Reviews (31)

Not Just a History Book
I have read "A Midwife's Tale" so many times that it has fallen apart. I went on Amazon to see if I could find a hard copy to replace the one I wore to pieces. When I saw the reviews, I decided to put my two cents in.I was also compelled to puchase the video based on this book. The video did an excellent job of translating the book to video and putting a voice to Martha. Although I was intrigued by the concept of a complete diary of a midwife, I was not prepared for the impact it would have on me. As an alternative health care provider, I often use herbs to help patients and have actually assisted in the delivery of 3 babies. I am an older woman that has raised my children and now have grandchildren. Martha's life parallelled mine in so many ways. She had a hard time finding help, her children were less then obedient, particularily her eldest son. Premarital sex was rampant. Her husband seemed to often ignore her.He was perfectly happy in jail while she froze at home while her children neglected her. Her faith in a God carried her so many times. I began to casually start reading chapters whenever I was having a particularily difficult day, thinking to myself, "I wonder what challenge Martha overcame this chapter?" She touched my life in such a tender, loving, healing way even though our lives were seperated by 100's of years. I wonder if she ever thought who would read her diary in the future and what an inspiration she would be? I offer this book as a gift of a wonderful woman's life.

Tour de Force
In A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on her Diary, 1785-1812, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich finds a character who is at turns heroic, strong and exceptional. Yet, it is in the mundane details of Ballard's life as recorded in her diary that Ulrich finds her real value for a history of 18th century America. Historians had looked over Ballard's diary before, but they had never quite known what to do with the virtually endless trivia it recorded. However, Ulrich notes in the introduction that "it is in the very dailiness, the exhaustive, repetitious dailiness, that the real power of Martha Ballard's book lies." (9)
Martha, a unique woman
First, it is necessary to mention the period before the 18th century, when the typical puritan woman was more radical and moral, excluded from any participation in the political life of the colony, typically got married in her 20s, having children in two year intervals with an average of 8 children, which made the puritan population increase steadily. This increase also helped to cover the labor needs on colonial farms when land availability was a given. Women were more cooperative, supportive and faithful to their husbands.
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Subjects:  1. 1735-1812    2. Augusta    3. Augusta (Me.)    4. Ballard, Martha,    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Hallowell    9. Hallowell (Me.)    10. Literary    11. Maine    12. Midwives    13. Sociology    14. Women's Studies - History    15. Ballard, Martha    16. Biography: historical    17. Social Science / Women's Studies    18. USA   

Reviews (13)

Highly recommended by professional
I sometimes work with people who are struggling with codependent behavior or sexual addictions. This is the book I most often recommend and I also think it is a great reference for professionals such as psychologists, personal coaches and psychiatrists.
Wonderful and private way to heal yourself from the inside!
Freedom from Relationship/ Co-Dependency/ Sexual Addictions is the greatest asset to this book.I started reading it when my relationship ended with a man I cared for.My bad relationship triggered many unrealistic emotions inside myself that caused me a lot of self damage by acting out and dating guys that were all bad for me because of my low self image since the break-up.
Not just for women!
This book is amazing. Read more

Subjects:  1. Codependents    2. Human Sexuality    3. Love    4. Mental health    5. Psychology    6. Sex addiction    7. Sociology    8. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Sexual    9. Women    10. Coping with personal problems    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    12. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. Femininity    2. Gender Studies    3. Masculinity    4. Psychology    5. Sex role    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Women    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Reviews (8)

Memoirs of Glueckel of Hameln
Fascinating description of an educated Jewish woman's life in the 1600's with an amazing amount of travel in Northern Europe pertaining to family matters and business.It was not a small world by any means.She was a bit effusive in her thanks and acceptance of her life with moralising, but her description of her life is outstanding.

Awellworth-reading document of historical significance
Almost all of the human beings who have lived on this earth have left behind no name or story. This is also true about the vast majority of Jews even when the Jews are a people for whom remembrance is a sacred act. The great great majority of Jews who have lived on this planet too have no names and no stories.
A window into the past
I loved this book.Perhaps I should say that I like old memoirs and journals, particularly by women [and there are so few of them!] and that I also enjoy reading historical documents and about history of certain places and certain centuries.That may be one of the biases of these lines.I might also add I am not Jewish.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1646-1724    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Germany    6. Glueckel,    7. Historical - General    8. Jewish - General    9. Jews    10. Jews in Germany    11. Women    12. of Hameln,    13. Biography: historical    14. Biography: political    15. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    16. Glueckel    17. Jewish studies    18. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (6)

Learning The Women's Way To Heal.
I found this book to be extremely helpful in understanding how a woman heals.Women have a different emotional pathway then men.As I read this book some of my confusion straightened out, the processes given were helpful for a time and I started to have more respect for myself as a woman.At a time when I most needed; this book really helped me in my darkest time.It does not take the place of a therapist or a trusted friend and confidant.But how nice to know I was not going insane, just moving through a growing period in my emotional and spiritual makeup.I hope if you purchase this book, it will be as helpful to you as it was to me.

