How to Be a Woman

By: Caitlin Moran

Narrated by: Caitlin Moran

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.

©2011 Caitlin Moran (P)2012 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Spectacular! Very, very funny, moving, and revealing" (Jonathan Ross)

"Moran's writing sparkles with wit and warmth. Like the confidences of your smartest friend." (Simon Pegg)

“I devoured How to Be A Woman in one sitting.... This is the book that frustrated boyfriends have wanted someone...to write for decades” (Dan Stevens, The Times)

Must read, especially for men (yes I am a man...)

From a literature standpoint there may be things to criticize, basically that is 'too much' here and there. But the tone is light, Caitlin is frank and at the end of the day very sharp and refreshingly original on a very very important subject of which we should all be more conscious of.

This book is a friend you always wanted to have!

I love this book- and to listen to it was an extraordinary experience!
it was like having a chat with your best feminist friend while she explained to you all you ever wanted to hear-about your womanhood- all the necessary detail every woman will go through in her life eventualy but nobody ever talks about it,or eplains or educate!
it is marvelous!

A must read for every woman...

What made the experience of listening to How to Be a Woman the most enjoyable?

And man for that matter! Caitlin Moran is the perfect mix of idealism, logic and light-heartedness. I was laughing and nodding along in agreement the whole time. Takes what is generally known as a boring and stodgy topic and makes it hilarious and fun. Had me wishing it wouldn't come to an end, cannot stop recommending this to my friends.

Cuts to the bone

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Every woman should know that there are other women who feel the same way.

What did you like best about this story?

The love that Caitlin feels for her siblings and her honesty in telling the story, a lot of people would shy away from the abortion.

What about Caitlin Moran’s performance did you like?

It is like sitting on the sofa having a chat with your mate.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

No

How Caitlin Moran Wants to be a Woman

Really enjoyed listening to Caitlin read her book, and I loved and appreciated much of what she has to say about Being Woman. As a strident feminist, I marked her down a touch for the things I disagree with her on (just a couple!) but up for making me laugh so much. Down a wee bit for swearing so much I can't share it with my pre teen kids yet. Then again, I didn't want to have the abortion discussion with them just yet anyway. Good book; recommended to all over 16/18 yrs old, but I'm sure it will appeal most to over 30s.