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

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Reading the other readers reviews, I am still in awe that this book, written 7 years ago, still gets folks into a rage, which it is supposed to do. One reviewer states that "we already know this stuff anyway.." written in Jan. of 1999. We know this 'stuff' because Wolfe pointed it out. Wolfe was raised during the 60's and 70's when bra banning was in and feminism was not yet a dirty word. This is the second time within nearly a decade that I have read the book....and if you can get past the beginning, it still has meaning. It remains required reading for women studies at many universities and is as controversial and enraging today as it was when first published. It will certainly go down in history as a 'feminist writing'. For that alone, it is worth spending the ten bucks and reading.

Naomi Wolf is of course famous for being a very pretty affluent white woman who went to Yale and married a wealthy magazine publisher. And so I was surprised that this is often an intelligent and even thoughtful book, not at all as silly as you might think (even though Wolf is infamous for claiming that 150,000 women starve themselves to death every year in this country). Much more than Susan Faludi, another commentator on women's issues and famous for 'Backlash', Wolf looks at the ways this society makes women dislike their own bodies to the extent that they sometimes dislike themselves. I can't help but think that, after seeing Wolf throw her beautiful hair around and poke her bosom out at reporters, she was practically pinching herself with pleasure to have written a book on the 'beauty myth' which so many women have bought, but she's actually pretty intelligent too. Highly recommended.

The Beauty Myth should be required reading for young women, as far as I am concerned. Men who are puzzled or concerned about women's obesssion with their looks may gain insight as well. Wolf takes a very balanced approach in explaining the 'beauty culture' which helps keep women down, without resorting to conspiracy theories. I would call this the equivalent of The Feminine Mystique for the younger (some would say 'third wave') generation.

Gloria Steinem is right when she states the following: "The beauty myth is a smart, angry, insightfull book." However, I read this book as statement not to follow set rules. In the air of Thoreau she claims that it is better for an individual to follow their own set of morals and idea of beauty: rather then then the standard set by society

I picked this one up after her "Fire With Fire" piece, which boredom prevented me from finishing. I was so pleased that the exceedingly important material was more comprehensible in the case of this book. Sure it scares people - read the other reviews - but it is truthful, well-researched, and thought-provoking material that welcomes debate even after nine years. This FACT, as shown in the other reviewers emotional responses, is proof of the value of this book.

I am always excited to read very different and original points of view, whether I agree or not, and this book is definitely one of them. Anyone who asks questions that have not been asked before and is willing to talk about things that make people nervous, angry, and scared have gained my respect. Does Naoimi Wolf have all the answers? No, and who cares? This is the kind of book that makes you think and consider. You do not have to adopt her veiwpoint to benefit from reading this fascinating and controversial book. Come up with your own conclusions! All the greatest books make you do that.

Sure we all look at the beautiful people and wish for five seconds that we could trade places with them. But only for five seconds.. because most of us know there is an incredibly high price to pay for that kind of beauty. Women who have tried to recreate it surgically pay the price everyday, some with their lives. In her captivating book "The Beauty Myth", Naomi describes in vivid detail how the beauty industry has made so many women slaves to the tyrant of the "beauty myth" and exposes this industry as few dare to do by telling the truth we all need to hear.

The Beauty Myth is the best book I've ever read. It gave me a new way to look at myself . . . a way that no one before has ever shown to me. It actually made me feel good about the individual I am, as well as appreciate the differences I see in other ppl. I've told all my friends to read this book because I want everyone to feel this good about themselves. Thank you Naomi Wolf!

The book makes you think. I wish all young men would read it. Great thought provocation on gender issues. Easy to read because of the chapter break down, but heavy material. I suppose you can use statistics any way you want, but she's definitely got some points to make that made sense to me as a woman. Great for anyone writing a paper or something. On the same note of oppression, there is some great material out there about the male american experience as well.

This book should be read by every person so that we can all gain a better understanding of how the notion of beauty is constructed. I enjoyed it and feel that Wolf presents a great argument. I read it at a time when I was having a negative body image, and understanding the issue of beauty helped me feel better.