Sexism and Fatphobia....ugh
354911
Overall, I liked it.

My complaints- fatphobia, misogyny/sexism, and some LGBTQA BS (comment regarding it being a "waste" that a woman is a lesbian). Not sure if it's the author or the way he wants the protaganist to be perceived. If it's the latter, there are so many other ways to add quirks/flaws to a "good guy." It just smells of the acquaintances you have that make borderline racist/sexist/etc comments that put you off after you think for a minute.

Beyond that, the protaganist is a guy trying to keep his family and close friends safe during the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. The pace is okay, as are the storyline and the characters. The protaganist doesn't do the classically stupid things that many characters do in this genre. He is immature and juvenile, though.

I liked enough to start reading the next book just to see what happens in this world.
1310616
The book generally made me sick.  Primarily over the character Shulamit.  What a piece of work she is.  Anything positive you could endear yourself to about this character was ruined by the ostentatious displays of money Mr. Wexler feels the need to display.  Aside of the money - what women at a University wants to befriend and identify with a woman who declares herself "The Queen" of the freshman law school class in order to run for President as Shulamit does - and easily recruits women to help her campaign with this proclamation???  Only a man could even think this was possible.  Trust me.....certain death politically there!  The more you read the book, the less you can stand this pretentious bitch.  She has 2 children in the book and you hear barely anything about her as a warm, maternal person - however you do (repeatedly) hear her described as one who does not cook, clean, or drive herself - in fact hires people to do all those "menial" tasks for her.  This shallow, vulgar, ornate woman is one we are to believe and embrace as a Rebbetzin??  Shame on you!  She is a disgrace!  She should cease and desist wasting her time in the mikvah - no one would want to boink this materialistic, self absorbed bitch!  Too over the top with the wealth in the Levine family.  I am embarrassed for Mr. Wexler.
4600551
I tried to like this novel as it was compared to Sophie Kinsella novels that I have enjoyed, but I LOATHED the main character Jools. Her character completely epitomizes the "entitled" attitude that is not only annoying but offensive. I was even initially put-off by her physical description: an overweight, yellow-toothed woman with uncombed hair. Yet, I still plugged on for a few more chapters trying not to be judgmental or superior because I brush my teeth and exercise, thinking 1) she would get a makeover or 2) her personality would develop and actually be likeable. But no, she's a lazy thief who defrauds government aid while stuffing her face with cookies and if that weren't bad enough the cow actually feels as if life is somehow mistreating her. While I've learned to accept the "fat woman accepts her body and learns the meaning of life by eating pastries"  victimology plotline that is running offensively rampant, defrauding the government and stealing are levels self-entitlement that can't be overlooked.
As an aside and closing note, I am starting to believe you can't read a contemporary woman-focused novel without the protagonist being a fat woman who laments her size and society's supposedly rigid beauty standards over her fifth donut. Note to authors: stop encouraging morbid obesity. Note to readers: get off your ass, stop eating pastries, and get some self esteem. Then maybe I can stop reading about it!
3943613
What an awful book this is. On the pretext of telling women not to be preoccupied with their looks and weight, Wolf has written several hundred pages about women's looks and weight. Her intentions, I am sure, were righteous; but the "empowering" framing message fades away in comparison to the hypnotically graphic struggle-porn that forms the bulk of the text. As I read these horror stories about breast surgery and analyses of cosmetics advertisements, I had an all-too-familiar feeling of prurience. The cumulative effect was similar to that of the women's magazines Wolf deplores, but more inimical. I am a college-educated female with a history of mild eating disorders, and I closed the book feeling more insecure and depressed about my looks and weight than I had in years. In conclusion, anyone with a history of bulimia and / or anorexia ought to stay well away from "The Beauty Myth" unless she has total confidence in her immunity to triggering materials.

Another not-so-minor quibble: Wolf's chapter on "Religion" exposes her total ignorance of Christian doctrine, be it Catholic or Protestant. She writes from the premise that Christianity is anti-woman, apparently expecting that her readers will accept this common canard without any logical arguments to back it up. This further stains her intellectual credentials.
4544488
I'm so stupid for buying this book. With endorsements from Tracy Anderson and GP, I thought there would be more to it. I'm actually shocked at the quality and wish I could "return" my kindle version for a refund. That's how bad this is.

