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

The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
The Beauty Myth How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
Author: Naomi Wolf
ISBN-13: 9780060512187
ISBN-10: 0060512180
Publication Date: 10/1/2002
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 42

3.9 stars, based on 42 ratings
Publisher: Perennial
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

11 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

Leigh avatar reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
Halfway through the book I watched an interview with Naomi Wolf on PBS where she wore make-up! -- the very same "evil" she'd been condemning throughout this. After I finished reading, though, I understood.

I disagree with many of her arguments, but I found the book entertaining and informative. Personally, I love curling my hair and putting on make-up, but not because I've bought into the male-driven visual culture. I think she redeems herself at the end and gives a well-thought out conclusion. I also don't think it would hurt women to be aware of what she suggests.

However, coming from a knock-out like Naomi Wolf, it's a bit hard to swallow her idea that beauty shouldn't be that important to women. There's a reason she's classified as a "Do-Me Feminist."
apachesun avatar reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on
Helpful Score: 5
This is an amazing, insightful book on how society over-emphasizes beauty to the point that young girls and women equate it with our personal value. This book helped me immensely with my own self worth.
iluvlibros avatar reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 73 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is such a powerful book. The facts and ideas not only haunt you as you go about your everyday life, but they also empower you to fight against the unfair standards that women today face. I think this is a must read for every woman.
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
An interesting read. I didn't agree with everything in this book, but I think it's worth reading if you have an interest in gender studies or the relationship between media and culture and self-image.
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a really powerful book that shows how, "Western women have escaped from one form of enslavement only to fall into another - the increasingly insidious 'beauty myth'"
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
this is a thought provoking book for women of all ages. particularly good for those of us raising girls to be assertive women.
suzibrooke avatar reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a really insightful and powerful book. The time that has passed since the book was written, has just magnified the truth within.

Wolf's assertion that we are controlled and belittled by the tyranny of these expectations are absolutely true!

I am not posting this book for swapping as I intent to reread it often to counter the messages we are constantly bombarded with.
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 158 more book reviews
"_The Beauty Myth_ is a smart, angry, insightful book, and a clarion call to freedom. Every woman should read it." --Gloria Steinem
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 469 more book reviews
"Powerful . . . No other work has . . .sho honestly depicted the confusion of accomplished women who feel emotionally and physically tortured by the need to look like movie stars." New York Times
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 911 more book reviews
The bestselling classic that redefined our view of the realtionship between beauty and female identity.
reviewed The Beauty Myth : How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women on + 3 more book reviews
There are some markings in this book from the previous reader--nothing that interferes with a good read.