Excellent Book for Writers
My initial interest in this book was its discussion of archetypes and how they work within a woman's psyche.While this book doesn't break new ground in its discussion of archetypes and mythology, Murdock's personal approach to the topic (she includes her own experiences, both real and dreamed) makes this book especially engrossing.What surprised me was chapater 8, "Healing the Mother/Daughter Split."I was particularly drawn to this chapter, since this is a topic I've yet to deal with in my own writing (I've found it too difficult and painful to delve into).This chapter gave me strength to confront mother/daughter issues I've been avoiding.It also explained why certain imagery, particularly imagery of the female descent to the underworld, has cropped up in fiction that I've already written and published.All writers, male or female, will gain valuable insights from this book.Reading this book is a joyful, liberating experience.--Theresa Williams, author of THE SECRET OF HURRICANES

At last a model of the journey that makes sense
I have just finished The Heroine's Journey.I have read Jung,Joseph Campbell, Carol Pearson, Vogler etc. All of them are fascinating but a little off, just a tiny bit away from my core experience as a woman.Murdock captures the truth of my 50 years on this planet better than anyone.Her book is a must read for anyone who is trying to make sense of the feminine experience. Thank you, Maureen. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Femininity    2. Feminism & Feminist Theory    3. Psychology    4. Sex role    5. Sociology    6. Sociology Of Women    7. Women    8. Women's Studies - General    9. Self-Help & Practical Interests    10. Social Science / Feminism & Feminist Theory    11. Women's studies   

Reviews (17)

A joyful introduction to the feminist politics of bell hooks
For anyone new to radical feminism and/or the work of cultural critic and black feminist activist bell hooks, "Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics" is a wonderful introduction. Like all of her books, it is clear, concise and rich with wisdom. Like Audre Lorde, Cherrie Moraga, Barbara Smith and Gloria Anzaldua, bell hooks has helped to revolutionize feminist theory by insisting on its alliance with socialism and national liberation movements. Begin with this book, then read her others. They will change your life and transform our world.

Good, but the Writing is Sloppy
This book is a great introduction to feminism.It is a comprehensive overview, but it is not overwhelming.
Good, but where is the plan?
i adore bell hooks. i've read all of her. this book is one of the most troubling tho. she seems to think of many men as victims, like when she says that most men don't want to be patriachs. in each chapter, she basically tells everyone what is wrong with current feminism and that it should be changed. what she fails to do is to tell us how feminism CAN be changed. what does one do to change feminism. she gives some ideas, like feminist schools and television networks/programs, but these are highly unrealistic and most individual feminists can't do this, and people who are not feminists really won't do it. the book fails to give real every day alternatives and that is its main downfall. she should tell have told us what feminism can offer and HOW it offers that. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    2. Feminism    3. Feminism & Feminist Theory    4. Feminist theory    5. Multicultural Education    6. Political aspects    7. Sex discrimination against wom    8. Sex discrimination against women    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (30)

Powerful and compelling account of a woman on the reservation
This is a very powerful book about Mary Crow Dog's experiences growing up as a Lakota (Sioux) woman on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.It should be required reading for anyone who feigns ignorance of the ways that Native Americans continue to be treated in the US today.Local whites, the state of South Dakota, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the rest of the power establishment have their inhumanity exposed.
Unforgettable impact.
I read this when it first came out in 1990, but it is timeless: her struggle and success in surviving a time and place difficult for her race and sex, and much on her own, is profoundly touching. Even if you have read "In The Spirit of Crazyhorse", this adds to that since it is a very personal story told by a Native American woman who was a part of AIM and who gave birth to her first child under fire at the siege at Wounded Knee in 1973. But the story of how her personal strength was forged and tested begins prior to that when she leaves her one-room cabin on the reservation as a child for missionary school, which then sends her on a downward spiral from which it took hard years to recover. Some feelings are shared by women across the boundaries of race and time.

This is how America acted only 30 odd years ago...

