In Praise of Difficult Women cover art

In Praise of Difficult Women

Life Lessons from 29 Heroines Who Dared to Break the Rules

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In Praise of Difficult Women

By: Karen Karbo, Cheryl Strayed - foreword
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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About this listen

From Frida Kahlo and Elizabeth Taylor to Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and Lena Dunham, this witty narrative explores what we can learn from the imperfect and extraordinary legacies of 29 iconic women who forged their own unique paths in the world.

Smart, sassy, and unapologetically feminine, In Praise of Difficult Women is an ode to the bold and charismatic women of modern history. Best-selling author Karen Karbo spotlights the spirited rule breakers who charted their way with little regard for expectations: Amelia Earhart, Helen Gurley Brown, Edie Sedgwick, Hillary Clinton, Amy Poehler, and Shonda Rhimes, among others. Their lives - imperfect, elegant, messy, glorious - provide inspiration and instruction for the new age of feminism we have entered. Karbo distills these lessons with wit and humor, examining the universal themes that connect us to each of these mesmerizing personalities today: success and style, love and authenticity, daring and courage. Being "difficult," Karbo reveals, might not make life easier, but it can make it more fulfilling-whatever that means for you.

©2018 Karen Karbo (P)2018 Blackstone Publishing Gender Studies Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences Women Witty Self Love Self Development Women Memoirs

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All stars
Most relevant
lovely stories about lovely women. Should be heard by all men or women alike

lovely stories about lovely women

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An intersectional feminist myself, I was gobsmacked when the whole book opened with J. K. Rowling. Granted, this book was released in 2017 and her transphobic comments surfaced in 2020. Still, the opening was where it ended for me. Being difficult isn't admirable when it causes trauma on top of trauma for a marginalized group of people. Being vocal isn't a goal to me, in itself, but a voice should in my view be used wisely and without harm to people with less power. Didn't feel like listening to the rest, even though the introduction seemed to promise many interesting and educational stories.

J.K. Rowling as a feminist role model??

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I loved learning more about each and every woman in this collection. Lots of great anecdotes and insights into how difficult women are perceived. Sharp text and on point narration.

Brilliant compilation

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I struggled a little with the narrator, but the content of the book was very good and highly informative.

Very good

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enjoyed these snap shots of difficult women. discovering new things and other points of research :)

insightful

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