Life So Far: A Memoir

by Betty Friedan

It was Betty Freidan herself, in Life So Far, who spoke about her life and career and told us what it was all like from the inside. With the unsparing frankness that made The Feminine Mystique one of the most influential books of the century, Friedan looked back and told us what it took, and what it cost, to change the world. She took us on an intimate journey through her life, from her lonely childhood to the founding of NOW and her brilliant, contentious, and brave leadership of the Movement.

Life So Far chronicles the secret underground of women in Washington in the early sixties who drafted Friedan to spearhead an "NAACP" for women, and the daring of many who spoke out against discrimination. Friedan recounts the political infighting and dirty tricks that occurred within the Movement as well as the forces that tried to destroy it and how hard she fought to keep the Movement practical and free of extremism, including "man-hating." Friedan is equally frank about her twenty-two-year marriage to an advertising entrepreneur, which deteriorated into physical abuse. They later reconciled as friends.

Life So Far is forthright, full of stories and larger-than-life characters, and it is the scope of Friedan's vision and achievements that makes her memoir so important and compelling.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2000

About the author

American feminist Betty Naomi Friedan (née Bettye Naomi Goldstein) wrote The Feminine Mystique in 1963 and cofounded the National Organization for Women in 1966. This book started the "second wave" of feminism.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the women's movement, from the woman who started it all. It's amazing how much truly has changed in the last half century, and how much impact one person can have on the world. Friedan admits regrets, explains aspects of her life and work that she thinks are often misunderstood, and throws in a good deal about her sex life (including many affairs with married men) to boot. She's thoughtful but matter-of-fact, and unapologetic in that she knows she always did what she thought was right at the time. That's really all you can hope for in the end, right? Knowing you did the best you could? Friedan makes an inpiring case for following your gut, and doing all you can to leave the world a little better than you found it.

[Deidre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read. Its always hard to see the humanity of one of your idols. I was surprised by both Friedan's nonchalance regarding her husbands long term physical abuse and her admitted homophobia within the woman's movement she helped launch. I enjoyed getting a front row seat from her perspective from some of the major moments in women's herstory. I cried when I recognized the name Shirley Johnson, one of my econ prof's at Vassar, as a woman who shared a commune with Betty in the 70's. Fascinating to see the circles we choose to walk in and how any "housewife" facing "the problem that has no name" can go one to achieve great things in the name of sisterhood.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Autobiography of Betty Friedan, one of the founders of the modern feminist movement. I lightly skimmed parts of it. It contains some juicy tidbits concerning an affair she carried out for 10 years with David Manning White, my uncle.

[Jennifer Exo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about the women's liberation movement, and greatly enjoyed Betty Friedan's writing style. A great book to remind yourself how far women have come, and how far they have to go.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that reminds me there is still much work to be done.

[Elana Porat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique in high school and felt my mind blown by how much history was accomplished in such a short period of time, and how recent it was! This led me to her memoir - which has been on my shelf for two decades. Well, I finally read it. The question of what it means to be a feminist is really quite simple - all of us women living our independent lives today can’t really say we are anything other, for how many of our freedoms were won (that we aren’t even aware of!) by hard working, forward thinking women like Betty Friedan. Her blunt, straightforward writing style is refreshing as she delves into her many adventures and accomplishments over the years, including her regrets - all in the name of women’s rights. Reading her memoir made me feel like I knew her, including her self-proclaimed, “I’m a bad-tempered bitch”. But there is no doubt her accomplishments were unending, her passion unrelenting, and her contributions to women’s personhood was unsurpassed by any other. My one critique is all her name dropping (which was extensive and impressive) just got in the way of my flow.

[Ruth Glasser]

Not a great book, but definitely interesting to get her spin on things, many years after reading The Feminine Mystique.

[1patstoll Stoll]

I loved reading this book, it made me remember the thrill of reading "The Feminine Mystique" many years ago. Betty has guided my life, rest her soul. This is a memoir, but deals with the same issues.

[Lmsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A view at a truly phenomenal life written by the woman herself. She is an inspiration.

[Jean Oram · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing woman and an amazing life. Who would have thought someone this strong and influential would be caught up in domestic violence?

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would like this book but I ended up loving it. It's very inspirational and tells great stories about the time period in history.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting inside story of the women's movement . Took a while to finish though .

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friedan's portrayal of casual (and not so casual) sexism is so relatable. Her warm recounting of her life and ideas makes the whole issue less polarizing and "radical". Loved the writing.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Read for school

[Zoe Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

opening days of NOW.