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How to Be a Woman
- Narrated by: Caitlin Moran
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
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How to Be a Woman
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Summary
1913 - Suffragette throws herself under the King's horse. 1969 - Feminists storm Miss World. Now - Caitlin Moran rewrites The Female Eunuch from a bar stool and demands to know why pants are getting smaller. There's never been a better time to be a woman: We have the vote and the Pill, and we haven't been burnt as witches since 1727. However, a few nagging questions do remain....
Why are we supposed to get Brazilians? Should you get Botox? Do men secretly hate us? What should you call your vagina? Why does your bra hurt? And why does everyone ask you when you're going to have a baby? Part memoir, part rant, Caitlin Moran answers these questions and more in "How To Be A Woman" - following her from her terrible 13th birthday ("I am 13 stone, have no friends, and boys throw gravel at me when they see me") through adolescence, the workplace, strip clubs, love, fat, abortion, TopShop, motherhood and beyond.
Caitlin Moran had literally no friends in 1990, and so had plenty of time to write her first novel, The Chronicles of Narmo, at the age of fifteen. At sixteen she joined music weekly Melody Maker and at eighteen briefly presented the pop show Naked City on Channel 4. Following this precocious start she then put in eighteen solid years as a columnist on the Times - both as a TV critic and also in the most-read part of the paper, the satirical celebrity column "Celebrity Watch".
The eldest of eight children, home-educated in a council house in Wolverhampton, Caitlin read lots of books about feminism - mainly in an attempt to be able to prove to her brother, Eddie, that she was scientifically better than him. Caitlin isn't really her name. She was christened "Catherine". But she saw 'Caitlin' in a Jilly Cooper novel when she was 13 and thought it looked exciting. That's why she pronounces it incorrectly: "Catlin". It causes trouble for everyone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Yasmine
- 14-11-16
Witty, entertaining and thought-provoking
Although this is likely to be read /listened to mostly by women, It shouldn't be.
Open, honest and always interesting, Moran uses her own life experiences as a springboard into discussing issues women in Western society are still facing.
If you can't cope with swearing and possibly offensive similes, steel yourself and read the book anyway. It's worth it, and not only because learning to accept that crude words are just words is a valu
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Fiona
- 26-06-12
The Girls Handbook
I wish i could give this to my twelve year old as a manual for the teen years and beyond, however there is just a bit too much swearing for her yet.However for all the grown up girls out there this is great,its funny , splendid and true.
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- Chloe
- 29-04-19
Laugh out loud funny!
Finished listening to this for the 2nd time. Fantastic honesty and relatable stories. It’s read by Caitlin Moran herself which makes it all the better.
There are parts where you’ll be listening on the train having to stifle your laughter at risk of sounded crazed to other passengers!
Would 100% recommend.
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- suzannah bartley
- 18-03-18
Enjoyed it so much!
Finished it so quickly cos I couldn't stop listening, loved it! Would recommend to anyone
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-03-18
Hilarious and inspiring.
I loved this book, it was so funny yet informative. I feel really inspired after listening to this, plus Caitlin's voice is so soothing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-06-20
Finally got to listen to Caitlin Moran!
Absolutely loved listening to this and throughly enjoyed every minute, very honest and just as relatable in current times of how I feel. Very refreshing as a women to listen too esp through life's experiences.
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- O. Turn
- 02-08-17
Brilliant Caitlin
hilarious accurate and brilliantly spoken- a must listen to anyone who cares about women which I would hope is everyone
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- Hyxula
- 24-05-17
Must listen for all
Clear and human performance of a clear and human book. As a man who wants to improve his understanding of others and their experiences, I can say this book is fantastic. I now feel more equipped in the argument for being a feminist, and if that is a word that you don't like, listen to this book ALL THE WAY THROUGH!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Amy
- 14-09-16
Not a book about Feminism
Is there anything you would change about this book?
The title. I do not like the title because it sounds like a 'how to guide' and makes people who see me reading it say things like 'oh do you not know how to be a woman?' or 'I don't need to read that, I know how to be a woman'. Which is missing the point. What we find out when reading is it's more like Caitlin's journey growing up and figuring out how to be a woman, or what being a woman is like. Not necessarily telling anyone else how to be. She also admits at the end the title is a misnomer and I thought... well why didn't you change it??
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
The marketing of this book as a book about feminism. Which is why I read it. It is NOT a book about feminism. It is a lady's autobiography who is a feminist and sometimes shares her feminists views. Which is fine, if only it was marketed as such and didn't mislead people. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of feminist views shared, but it's not what it's all about. I'd say it's more about growing as a woman and figuring out who you are.
Which character – as performed by Caitlin Moran – was your favourite?
It's a memoir so Caitlin is herself the whole time. At first I wasn't keen on the accent and ALL THE SHOUTING!! But I soon got used to it and by half way through quite enjoyed listening to it as it was like having a pal in the room chatting to you.
Although what I didn't like about her was when she was making a remark about feminism. The way she makes herself sound like the head feminist of the feminist committee. Like, she says what is and is not ok to think/say/do as a feminist as if she's the one making the rules. And i'm like eh no pet, that's your opinion, which is fine, but I don't need you to tell me how to be a feminist. And who made you queen?
But I did like and appreciate how open and honest she was about a lot of very sensitive subjects like abortion.
Did How to Be a Woman inspire you to do anything?
Definitely read more about feminism. And also take note of the world around me and be more aware of the injustice against women (and men, because that's what feminism is about, equality).
Any additional comments?
It sounds like I didn't enjoy the book, and to be honest it wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but I didn't hate it. I think regardless of me not agreeing with every comment she makes it's still worth while reading. I'd still recommend it to someone. Just go in knowing it's more of a autobiography than a debate on feminism.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Miss
- 04-09-19
Best book I’ve ever read!
This book is a must read for every woman. Caitlin is funny, entertaining and wholly talented beyond belief. I could not stop listening.
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