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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Brave Bird, Mary    5. Dakota Indians    6. Ethnic Cultures - Native Americans    7. Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies    8. Social conditions    9. Teton women    10. Women's Studies - General    11. Biography: general    12. Ethnic studies    13. Human rights    14. Social Science / Native American Studies    15. USA   

Reviews (1)

Thought Provoking and Necessary
White Women, Race Matters is one of the first books which takes on the monumental task of 'decentralizing' white culture.Through interviews with white women, the author describes, delineates and discusses not only'whiteness' but how and why we (they) construct it.While this is anacademic book, it would be beneficial reading for almost every American. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Interracial marriage    2. Interviews    3. Race relations    4. Social conditions    5. Sociology    6. United States    7. Women's Studies - General    8. Women, White    9. Multicultural studies    10. Social groups & communities    11. Social issues    12. USA    13. Women's studies   

Reviews (12)

excellent
Mary Daly makes no apologies.Instead of employing 'mental contortionism' in an effort to interpret blatantly sexist texts in an equitable manner, Daly bravely tosses them aside and forges a new theological understanding.This is one of the best indictments of traditional Catholic beleif that I have ever read, from the scathing rebutals of the pauline texts to the rejection of the idea of any messiah cum human. The tone is forceful witty and incredible clever, and definitely keeps you reading.The urge to move beyond outdated ideas is one of the corner-stones of progress and thus I salute Mary Daly for her much needed work in religious philosophy.

Mary Daly has contributed little to humanity or women
For decades feminist authors such as Miss Daly have used their dubious credentials in academia to promulgate the fantasy of a golden age before the onset of "patriarchy," It's the same 60s nonsense clothed in a new phraseology and when we strip away the fancy prose we're left with the following executive summary: Women once ruled the earth with flowy robes and Gaia conjuring magic wands, and all the world worshipped the Goddess. Any woman who has the courage to study the historical, archeological and paleological evidence by academics with ACTUAL ACCREDITED Ph.D.s will soon understand that this gynocentric vision is a myth which harms and enslaves women. Why? The effect of this genre of novel is not to increase grace, love and mercy, but to further splinter humanity into yet more little tribes, all petulantly vying for victim-status and privilege. When we sublimate and externalize our spiritual pain and longing for transcendence to a hatred of other groups (in this case, men) how can we find happiness in our journey through life?
How cute :)
I love it when girls can write like this.If only she was fifty year younger. I meed to get myself a one way pass to the land of women that she wants' so that I kan be a king :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Theology - General    2. Feminism    3. Feminism & Feminist Theory    4. Philosophy    5. Religion - Theology    6. Religious life    7. Theology    8. Woman    9. Women in Christianity    10. Women's Liberation Movement    11. Religion / General    12. Women's studies   

Reviews (1)

Rich and elegant history of American feminists
Buyer Beware!You are about to fall in love with a feminist.Turn the page and another will become irresistible.Feminists Who Changed America, 1963 - 1975 will change YOU.This is a dazzling compendium of over 2,000 biographies; elegant, short, profound and inspiring.Unlike the lost legacies of many First Wave feminists, the stories of these Second Wave feminists will be preserved forever in this collated, verified and beautifully presented book.In addition, each feminist's archive site is indicated.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Dictionaries - General    4. Feminism    5. Feminism & Feminist Theory    6. Feminists    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History - U.S.    10. History: American    11. United States    12. United States - 20th Century    13. American history    14. Social Science / Women's Studies    15. USA    16. Women's studies   

Reviews (1)

An Excellent, Updated Survey of the Women's Movement
This just-updated history of the women's movement is an excellent introduction to the field.The book surveys the 150-year history of the movement and provides lots of good-looking graphs and tables of the current situation.Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. Political History    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - General    6. United States    7. Women in politics    8. Women's Studies - General    9. Women's rights    10. Political Science / General    11. Political science & theory    12. Women's studies   

Reviews (108)

