A Book of Self Examination, Regardless of Gender
936599
This book has been an astonishing blessing for my life as a Christian woman. It will certainly be passed onto to the men in my church and community. I am now eager to read the book, "Disciplines of a Godly Woman" by Mrs. Hughes! To God be the glory for this couple :)
4464539
I was fortunate to meet Julianna FreeHand when she had taken all of the pictures for this book and was facing the challenge of self-publicaton.  The publication was accomplished with the assistance of a large group of women who literally camped out amid cartons of book parts and finished books at Julie's home.  It is a Japanese binding, folded into a brocade or Japanese silk wrapper (depending on which edition you are looking at) and packed into a cardboard box either with labels and reviews on it, or soft velour covered and fastened with a ribbon.

The photographs and their flow through the book with a subtle and pithy text here and there, reveal the marvelous instincts, technical experience and spiritual depth of the author/photographer/publisher.  Julie wanted to show the life of women through the eyes of a woman - for a change.  Remember we were in the midst of the sexual revolution and the women's rights movement.  Being with this book is experiencing something of the drama of its production between the kernal of an idea and stacked boxes of finished books filling up the dining room.  It's filled with women (and a few men and a horse) from infancy to very elderly - women alone and in relationships of many sorts in a magical natural setting.  It's the kind of experience that one wants to have again and again.
4745672
Based on both personal experience and empirical data, this book is a very insightful critique of persisting sexism in the United States of America. Would that a book like this could be written for every country in the world, with the observable symptoms of sexist propensities described in terms of various local cultures; because patriarchy is a pervasive cultural pathology with a common root cause, which is the human propensity for domination by those who are stronger and submission by those who are weaker. This pathology is most universally manifested as male domination and female subordination but extends to all dimensions of human/human and human/nature relations.

Jensen gets off to a good start by recognizing, in the preface, that we are sexual body-persons. Indeed, we are more than sex objects, but sex (and, inseparably, gender) is constitutive of the personal subject at a level that goes much deeper than other bodily traits such as skin pigment and eye color. But the fact that we are bodies constitutes us as rational animals (Homo sapiens) as much as having a personal conscience and (for those who are religious) having a soul; we are spirited bodies. This fundamental anthropology is followed by an introduction on cultural conditioning that leads directly to the core issues of social/ecological justice and how they are rooted in patriarchy.

The influence of religious traditions is mentioned a few times, but is not the main focus of the book. Surely, an analysis of how secular patriarchy and religious patriarchy reinforce each other would take another book, but it is hard to envision the end of secular patriarchy without the end of religious patriarchy. A recent book by Adrian Thatcher, Redeeming Gender, deals with the religious side of the coin. It analyses both ancient ("women are defective males") and modern ("complementarianism") gender ideologies that contaminate ancient sacred texts, and continue to contaminate contemporary religious doctrines, with the patriarchal mindset, leading to every conceivable rationalization for excluding women from roles of religious authority. Complementarianism is a modern term, but is rooted in the caves of prehistory.

