It's not even that time of the month yet
Had an incredibly rough day at work, so let me tell you about this amazing book I'm reading.
Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation by Ellissa Stein and Susan Kim
I was lured into buying it because of 1. the subject, 2. the amazing design and 3. it was a bargain book \o/ The latter was a bonus, because it did not disappoint on either content or looks. The tone of voice is right up my alley, with seriousness, sarcasm and raised eyebrow humor. The graphic design is delicious (I actualfact squeed outloud at chapter four) and the added old advertisements to illustrate the history of "femcare" are such fun to cringe over.
I've had the book out on my coffeetable for a long time, yet never got around to reading it. This year I decided to just bring a bigger bag to work, so I could read this book on the bus and during my lunchbreak. BEST PLAN EVER!
For further praise and a much better summary than I could ever write myself, here's the official bookblurb. I agree with every word.
In this hip, hilarious and truly eye-opening cultural history, menstruation is talked about as never before. Flow spans its fascinating, occasionally wacky and sometimes downright scary story: from mikvahs (ritual cleansing baths) to menopause, hysteria to hysterectomies-not to mention the Pill, cramps, the history of underwear, and the movie about puberty they showed you in 5th grade.
Flow answers such questions as: What's the point of getting a period? What did women do before pads and tampons? What about new drugs that promise to end periods - a hot idea or not? Sex during your period: gross or a turn-on? And what's normal, anyway? With color reproductions of (campy) historical ads and early (excruciating) femcare devices, it also provides a fascinating (and mind-boggling) gallery of this complex, personal and uniquely female process.
As irreverent as it is informative, Flow gives an everyday occurrence its true props - and eradicates the stigma placed on it for centuries.
You can take a look inside at Amazon.com
Mind you, this book is apparently out of print, so it's only available as a limited quantity bargain book. I highly recommend hunting it down!
TIP: I bought it a year ago through Abe Books (I paid about 7$ for the book plus 7$ for shipping!)
Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation by Ellissa Stein and Susan Kim
I was lured into buying it because of 1. the subject, 2. the amazing design and 3. it was a bargain book \o/ The latter was a bonus, because it did not disappoint on either content or looks. The tone of voice is right up my alley, with seriousness, sarcasm and raised eyebrow humor. The graphic design is delicious (I actualfact squeed outloud at chapter four) and the added old advertisements to illustrate the history of "femcare" are such fun to cringe over.
I've had the book out on my coffeetable for a long time, yet never got around to reading it. This year I decided to just bring a bigger bag to work, so I could read this book on the bus and during my lunchbreak. BEST PLAN EVER!
For further praise and a much better summary than I could ever write myself, here's the official bookblurb. I agree with every word.
In this hip, hilarious and truly eye-opening cultural history, menstruation is talked about as never before. Flow spans its fascinating, occasionally wacky and sometimes downright scary story: from mikvahs (ritual cleansing baths) to menopause, hysteria to hysterectomies-not to mention the Pill, cramps, the history of underwear, and the movie about puberty they showed you in 5th grade.
Flow answers such questions as: What's the point of getting a period? What did women do before pads and tampons? What about new drugs that promise to end periods - a hot idea or not? Sex during your period: gross or a turn-on? And what's normal, anyway? With color reproductions of (campy) historical ads and early (excruciating) femcare devices, it also provides a fascinating (and mind-boggling) gallery of this complex, personal and uniquely female process.
As irreverent as it is informative, Flow gives an everyday occurrence its true props - and eradicates the stigma placed on it for centuries.
You can take a look inside at Amazon.com
Mind you, this book is apparently out of print, so it's only available as a limited quantity bargain book. I highly recommend hunting it down!
TIP: I bought it a year ago through Abe Books (I paid about 7$ for the book plus 7$ for shipping!)