Great Book, Great Movie!
I read the book earlier this year and just saw the movie tonight!What a great story!What is special is the unique way Evelyn approached life... Sad to see people think she should have thrown out her husband or worse... Then that would have been a Lifetime Network movie - she endured and played the hand she was dealt and was rewarded through raising amazing children and a husband who did his best in the end to support her too... It was tough times pre-credit card days and I'm surprised how few remember that...
Great Book Made Into a Good Movie
Terri Ryan's loving memoir of her mother made a good movie, but an even better book.Evelyn Ryan marries young to a man she finds out is an alcoholic.He drinks every night, is prone to violent outbursts and squanders his paycheck on booze. Living in the 1950's, and a practicing Catholic, there was no support for divorce or birth control.She struggles almost alone to raise her 10 children with very little financial help from her husband and a small amount from her sister-in-law.Her positive attitude and courage were astounding.She saved her family over and over again through her talent for entering the word contests that were very popular at the time.Already living in poverty, she pulled the family out from the brink of disaster over and over again.To her credit, her children all graduated from high school and most even from college.
An interesting memoir of an uncommon life...
As a housewife raising 10 children during the '50s and '60's, Ryan's mother's sole outlet for creativity was contests. Throughout those decades, America was apparently a proliferation of companies, getting people to buy their products by offering prizes for whoever could come up with the next line in a new jingle, or most accurately name a new product line.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Contests    5. Family    6. Literary    7. Parental Memoirs    8. Prize contests in advertising    9. Ryan, Evelyn    10. Women    11. Biography & Autobiography / General    12. Biography: general    13. Women's studies   

Editorial Review

Before Elisabeth Bumiller lived in India in the mid-1980s, she had reported mainly on upper-crust Americans for the Read more

Reviews (18)

A sensitive, honest, well-researched report on the lives of Indian women
Elisabeth Bumiller's account of the lives of women from various walks of life, accumulated during her time spent living in India in the 1980s via interviews and friendships and augmented by the extensive reading she did on the subject before, during, and after her time in India, proved to be a "good read".It was not merely a series of personal anecdotes (lacking in broader perspectives and studies) nor did it err on the other end by being little more than a dry, academic, emotionally detached account of bride burning, dowry murders, female infanticide, the film industry of Bollywood, overpopulation, arranged marriages, domestic hardships, and the like.Instead it was a passionate and thoughtful account by a Westerner living in India who grew to love the people she met and whose research reflected the respect and curiosity she had for the women of India.
May you be the mother of 100 daughters:)
This book was very interesting & I feel that I have learned a lot from reading it. It is non-fiction, the author discusses topics that as citizens of this world we should all educate ourselves on: arranged marriage, bride burning, female infanticide, women in politics, & population control among other topics. This book was written in the 1980s so some of the information might be somewhat outdated but it is very informative regardless. Ms. Bumiller is a Westerner (seemingly a wealthy one) & the book sounds at times like a reading from an academic journal: the case-studies will outrage you but won't bring tears to your eyes or make you board the next plane to India to "make adifference" & help out (it is not a very emotional account). Every woman & man interested in women's status in other cultures should pick up this book & if you consider yourself a feminist you should definitely read it!!

a real eye-opener
I an american woman of indian descent, can really take this book to heart.Though women in Inida have achieved a great deal, they still have a LONG way to go.They must overcome many traditional SOCIAL attitudes. I was brought up in the US, around Indians, and I remember the lies and silly games girls would have to play so that they could get around the traditional culture that prevented them from dating, going out, etc. India may appear modern on the outside, with legal status guaranteed to women under the law, and of our recent economic boom, but look behind the curtains and you'll see a society where the fascade of modernity is overshadowed by a centuries-old view of woemn and their roles in society.Not only does India and its men discriminate against women, but it makes life a living nightmare for those individuals who really do want to encourage reform and liberate the society there. Males are still favored over femlaes, and thus many girls' lives are miserable in their families, especially in the rural areas.What's worse, the goervnment only pays lip service to such issues and is not at all genuine in implementing social reform and legal protection for women and girls. India's Still VERY BACKWARD in its social attitudes, and let's hope that through education and westernization, we can shed some light on some taboo issues, and make all necessary changes.We can only pray India gives women a fair chance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - India    2. India    3. Sociology    4. Women    5. Women's Studies - General    6. Fiction / Literary    7. Religion: general   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (18)

WARNING: The Legacy of UNFIT INCOMPETANT Mothers and Healing the Aftermath
Another reason why NOT to have children if you are not prepared to make someone else FIRST for the rest of your life!
close, but not quite
I was looking for a book that had legends about orphans to which I might relate.This book only has 4 or 5 stories and I had already heard them in some form.I also thought there might be some therapeutic or life management benefit in listening to this book.However, the author merely lists the "gifts" (personality tendencies) and describes the emotions of abandoned children, but does little by way of giving ideas for healing oneself or dealing with the ongoing relationships between our relatives and others.The content and gentle delivery might be helpful to those still grieving or those still trying to put their feelings into words; but, it does little for listeners at the next level seeking solutions or strategies.

