How to Be a Woman

Caitlin Moran, thank you for this book. It was so funny and a great reminder that the women's movement hasn't gone anywhere. I am so glad I didn't have to wait too long for Moranthology to follow. I have read both books several times in the past 30 days. I love them.

This is my favorite book of all time! Caitlin Moran is like a British David Sedaris, but with a strong focus on feminism. Since the title sounds a bit cheesy, I was hesitant to pick this book up at first, but thank god I did - I really feel like it changed my life. Hilarious & thought-provoking.

Caitlin comes from a horribly dysfunctional family, poor as church mice, disengaged mother. She was working for entertainment publishing before she was out our high school. Her view of becoming a woman Was about how SHE became a woman. And she's still a mess.

This woman's first person account of her first child birth will chill your blood. She lives inside her head, and fully expect to die in childbirth. It is scream inducing, in the reader.

I am a feminist, have been for over 40 years. I shudder to think what this girl considers being a feminist means.

She's pretty shallow. There are sections of clarity and responsible journalism, they they are few and far between. This woman is British and her experiences and language use are strange for the American reader.

This book is pretty funny, but there are some offensive jokes, especially if you're sensitive to the word "retard". If you've never considered yourself a feminist and know very little about feminist theory this book is accessible and will probably broaden your horizon; however if you're well informed on feminist theory then you will probably find this book a bit of a disappointment and many parts problematic. Still worth a read either way.

With a smashing sense of humor and unafraid of revealing her own insecurities, Caitlin Moran encourages women to not just be, simply because they are women. That's not good enough anymore. By recognizing that we are ordinary and made of human flesh (and that we don't taste like a 'Bird's Strawberry Trifle') is when we are truly liberated and can enjoy womanhood. She isn't self punishing like many women tend to be and we can learn from her. This book unknowingly became a fun self help book. I didn't read it for that reason but she shed so much light on issues with her wicked humor that it became a very welcoming one.

I literally laughed so hard I cried at several different points throughout this book. I was impressed throughout with Moran's perspective, wit, and excellent POV on all things lady-related. The word "feminist" can have oddly dour associations; read this book to dispel them.

She is pretty outrageous, and rightfully so. Some of the chapters make you want to crawl in a hole for the poor girl. Others get you fired up. And then others just have you laughing your ass off, never wanting it to end!

Caitlin gets it all right about feminism. We don't hate men and want to take over the world from them. We just want our little piece of it without having to be less than who we are. Reading this book was like reading my own thoughts. There was nothing she said that I didn't agree with.

Caitlin Moran's book reminded me why feminism isn't finished. I read it at a time when some things at work were bothering me, and I applied her suggestion of asking yourself, "is this happening to the men?" Oops, bingo. Now I realize what's going on, anyway.

Besides the modern feminism reality check, her stories about growing up, becoming a writer, being young, etc etc are hilarious and, for me, sympathetic. Loved it, laughed out loud many times, quoted pieces to friends, and have recommended this book many times already.

Oh man! Caitlin Moran is hilarious! This is the first book of hers that I've ever read and I've been borrowing it to all my friends. I honestly laughed out loud to so much of this book. Her quick wit and sarcasm in addition to her real life situations make this hilarious and very relatable. Being 23, much of this is relatable but when it came to being a mother, not so much. Even so I really enjoyed reading this

Through the mighty powers of related suggestions on my Kindle, I discovered How to Be a Woman, or at least I discovered the book and not the answer. My Kindle is usually pretty good with suggestions, and it was right about this one, as well.

Overall I enjoyed the book as long as I don't pick apart each chapter. There were some chapters that I liked more than others, and a couple of chapters I didn't like at all. Admittedly, I skimmed or skipped through the couple of chapters that didn't do much for me, such as the chapter on Abortion and Role Models. Her views on Abortion don't match mine, and while I respect that we are both allowed to have different views, I felt like she was "poking fun" at people who don't have her same view. The Role Models chapter seemed to be there to solely put into words her high disdain for Katie Price.

With those two chapters out and a few soapbox moments in some other chapters, the book was pretty spot on for what I enjoy reading in a book about what women like and really bonded with Caitlin through her words. Caitlin is a mother and has a chapter on being a mother, followed by a really awesome chapter on why women shouldn't feel that they have to be mothers. Being a Not Mom myself, I gained tremendous respect for Caitlin for addressing the issue and pointing out that women who are childless (by choice or not) are not less of a woman. Caitlin was truly and properly speaking for me as a childfree woman by saying things like, "But deciding not to have children is a very, very hard decision for a woman to make: the atmosphere is worryingly inconducive to saying, "I choose not to," or "It all sounds a bit vile, tbh." We call these women "selfish." The inference of the word "childless" is negative: one of lack, and loss. We think of nonmothers as rangy lone wolves--rattling around, as dangerous as teenage boys or men. We make women feel that their narrative has ground to a halt in their thirties if they don't "finish things" properly and have children."

Caitlin presents herself well as this woman that most women would enjoy spending time with. She's like an 'every woman' representative for women who aren't and never have been perfect and perhaps identify closely with their weird side.