The book announces the end of patriarchy and offers radical feminism as a better option, for men as well as for women. Indeed, the patriarchal era is passing away, but the resilience of the domination/subordination paradigm should not be underestimated, as the rarity of feminine presence in institutions of governance worldwide confirms. When it comes to choosing between brute force and solidarity, patriarchy still seems to be an attractive proposition when it promises "bread and circus," for many women as well as for many men. Radical feminism, for both men and women, must be inculcated deep down in the structure of the personal subject, where conscience abides. This is absolutely critical for fostering integral human development and an integral ecology.
4815206
Unlike Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady," most books on men's issues seem to be asking, "Why can't a man to be more like a woman?" Well, instead of the usual male-bashing or female-bashing, Dr.  Farrell forces us to examine the problems in a rational manner and tries to  find workable solutions. Finally, there's a writer who actually does get  it. We *are* different. "Fair" and "equal" doesn't have  to mean "same" and "identical." We are biologically and  physiologically different, so what makes us think we must act, think and  behave the same way?
Culturally, it's a sign of strength for women to  express their feelings, but a sign of weakness for men to do so. Men are  not very likely to expose their feelings and insecurities if they feel it  may damage their career or marriage prospects. Men feel misunderstood, and  women complain that men don't express their feelings. Women can't hear what  men don't say. The first half of the book is devoted to bridging that  gender gap. Dr. Farrell gives us a few exercises to develop the better  communication and relationship skills. He does it in a positive,  constructive and nonjudgmental way. He gives us hope that we might actually  be able to work out our differences with the opposite sex - one person at a  time.
The last half of the book examines some of the myths surrounding  male power, male violence, and female victimhood. In doing so, Dr. Farrell  is *not* saying that women do not have legitimate concerns. Instead, he is  trying to point out that some of their assumptions are based on faulty  research and anecdotal evidence. While temporary affirmative action may be  necessary to level the playing field, institutionalized favoritism hurts  everyone. While women feel that not enough is done about breast cancer, we  spend far more on breast cancer research than on prostate cancer research.  In fact, more men than women will die prematurely from cancer, heart  disease, or AIDS. More males than females will be victims of violent  crimes. More boys than girls will suffer from learning disabilities. More  divorce courts will favor mothers over fathers in child custody cases. More  employers will allow "family leave" for women than for men.  Although these may not seem like women's issues, they *are* the major  reasons why women have a higher absenteeism at work than men, which, in  turn, lessens their chances for career advancement.
I strongly recommend  this book for everyone - male or female.
3962463
I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading this book and I feel that mostLDS women will also. It is not a heavy doctrinal treatise or a how-totype book, but rather a collection of reflections of life as an LDS woman.
 The book is divided into six sections of widely varied themes. For example,"Progenitors and Pancakes" includes seven works about families and "Inner Music" contains six essays and one poem about personal identity.
 The individual essays and poems have a wide variety of topics such as recipes, jet lag, visiting teaching, and snoring.  I particularly enjoyed Thayne's essay "On the Side of Life&quot.
 As a fellow quilter, I loved Ulrich's essay "Patchwork" which discusses her mania for old things, and explains the way in which she collected the bits and pieces of her education as she raised her family.  She recalls that it took her five years to complete a one-year M.A., and nine to finish her Ph. D!
 An interesting feature of this collection are four "dialogues by fax" which are actual off-the-cuff faxed conversations between the two authors. At first I thought that the inclusion of these conversations was somewhat strange, but as I read each of them, I was delighted with their spontaneity. Ulrich and Thayne discuss weather, children, writing and more without the formal strictures of an essay or poem. Thayne writes, "I love conversing with you this way about whatever moves or amuses, chafes, or captivates us." These dialogues contribute a great deal to the warm and personal tone of this book.  The result is a cohesive and entertaining collection that all in the "choir" will enjoy.
3037901
Chris Bartlett writes a series called The Quick and Dirty Guides. Also in the series are The Five Greatest Olympic Disasters, To Brexit or Not to Brexit, Elections, Conventions, The Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court Explained. That is, he is not a gay/queer political/cultural activist or a Queer Theory professor. He is not espousing theory or putting out a manifesto of current gender consciousness. This is a guide, written by a non-gay man, addressed to non-gay people, for understanding a curious wrinkle in the news. News reports and the like about the wide range of sexual alternatives and gender variations sometimes include baffling strings of acronyms and abbreviations that are often far from clear. LGBTQIA+, the alphabet soup used in the subtitle, or QUILTBAG, another arrangement of the letters to make an awkward acronym, are meaningful to some people. But to many others they are just gobbly-gook. Bartlett, the guide to currents in popular consciousness, explains the terms.

Let me hasten to add that the author seems quite knowledgeable and respectful of all the variations. He specifically identifies himself as "a heterosexual cis-gendered male." He knows the right way to say that.

His explanations of the terms Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and more are simple and direct and nicely stated. He avoids contentiousness and doesn't particularly take sides in the debates about who belongs in what category and whether there should even be categories. Indeed, there is a progressive and, for a man who writes about the machinery of democracy, appropriately American  commitment to honesty and respectfulness. He explains that one of his reasons for doing this particular Quick and Dirty Guide is that he himself experienced change in his mind when he learned about the variations on sexuality and that he believes understanding and respect for such variation and difference is the answer to societal conflict and personal suffering. The book ends with this wonderful statement:

  " As a final thought, it is important to keep an open mind when it comes to sexuality and gender. Every human is different and unique, with individual biology, psychology, and feelings. Each story is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to identity. By using the correct language and understanding the inner workings of the LGBTQIA+ and gender spectrum, we can work towards a more harmonious society in which all humans are regarded as valued and equal."