True help for the pain of despair-it is like "magic '
I loved this tape sooooo much. It helped me on a deep level where I yearned for a mothers love. I recommend it so very much to those who have a deep yearning for love. It really heals ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio - Nonfiction    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Folklore & Mythology    4. New Age    5. Sociology - Marriage & Family    6. Spirituality - Divine Mother, the Goddess, Quan Yin    7. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    8. Women's Studies - General    9. Customs & folklore    10. Family & relationships    11. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    12. Myths & mythology   

Editorial Review

This fascinating, scholarly hodgepodge spotlights the feminist underpinnings of myth, religion, and culture. Before being lionized as Read more

Reviews (58)

It's wrong in places, but who cares it's so very cool
3 stars as an encyclopedia, 5 because it's the best story I've read in a long time.
Unfortunately....
I wished I could write a good review for this book.However, I can't.I read it.From a literary standpoint, the book is an obvious polemic.Ever evil under the sun can be traced to men, Christianity, and society run by men, (in about that order).
Great Book
I have had this book for about 6-7 years now and always come back to it every few weeks or months to look something up. Do I take Absolutley every statement or folky etymology she states as Fact? No I don't, nor should anyone who reads Any book.
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Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. Encyclopedias    3. Folklore    4. Goddesses    5. Mythology    6. Sociology    7. Spirituality - Women's    8. Women    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Myths & mythology    11. Reference works    12. Social Science / Women's Studies    13. Women's studies   

Reviews (23)

Very insightful....thought provoking...
get this on audio tape. I assume that it is Liz Perle narrating.
Money, A Memoir- to remember!
I LOVED this book, and have referred to in often in conversations with different groups of women.It's amazing the way that Liz Perle has been able to "put her finger" on the way we, as women, think of and feel about money.I loved it- will read it again!

A Helpful Memoir for Women
Liz Perle does a really nice job in "Money, A Memoir" of weaving statistics, professional studies, and other people's experiences with her own personal experience and insight.While many parts of her book sound familiar (e.g., women shopping when they're in a slump) it does look below the surface at some of the root causes of our unhealthy relationship with money and why we differ vastly from men in that regard.The other thing I appreciated about the book was that Perle doesn't claim to have all the answers, and explains how she was able to find a happy medium in her relationship with money, which to me sounded like something I could attempt and achieve.Thanks, Liz for a very important memoir that women of all ages should read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Consumer Finance    3. Finance, Personal    4. Money    5. Personal Finance    6. Personal Finance - General    7. Personal Finance - Money Management    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology Of Women    10. Social Psychology    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Women    14. Women's Studies - General   

Reviews (1)

women's history
this book has great information of women history in the United States.Easy to read and understand.Good pictures all over the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gender Studies    2. History    3. History: American    4. United States - General    5. Women's Studies - General    6. History / United States / General   

Reviews (15)

Informative but long winded
Dancing Girls is a little too long but well written. Brown from England, lives in the Pleasure District for weeks at a time. This can be very painful reading, very young girls are raised to be prostitutes, neglect and abuse are rampant. But I am curious as to how and why Brown (an academic) can leave her own daughters back in England.
Worth every minute of my time & every penny of the money spent
Excellent!!! The only way to describe this book.

Read this book only if...
you have the stomach to digest the extremes of how mankind cansuffer, bear the pain, and still find a reason to live.Written from first hand witness accounts of the author, it takes you into depths few will venture to go.It is hard to believe that such conditions exist anywhere in the world, that caste system (spoken or otherwise) can destine multiple generations into being little more than lust objects.
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Subjects:  1. Lahore    2. Pakistan    3. Prostitutes    4. Prostitution    5. Social Science    6. Social conditions    7. Sociology    8. Sociology Of Women    9. Women    10. Women's Studies - General    11. Social Science / General   

Editorial Review

The only constants in nature are change and death. Terry Tempest Williams, a naturalist and writer from northern Utah, has seen her share of both. The pages of Read more

Reviews (37)

This verse unlocks the heart.
Terry Tempest Williams is a national treasure. Her unvarnished verse carries one deep into the mystery of the Earth and sends us helplessly into the depths of our own hearts. The landscape of wildness breaths a spectacular wisdom under the watchful eyes of this keen observer of wind, rock, desert, sky, sage, along with the birds who soar and dance and play in a benediction to non-sentient life.
If you have been affected by cancer it is worth reading!!!
I loved and hated this book. It is beatifully written.I found the author frustrating at times.Some parts got a little long winded about the birds. It takes you on a emotional rollercoaster but the pay off of finishing this book is worth