If you're familiar with and prone to agree with the concept behind "The Secret," this book at first seems appealing. I believe in the power of positive thoughts and that positivity tends to produce other positive results in our lives.

But this book takes the concept to insane, pseudo-scientific places with Dr. Sadeghi actually claiming that our thoughts alone can make a piece of cake fattening or not fattening. Yes, he actually says that people who can eat whatever they want can do so because the power of their thoughts. As anyone who has ever struggled with their weight can attest, this is an absolute farce and a total slap in the face. Some people are in fact simply gifted with figured/metabolisms that allow them to enjoy and indulge in ways those of us who must stick to 1000 calories a day to just maintain a normal figure would die to be able to. How insulting that Dr. Sadeghi claims a thin person is thin because their thoughts are "thin." What total crap.

He also invokes and distorts the findings of many "scientific studies," providing no footnotes, etc. and making it obvious that he is a total con. I'm all for touchy feely spiritual stuff but this is an insult to my intelligence and the book is rife with L I E S.

For the reviewer who stated that this is "The Secret," by another name - you're sort of right. I only wish it were. I was hoping this would be a guide to help better accept myself whether 10 pounds above my goal weight or not. Instead, this is a joke of a book that repeatedly tells us if we just think of the food that passes our lips as non-fattening, it will be so.

Don't I wish!

TOTAL JOKE AND WASTE OF TIME. DR. SADEGHI IS A FRAUD. Gwyneth Paltrow and Tracy Anderson should be ashamed for promoting this piece of junk.
4114165
I would have loved this book, but during their discussion of feminist care ethics, in a box called "You be the judge: Nature or nurture?", they display the most obvious kind of sexism possible.  At first I thought it was a joke, and searched the chapter for some kind of clue that they were purposely exhibiting blatant sexism, but there was not joke. Anyway, what they did was this, they had a list of traits that were applicable to men or women, and then the reader is supposed to decide whether the trait is a result of nature or nurture.  However, in every comparison that referred to females, the writers referred to them as "girls," and when they referred to males, they referred to them NOT as "boys," but as "men" or "guys."  I don't know about other areas of the country, but in the mid-west, a girl is a child and a man or a guy is an adult. If they meant female children, then "girl" would be appropriate, but then why are they comparing female children to male adults?  I just can't believe some editor let this through.

Panza, Christopher; Potthast, Adam (2010-05-11). Ethics For Dummies (p. 216). John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition.
3691885
Aside from the half hearted attempts by the author to make the reader feel mediocre about their physical appearance, this book is a great way to ruin a woman's self confidence. The authors produce a few valid points, but overall I felt they were saying, "Give up on men because none of them like you." I feel bad for the young, impressionable minds who read this book and have their self-esteem and confidence detroyed.
117492
I love reading books with strong female leads, women who fight and stand up for what they believe.  Women who despite their limitations, dare to define the status quo.  But this is not one of them.  The female in this books has to be the world's biggest doormat.  She is completely useless!!!  She lets herself be used again and again by men.  She is plain, boring, and enfuriating.  I hate this book.
2218702
A friend let me borrow this book after they finished it and I have to say that this book was probably the most sexist thing I have encountered that aimed directly at men.  The author obviously has had several bad relationships and has failed at each one.  At one point she defended her own views by saying that making plans, scheduling and planning events without considering the man's opinion at all was not being controlling but "creating" and "caring".  The author seems to be a control fiend with a superiority complex.  I especially enjoied how she went on a long rant about how men don't know where the clitoris is or how to use it and went into great detail about how (she likes) to have it stimulated.

While this book did have a few good points to consider, the rest of it was just male bashing and a huge rant that would be better suited on a livejournal or myspace blog.
1885696
My third grader brought this home from school to read for a book report. I did not like how the writer had the main character so focused on her weight and being fat. That is not something I want my daughters to think is important. Even at the end they comment that she is losing her fat. Way to encourage bad body image.
3645895
I hate romance novels where the main characters refer to all of the other female characters as whores, sluts, and skanks repeatedly without ever giving it a break.  Its seriously sexist, first of all.  Secondly, whats wrong with women enjoying their sexuality?  Its fine for the guys but not for the girls?  I cant stand when authors make the heroine a little saint and the hero sleeps with everyone in sight which makes him a stud but the women hes sleeping with sluts.  Its just wrong.