I think this is exactly the kind of attitude towards homosexuality, sexual variance and gender variance that most of us on the gay/queer side want--both from the straight world and from others of our non-straight world.

Arguments will go on, of course, among gay commentators and writers and gender activists and queers and Queer Theorists, etc. about what sexuality and gender really are and about who started which movement and who was what in the past. This is how consciousness grows and develops. It is just amazing how sexual variance has become so readily accepted in the public mind! Independent of such arguments, the straight forward understanding of terms is central to discussion and debate.

Maybe especially because of its simplicity and straight forwardnessquick and dirtythis book contributes to the discussion.

Reviewed by Toby Johnson, author of Gay Spirituality: Gay Identity and the Transformation of Human Consciousness, The Myth of the Great Secret: An Appreciation of Joseph Campbell and other novels and books
3894687
You seldom find in one place a more selfless look in the mirror of ones life and the places she peed than in this book. My esteem for the comedian and actress Sarah Silverman has multiplied like the fishes and loaves (I understand they did that in the Bible at some point, couldn't read, found it dry.) With wit, aplomb and most likely a little weed, Silverman delivered a beautiful analysis of her life so far; and I couldn't be more happily surprised. Not a Hollywood or east coast elite, the book painted her as a woman, and Jew, who I truly feel I know. From the outside, she seemed to have everything but still had many of the hang ups all women have. Thanks Sarah for your bold statements of self truth which made me feel just a touch more normal. Oh, and thanks for the pee. (Ps pee-pee is juvenile, I concur.)
1758367
There is so much to recommend this book to readers interested in the experiences of incarcerated women, both in its inclusivity of voices far beyond the academy and its even-handedness in representing lives and experiences from multiple perspectives. An eye-opening book that serves as a model for a kind of writing, thinking, and acting that has the chance of changing lives--of readers, of the women who are incarcerated, and of scholars who are thinking about the ethics of writing about others' experiences.
4117249
Acharya Rita M. Gross invites a look into the identity of self and others and the nature of interaction with regard to religious affiliation. The author's disposition is nondualistic and Buddhist.

The book opens with a personal experience when Acharya Rita was a college student at age 21. It energized a lifelong career and this book. It also fuels the reading experience: we want to see how the one time college student ends up processing the experience and expressing herself decades and many accomplishments later.

The main thesis is that religious diversity could be viewed as natural as diversity in nature or art and as expectable. She writes, "It seems like sheer nonsense to imagine there could be One True Poem. It would be very helpful if people were equally skeptical about One True Religion."

Two other major theses follow: that exclusive truth claims are harmful, of no benefit to the larger populace, and could easily be dropped without affecting one's religious life.

Also, that when religious and political authority merge and unite, the population could be harmed.

"State neutrality - nonduality - gives space for both proreligious and antireligious factions to make their arguments and to flourish.  ... I can think of no point that, when understood, contributes more to flourishing with religious diversity in a multireligious state," Gross writes.

The development of these themes brings the reader into the perspectives of nonduality and Buddhist teachings. This book is a good way to learn about Buddhism!

I would like to introduce the little-known term diunitality, or diunital consciousness (or diunital thinking, diunital view) as an alternative to the terms neutrality or nonduality when it comes to speaking of a world view that means two and one at the same time. In the diunital world view, opposite qualities -- e.g., right and wrong, Christian and Islamic, left wing and right wing -- remain along with an understanding and a knowing that transcends those opposites. The blogger Agabond writes, "In diunital thinking you see things in their fullness, as being independent and equal. Different does not mean unequal. Different is just different."

This is an academic book that anyone can appreciate and enjoy, especially those investigating their true human nature while working toward a community or world consisting of healthy interactions among people of all inclinations: the religious, the anti-religious, and the non-religious.
2886886
This book is designed for women who want to debug their dates with men, and some of the book is specific to that goal. But a majority of the book is gender independent, and a fair amount of it describes how misunderstandings can arise in a wide range of interactions between people who don't know each other well.
The book isn't very profound, but it is based on fairly careful research that ought to be done more often than it has been. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it and how quickly I finished it.
 I'm not convinced I learned a lot from it. The problems that appear to best describe my interactions with people are the ones that I find relatively hard to change.
 I suspect she overestimates her ability to get accurate reasons from the men, but I don't have much reason to think the men who are misleading her are men who her clients could have better connected with.
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Madhu is a top paediatrician in India. She's written a textbook on children's medicine. But her male colleagues refer to her textbook but place no value on her in-person opinions.