How to Be a Woman is recommended for people who lean more left than right and understand that there are way too many facets of womanhood to attempt to explain fully in a novel. However, reading this book can help you gain a better understanding of why you are who you are and why society views you in certain ways.

Interesting perspective from Moran. She touches on pros vs cons of womanhood in today's world.She does not hold back. It was a very easy read with an enjoyable pace. i did not want to put the book down.

This is an excellent, excellent book. If you are a woman, read it. If you are a man, read it. If you are a shoebox, read it.

In all seriousness, it is rare that a book both makes me laugh continuously and makes me think about interesting and challenging issues -- but this book did. And while I do not agree with Moran's opinions about every subject she broaches, I respected her views and began thinking about my own stance on these difficult questions facing females today. I look forward to reading any other work by this talented author.

I just couldn't believe Caitlin would remember all(!) the intricate details about growing up. Yes, there are hilarious paragraphs (which is why I finished the book) but upon reaching the end it came too close to fiction for me.

Think you understand equity?
RUN to purchase this book. You will ROAR at Moran's examples, stunning wit and clear thinking. A particularly fun and smart read. I recommend it to every woman over 30.I think 30 because you need to have some life experience to appreciate her savvy commentary.For male readers:
Any guy intentional about a respectful relationships with women must digest it thoroughly. You'll be grateful for the recon.

A super book group read.
No regrets on this purchase - it will get passed around.

Moreover, it's inspired my own next book: "How to be a KickAss Woman: A Manifesto for 50+."

This book made me think but got very long winded. There were times I wholeheartedly agreed and there were times I disagreed so much I almost stopped reading out of anger. But finish the book as it does make you think.

Some where along the way, feminists got a bad rap. Perhaps because sexism has changed from something that was straight up in your face to something far more subtle, no one thinks we need feminists anymore. WRONG!

If the elections in 2012 taught us anything, it's that the US needs more feminists. With the likes of Todd Akin and the "personhood" type bills that keep cropping up, the overriding message our daughters are sent is that women are too ignorant to be trusted with the control of our own bodies. They are taught that their bodies are gross and should be hair free! (Thank you porn industry for that last one!)

Caitlin Moran writes with a fresh voice that the younger generation will enjoy, but it is a positive message for all women who will be able to relate to many of stories of her life thus far.

Hysterical. Irreverent. And spot on. Caitlin Moran's humor is colorful and revealing and totally entertaining. I look forward to the opportunity to see her live. In the meantime, if you are in need of a bellyful of laughs, pick up this book and enjoy the ride!

Such a great read - although there are points I might argue with Moran, she is an incredibly gifted writer and hits so many of her points out of the park. I was laughing out loud reading this - will definitely be buying this as a gift for many of my favorite women and men.

Caitlin Moran is able to be simultaneously laugh out loud funny and dead on serious; in other words ~ brilliant!!! This book is painfully honest; I laughed until I cried. I hope she comes to the US on a book tour. If she does, she's welcome to stay with us!

This autobography which describes the emotional life and feminist development of a working class English girl born in 1975 is best for younger women who will identify with the struggles of the author. Those of us who are older have been
through this already.

I found this book so relatable and moving- I kept thinking, "Yes! I know exactly what you mean!" I feel that often women do not identify themselves as feminist today, when that is exactly what we are! Caitlin Moran has given me the courage to shout, "I am a feminist!" Now if only I could get my husband to read it...

This book was SO hysterical, I found myself recalling it and bursting into laughter at the most inappropriate times. The book opened my eyes to feminism (a totally misunderstood subject prior to Moran) and also helped me realize how "The Patriarchy" has long been "impolite" to me and gone unnoticed. I've discovered new things about being a woman and I highly recommend this book to any woman not easily offended by generous cursing and blunt facts about life!

You won't agree with everything in this book - but then again that's the beauty of it. Her stories are deliciously hilarious. My favorite chapter is the one about her first major breakup. Great read!!!

This was my introduction to Caitlin Moran, and I see the beginning of a long and happy friendship with her writings. I laughed out loud so many times I lost count - a very entertaining feminist point of view.

It's great that Moran has written a feminist book that isn't too serious or difficult. I think this book can be a good introduction to feminism especially for younger readers who don't know that much about the subject. For me it didn't offer much food for thought and I thought Moran focused too much on appearance and looks. I also got tired of contant joking: you really don't need to make a joke everytime you want to make a point. However, the chapters about abortion, children and getting old made this worth reading for.

Brilliant view into strident feminism. The author's personal stories are vulnerable and revealing, yet her lighthearted tone lets us delve into some tough topics. Laugh-out-loud funny, and very insightful to boot.

OMG, Ms. Moran is hilarious!! I wish this book would have been out 15 years ago, before becoming a mother of 3!! Ms. Moran is an excellent writer, and so funny!! Any woman out there, if you haven't read this book yet, you really need to!! You will not regret it!!

I laughed so hard reading this book! She brings up serious issues in a way that makes you want to think about them differently and deeper. I really enjoyed reading this book (and ever re-read certain excerpts several times!)