Theres many aspects of this story that bothered me but one big one is that the heroine (Alex) has no female friends.  She even goes as far to say that shes glad she doesnt.  This is psychologically worrisome and emotionally unhealthy.  I think any psychologist would agree.  Both of the main characters just need intensive therapy.  Its hard to root for them when they're so immature and their values are so questionable.

This book really pits women against each other and uses that tired blondes vs brunettes thing. Yawn.

I also didn't like how there was really no reason for the H/h not to be together but it just kept dragging on just to have a story.

There was another point in the story where Alex went on a date and didn't want to eat so she didn't look like a heifer.  I mean, a statement like that is just so irresponsible and damaging on so many levels.  Wheres the empowerment here?

The beginning of the book holds promise but then it just descends into this trashy, sexist, tedious hole that I really had trouble getting all the way through.
3633446
Like others, I've been torn about this book. I thought the information into how men are motivated (protector and provider) was helpful. That's given me insight into and compassion for my husband, who is a very good man. But I have to say the advice to women was offensive to me. For instance, the suggestion that I wear a nice blouse when I'm working around the house, because men are visual... Or that I should make sure that I make love often with my husband, but should make sure I  always feel desire. Or that I should be grateful if my husband stays faithful because he really wants to sample "the candy store" somewhere else.  I was also struck by the authors comments regarding when his wife suggested they go to counselong to fix "his" problem and his determination that it was really "her" problem.

I guess I reject the premise that men are fragile, childish boys that need coddling, and that using "soft power" i.e., manipulation, is better for a relationship.

I appreciate that I may not be doing everything right in my relationship but I don't think that means I must subjugate my personality to my husband's to make things work.
1317066
Not going to sugar coat it, I am very disappointed in this book. I read Geneen's Women, Food, and God and absolutely LOVED it, I knew I had found a writer I could relate to. In exploring some of her other works, I found the concept of this book particularly intriguing, especially as I am at a crossroads in my life, having just left my job and am trying to find the thing my soul "really hungers for". Like another reviewer, I also became super excited within the first few chapters when Geneen speaks about dealing with Candida and the very restrictive diet required to eliminate it, as I also have this affliction. She goes on and on about how terrible the diet is, how she's bingeing and gaining weight, then freaking out about her weight gain, and then...switches topic! It's a terrible habit of hers throughout this book, there is not a complete thought in the entire book. But I was furious! What happened with the candida!? Did you stay on the super strict diet and risk being plunged back into bingeing/going against what you've always taught about eating what you want, or did you give up on the diet?? These are the questions I am having to ask myself right now and I was hoping to find some advice. The book isn't awful, but just lacks cohesion. Never thought I would say this about Ms. Roth, but I did not enjoy this book or even find myself relating to her throughout her myriad stories about what a secretly selfish and obsessive person she is who is still terrified about gaining weight.
4850707
I'm a nice person (for the most part). Some how Jennette Fulda made me loathe a total stranger! That's no easy feat. I found her to be insufferable at times in this book. I teetered from wishing her headache would stay forever to wishing she'd developed some kind of narcotic addiction that would end this drawn out story or at least take it in an exciting direction. Once I started reading this, I remembered why I was irritated by first book, "Half Assed" too. She's just not likable. I'm all for sarcasm and cynicism. Really, I love it more than most but she's crotchety and snarky to the point that you wish bad things on her. Or at least I did.

She complained incessantly about the feedback from her blog followers. I found myself screaming aloud, "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD THEN STOP POSTING ABOUT IT!" She complained when doctors didn't show enough interest in her. She complained when doctors were social. She wanted everyone to know she was legitimately sick (i.e. the IV tube story), but she complained when they offered up solutions or expressed sympathy, always quick to remind us that no one knew what she was going through. I feel like everyone either went to school with or works with a Jennette... and no one wants to have lunch with her. She's that person whose cubical who you would take an extra scenic route to not have to walk past.

