Wow...
As a third world woman I classify this as something that will not under any circumstance be of help to you.
I'm sorry to anyone this might offend, but I found this book such a bore, so utterly repetitive, with a very sad pen.
Erin Gallagher, I can't be your hype woman.
It actually scares me that I might be going against everything this book was supposed to teach as I write this review.
From the start I was super excited to read a book that is supposed to pull women out of the ditch, to remind them of their power and to give them a boost forward. I was sadly disappointed.
Yes you can learn certain things from this book. Anything useful? probably not.
I think that as a third world woman, we Iranians learn everything in this book within the first chapter of our lives. we learn all of these because we're faced with so many wrongs on our day to day basis. I genuinely am confused how those in America need to read a forty something year olds perspective on life to realize how many cycles can absolutely do you wrong.
I won't deny that her experiences are valuable. but they are probably more of a "hey my life was awful don't feel awful if yours is too" kind of experience.
We are encumbered by financial, existential, and overall dramatic problems which are so all encompassing that they are borderline frightening when thought of. Not only am I working so hard to be able to live (I live with my parents) and to provide for my mental and physical health, but I also am fearful of rape, sexual assault, every single wave of economic crisis and fluctuation in the market. I am fearful of what I'm going to be in the society. My friends are all dealing with much more than I, being caught without a headscarf or without proper clothing, simply being a woman in a male dominated country and so on...
Sure it's a quick and easy read for someone who might have had hardships and needs someone to relate to, but no I'm sorry relationships are so much more than a couple sentences that explain who is red, flashing red, yellow or green. I'm sorry my relationship with my body is so much more complex than a chapter on America's messed up health care. All of these problems are horrifying if you haven't lived in the constant horror of a country other than America.
I am a hype woman through and through but I don't think everyone deserves Hype. Yes we should support one another but we should be careful what we support. We should hold one another's hands but we should also be mindful that sometimes it's not just us in the equation. I think that this book was meant as an ode to herself, and honestly you go girl Gallagher, I'm sorry that you had so many hardships in your life and I'm happy you turned it around for yourself, I'm so happy you finally learned how to put more value into yourself and to find your way through life. To tell everyone about your struggles and what you think many might be going through.
I also think that PEOPLE as a whole have to realize the world is bigger than just America.
There are so many countries, so many wrongs that are going around all over, that I actually scoffed when a book as thick as this failed to mention almost way too many of them. instead I felt like I was reading a biography not something that is supposed to help me as a woman.
I'm sorry I actually feel like shit not being able to hype up this book, but that's just how I feel.
I needed genuine help, and I came up way too short.
I hope others were able to read this and learn something valuable but if you're from anywhere except America, I don't think you'd find this helpful at all.