The old model of gender equality is men and women are the same and should be treated accordingly. Annis and Gray propose a new model: men and women are different, value those differences.

Their book is divided into two parts: eight gender blind spots and how to grow in gender intelligence. The first part looks at the truth behind some of the common perceptions of men and women: "Do Men Listen?," "Are Women Too Emotional?" and so on.

The second part looks at better ways of communicating.

What this book captures is that it's arrogant for women or men to assume they know how the other gender feels valued. To appreciate the opposite sex, use gender intelligence to understand what's important to the other person.

The logic Annis and Gray base their book on is sound. Their arguments are based on 20 years of qualitative and quantative in-depth surveys of more than 100,000 men and women.

As a result, you can use this book to grow your gender intelligence.
1607495
I'm not finished yet, but already impressed with the self-reflection coupled with the analytical nature of this book. A must-read for anyone looking to expand diversity and inclusivity measures in their own communities and beyond.
4219098
Self-Discovery Journal For Men by Shalu Sharma is an intriguing deviation from the authors acclaimed series on Hindu society and culture. True to form, this is a spiritually-oriented sojourn into the reader/participants inner feelings and perceptions. This is one hundred twenty-one questions, each of which have a devoted page. The questions range from likes and dislikes to people in ones life, life experiences and aspirations. What this does is allow one to build pieces of a vast puzzle that help a person determine who they are and how they got to be. If youve ever thought of starting a diary or a journal and didn't know how to begin, Shalu Sharmas Self-Discovery Journal For Men may take you to places you didn't know how to find.
673631
My favorite part about the book is that both the protagonist and the antagonist are never (not once) referred to via gender-inducing terms.  They are both referred to as their job, but never by name; never are they referred to as "he" or "she."  I read it more than once and got something different out of it both times.  It was an interesting exercise in learning about yourself and your own preconceptions/prejudices/stereotypes when reading.
849800
Shanna writes with authenticity, using her personal stories to challenge the reader to examine his or her perception of, and reaction to, everyday experiences. For me, this book added another dimension to my thinking regarding how to define my personal success and life purpose.  The book is a collection of chapters that I personally chose not to read through in succession, but rather to flip through and read piecemeal; for me, each stood on its own, in some way.  Some resonated with me more than others at different points, but I think that is part of the beauty of this book - each chapter is aptly named, allowing the reader to flip to the one that is most relevant to their journey on that particular day.
3460913
I don't know what other than to say than I was totally taken by surprise with Philip Nork's, "Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male." I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I didn't expect to find myself completely relating to Philip's sense of struggle with personal identity, insecurity, and loneliness. His retelling of his encounters with various women who taught him valuable lessons throughout his life can only be described as deeply personal and warmly sentimental. I found myself quickly flipping through the pages of the book to see what lesson or experience Philip would encounter next. One only hopes that most men would have his outlook and approach to life and relating to women. If I ever have a son I would definitely want him to read this book. It not only contains Philip's point of view, but includes actual snippets from the various women who impacted his life, and how their relationship impacted theirs. This was a very enjoyable book, and I took from it Philip's bits of wisdom he picked up along the way. This book can be read by men and women alike. There are some true gems of insight to be garnered from this book. I highly recommend it!
3076252
As a man I immensely enjoyed this 'woman's' book.  Mrs. Lindberg uses masterful metaphor to tell her tale of inner discovery.  Her level of insight kept my attention throughout this short memoir.  I will go on the record and call this a man's book also.  There are so many lessons that cross the gender lines.  I believe that I also have a better understanding of women in general.  Her relationship advice is sublime.  I have included my favorite quotes:

"Duration is not the test of true or false."

"There is no one-and-only, there are just one-and-only moments."

"Neither is the answer in dissipating our time and energy in more purposeless occupations, more accumulations which supposedly simplify life but actually burden it, more possessions which we have not time to use or appreciate, more diversions to fill up the void."

"Saint Exupery said 'Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.'"

Five Stars