More than anything, the book just didn't have enough substance. 1/3 of the content is excessive words and metaphors; 1/3 is woe is me and the other 1/3 is a temper tantrum. None of which advance the book or endears you to the author. Honestly, I'm shocked this found a publisher. Vapid, awful and waste of time.
1977915
I bought her book A Woman's Worth years ago, loved it and have read it numerous times so I thought she would be the perfect person to help with my weight loss motivation.  WRONG!  I had no idea she was so religious-y.  This series is more for bible thumpers trying to lose weight.  Constant preaching, I just couldn't stand it and didn't get through half of it.  Lost the 30 pounds without her!
2290512
I hated this book. I really wanted to like it, I really did. It had the ups and downs of women trying to lose weight and basically failing over and over again... it was about the author but interspersed with the stories of the author's online friends.. maybe my idea of friendship is different, but it seemed almost mean, like she didn't even actually like these women. Some of her comments about them were incredibly snarky. She made some good points but I chug through most Kindle reads in a day or two. This one took me a few weeks. I really didn't want to finish it. If you're looking for some kind of feel-good story, look elsewhere. If you want to hang out with someone while you mutually blame your weight loss on everything under the moon besides yourself? Then read this book.
2150373
I have such mixed feelings on this book.  It was well written, hilarious, and easy reading.  But some parts of it left me feeling so frustrated, distressed, and helplessly enraged about what this woman had gone through.  Three parts in specific made me want to reach through the pages and strangle her for being so passive and allowing people to steamroll right over her: the grocery clerk ordering her to put her stuff back on the shelves, the awful incompetent judge, and the welfare-office lady who insisted her card was working and ordered her to leave.  In those three instances I would've been FURIOUS and either made a big scene or followed up with a formal complaint and raising hell in every kind of possible way under the sun.  Instead Hogan does nothing, and just puts up with it?  That's when she chooses to be a victim, instead of taking charge.

But then again, if she had reacted any differently, WOULD that have really gotten her any farther?  Maybe that's what makes me so worried with these parts of the book, I'm even troubled at my OWN reaction to being in these scenarios - like I'm a control freak who deplores not being in charge of everything and always knowing what's going on.  To be in her shoes would be a nightmare to me that I don't think I could deal with and still keep my sanity.  And the fact that the medical system, the court system, and the welfare system all pretty much FAILED HER in such a spectacularly bad fashion is so disheartening and SO infuriating to me, that I just wanna throw the book across the room, have a good cry, and then never think about the topic again.

Overall though, I guess this was an important book to read, even if it wasn't entirely pleasant the whole time.  It's light reading, I finished it in a few days, and I couldn't wait to start each new chapter to see what would happen next.  I'm madly curious about more details though, such as how much $$ did she settle for, what was the identity of the people who hit her, etc?  See if this were me, I would play the name & shame game in a heartbeat.  Publish the full name of that drunken lazy judge who screwed up her case, as well as the adddress & name of her court/employer.  Then let people harass her into oblivion *lol*  Or at least the author should mention in the book that YES she did file a complaint with the NYC Judicial Board over the judge's gross negligence, to hopefully get the old bag disbarred or disciplined for her unprofessionalism.

Ditto the criminals who ran over her with their car then tried to resort to all sorts of illegal & unethical tricks to duck responsibility.  Shame on them!  Call 'em out by name Hogan, that's why you're an author & blogger!  In terms of retribution, the people who wronged her have NO IDEA what they did was wrong, and what makes me so mad is that Hogan hasn't done a thing to right the wrongs that they did to her!  In other words, they'll keep on doing the exact same things to other people, living their lives in evil blissful ignorance filled with wrongdoing, entitlement-mentality arrogance, and lazy selfishness.  People like that are a toxic drain on society and deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law!  That was one of the things that frustrated me the most about reading some of this book - the injustice of it all.  We'd all like to think that we'd "fight back" in a situation like this, instead of curling up in a little ball and just accepting the beatings that you're being given.  I'd love to read a sequel to this book, written in the style of "Revenge" that one TV show on ABC, where Emily Thorne comes to kick some tail and right the wrongs as only she can *lol*