after a decade.....
msjenne's review against another edition
I'm reading this for my book club but I can only bring myself to skip around and read bits and pieces. She's a very readable and engaging writer, but I can't really deal with the subject matter. I get all angry and depressed.
It seems like her question is more "are women necessary"--men actually don't come off as badly as you might think. Women on the other hand, are either smart and rapacious and unmarriageable and constantly dieting, or dumb and pretty and married to CEOs and spend all their time either at Yogilates class or at Starbucks with their strollers and nannies. Plus all these depressing statistics, like that MORE women are taking their husbands' names when they get married than they were ten years ago. I mean, REALLY?? WHAT?? WHY??? @%@^%^#%*@#$@(!!
You see why I can't read this.
HOWEVER, I think also she's taking the horrific problems of wealthy people in New York and applying them to everyone, as wealthy New Yorkers so often do.
It seems like her question is more "are women necessary"--men actually don't come off as badly as you might think. Women on the other hand, are either smart and rapacious and unmarriageable and constantly dieting, or dumb and pretty and married to CEOs and spend all their time either at Yogilates class or at Starbucks with their strollers and nannies. Plus all these depressing statistics, like that MORE women are taking their husbands' names when they get married than they were ten years ago. I mean, REALLY?? WHAT?? WHY??? @%@^%^#%*@#$@(!!
You see why I can't read this.
HOWEVER, I think also she's taking the horrific problems of wealthy people in New York and applying them to everyone, as wealthy New Yorkers so often do.
mmkkll's review against another edition
1.0
I had high hopes for this book when it came highly recommended by someone whose taste I respect, even though it's authored by one of my least favorite writers. However, I found it to be incoherent and lacking a central theme. If you're interested in feminist issues, you should read Ariel Levy's superb Female Chauvinist Pigs.