#4 Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World by Lisa Bloom
Are you aware that twenty-three percent of American woman would rather lose their ability to read than their figures? Or that 
twenty-five percent would rather win America's Next Top model than the Nobel Peace Prize? If those statistics make you cringe, than you're likely to be in the same boat as Lisa Bloom, a legal analyst who has noticed that in recent years, girls out perform boys at every level in school, yet grown women spend more and more time obsessing over tabloid magazines and reality TV. This has led to a culture where women may be more educated, but our brains have become devalued.
Think is a fascinating work of nonfiction about the state of women in contemporary America. I began this book on the same page as Bloom, but I'm happy to report that I still came out of it learning quite a bit. The book is divided into two sections: “The Problem”, and “Solutions.” “The Problem” section makes a lot of good points. For example, she uses her insider perspective as a TV legal analyst to reveal that the media continues to put more emphasis on celebrity news and puff pieces because they believe that it's the only way to attract female viewers. This move results in many important stories being pushed completely off our radar. We may think that our celebrity obsessions are innocent enough, but consequences exist. In “Solutions” she shows us how to make more time for ourselves by cutting back on activities such as housework, and to make use of that time reading, educating ourselves about the world, and volunteering. The book ends with a list of recommended reading, and a few recipes.
I was quite happy with what I found in this book, as it brings a lot of important issues to light. In “The Problem” selection, I actually found myself cringing during moments where Bloom illustrates how little reading has become valued (did you know that eighty percent of American families did not read or buy a book in the last year? I didn't). I enjoyed the fact that Bloom didn't necessarily put all of the blame on women, but she doesn't give us a free pass for our foolish actions. She is perfectly aware that the media is not faultless, and that we live in a culture that often values attractiveness over intelligence.
Admittedly, there were a few times when I didn't quite see eye to eye with Bloom. She makes a very good point about how women do far too much housework, but getting other members of the household to do their fair share is easier said then done. There were also a few times where I felt that her demeanor was a tad too flippant. One fault I could not help but assign to book as a whole is although it's likely to draw in many readers like me, it's not likely to attract the attention of the quarter of American woman I mentioned above who value their own minds so little. This is unfortunate, because they would benefit from this book the most.
Think is a surprisingly quick read, despite the fact that the information may be hard to swallow at times. One thing I really took away from this book was to value my education, and the opportunities that I have been given. There are so many places in this world where a woman would not be allowed to progress as far as I have, and I owe it to the world to cherish those opportunities and spend my time using my brain, not throwing it away.
Rating: four stars
Length: 277 pages
Source: Gift
Other books I've read by this author: this is mt first
Next I will be reviewing Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads
twenty-five percent would rather win America's Next Top model than the Nobel Peace Prize? If those statistics make you cringe, than you're likely to be in the same boat as Lisa Bloom, a legal analyst who has noticed that in recent years, girls out perform boys at every level in school, yet grown women spend more and more time obsessing over tabloid magazines and reality TV. This has led to a culture where women may be more educated, but our brains have become devalued.
Think is a fascinating work of nonfiction about the state of women in contemporary America. I began this book on the same page as Bloom, but I'm happy to report that I still came out of it learning quite a bit. The book is divided into two sections: “The Problem”, and “Solutions.” “The Problem” section makes a lot of good points. For example, she uses her insider perspective as a TV legal analyst to reveal that the media continues to put more emphasis on celebrity news and puff pieces because they believe that it's the only way to attract female viewers. This move results in many important stories being pushed completely off our radar. We may think that our celebrity obsessions are innocent enough, but consequences exist. In “Solutions” she shows us how to make more time for ourselves by cutting back on activities such as housework, and to make use of that time reading, educating ourselves about the world, and volunteering. The book ends with a list of recommended reading, and a few recipes.
I was quite happy with what I found in this book, as it brings a lot of important issues to light. In “The Problem” selection, I actually found myself cringing during moments where Bloom illustrates how little reading has become valued (did you know that eighty percent of American families did not read or buy a book in the last year? I didn't). I enjoyed the fact that Bloom didn't necessarily put all of the blame on women, but she doesn't give us a free pass for our foolish actions. She is perfectly aware that the media is not faultless, and that we live in a culture that often values attractiveness over intelligence.
Admittedly, there were a few times when I didn't quite see eye to eye with Bloom. She makes a very good point about how women do far too much housework, but getting other members of the household to do their fair share is easier said then done. There were also a few times where I felt that her demeanor was a tad too flippant. One fault I could not help but assign to book as a whole is although it's likely to draw in many readers like me, it's not likely to attract the attention of the quarter of American woman I mentioned above who value their own minds so little. This is unfortunate, because they would benefit from this book the most.
Think is a surprisingly quick read, despite the fact that the information may be hard to swallow at times. One thing I really took away from this book was to value my education, and the opportunities that I have been given. There are so many places in this world where a woman would not be allowed to progress as far as I have, and I owe it to the world to cherish those opportunities and spend my time using my brain, not throwing it away.
Rating: four stars
Length: 277 pages
Source: Gift
Other books I've read by this author: this is mt first
Next I will be reviewing Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads