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How to Be a Woman  By  cover art

How to Be a Woman

By: Caitlin Moran
Narrated by: Caitlin Moran
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Publisher's summary

Though they have the vote and the Pill and haven't been burned as witches since 1727, life isn't exactly a stroll down the catwalk for modern women. They are beset by uncertainties and questions: Why are they supposed to get Brazilians? Why do bras hurt? Why the incessant talk about babies? And do men secretly hate them?

Caitlin Moran interweaves provocative observations on women's lives with laugh-out-loud funny scenes from her own, from the riot of adolescence to her development as a writer, wife, and mother. With rapier wit, Moran slices right to the truth - whether it's about the workplace, strip clubs, love, fat, abortion, popular entertainment, or children - to jump-start a new conversation about feminism. With humor, insight, and verve, How To Be a Woman lays bare the reasons why female rights and empowerment are essential issues not only for women today but also for society itself.

©2011 Caitlin Moran (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: The top 100 memoirs of all time


All genres considered, the memoir is among the most difficult and complex for a writer to pull off. After all, giving voice to your own lived experience and recounting deeply painful or uncomfortable memories in a way that still engages and entertains is a remarkable feat. These autobiographies, often narrated by the authors themselves, shine with raw, unfiltered emotion sure to resonate with any listener. But don't just take our word for it—queue up any one of these listens, and you'll hear exactly what we mean.

What listeners say about How to Be a Woman

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The single most important book in my life.

Moran is soul-shakingly witty and kind, her observance on the world around her is humbling.

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Fun Basics

This is an excellent and compelling introduction to modern feminism, though perhaps not as riveting if you've been here a while. I would happily give it as a gift to young women as part of their tool kit, and lackluster men who think women are "complicated"

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Just Awesome

No sugar coating. Moran really lays out how being a woman is horrifying and beautiful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Laugh out loud and thought provoking

I really enjoyed it and made me laugh out loud in public on several occasions. May be difficult for non-Brits to understand her accent (when referring to earlier years) and many of the references.
I found her views on many topics incredibly insightful, and even if I didn't agree with some of her views I thought she presented these well.

Most memorable moments for me was her recalling stories of sexism at work which she and others experienced (which wasn't considered as sexism at the time). As a 26 year old female, and relatively new to the workforce, I could never imagine those things occurring, and so recently!
Her views and comments about the constantly evolving standards of feminine beauty and views on porn made me laugh out loud. But she also pointed out trends which I have been affected by but had not paid much attention to.

Overall summary: thought provoking in a very fun way.

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Hilarious, informative & empowering

I feel like a new woman - and laughed my butt off in the process. Thank you Caitlin!!!!!!! I will be reading this more than once.

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Bravo!!

Caitlin is brilliant in this read! She manages to etch a notion into your brain, like a well trained engraver placing a sheath of lace onto a pistol handle! She's got a well thought out and descriptive way of bringing you into the storyline, as if you were there with her. Love it! Now, time to go read her newest book How to Build a Girl!

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Author Reads

Would you listen to How to Be a Woman again? Why?

This is so much funnier than the book because you get to hear the British author read it.

What about Caitlin Moran’s performance did you like?

She is very funny!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

It would be a strange movie - they would really have to change it hugely.

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Read it, read it now!

So, so good! If you've ever struggled to put into words what it's like to be a woman this is the hilarious succinct book of your dreams.

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Everything Feminism Should Be

Smart, confident, funny and well-crafted. Moran pulls no punches when discussing the hardest choices women make, everything from abortion to what to call one's private parts. The modern handbook for feminsim.

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14 people found this helpful

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Great book, too loud

Great book, interesting and very funny.
Caitlin reads it with flare but it gets too loud at certain points, with her shouting certain parts. While it was funny and enjoyable, I constantly had to change the volume of my device so as not to get a pierced eardrum. Be aware of this if you listen with earphones.

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5 people found this helpful