• Shrill

  • Notes from a Loud Woman
  • By: Lindy West
  • Narrated by: Lindy West
  • Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (5,077 ratings)

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Shrill  By  cover art

Shrill

By: Lindy West
Narrated by: Lindy West
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Publisher's summary

Shrill is an uproarious memoir, a feminist rallying cry in a world that thinks gender politics are tedious and that women, especially feminists, can't be funny.

Coming of age in a culture that demands women be as small, quiet, and compliant as possible - like a porcelain dove that will also have sex with you - writer and humorist Lindy West quickly discovered that she was anything but.

From a painfully shy childhood in which she tried, unsuccessfully, to hide her big body and even bigger opinions; to her public war with stand-up comedians over rape jokes; to her struggle to convince herself, and then the world, that fat people have value; to her accidental activism and never-ending battle royale with internet trolls, Lindy narrates her life with a blend of humor and pathos that manages to make a trip to the abortion clinic funny and wring tears out of a story about diarrhea.

With inimitable good humor, vulnerability, and boundless charm, Lindy boldly shares how to survive in a world where not all stories are created equal and not all bodies are treated with equal respect, and how to weather hatred, loneliness, harassment, and loss, and walk away laughing. Shrill provocatively dissects what it means to become self-aware the hard way, to go from wanting to be silent and invisible to earning a living defending the silenced in all caps.

©2016 Lindy West (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Featured Article: 50+ Outstanding Feminist Quotes to Inspire and Empower


From the suffragettes of the 18th and 19th centuries to the #MeToo activists and glass-ceiling breakers still fighting for equality today, the feminist movement has evolved around the world for hundreds of years. Feminism that is intersectional and inclusive is more important than ever, with activists amplifying the voices of women whose struggles are compounded further by their race, identity, and class. Learn about gender equality with these quotes.

What listeners say about Shrill

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    5 out of 5 stars

Bookclub or no bookclub?

So, It's my pick for bookclub and I was looking around the Internet for a "beach read". That was the same night Hillary clinched the nomination and when I saw the title "Shrill" I thought how appropriate. I emailed my bookclub ladies and started the book the next day. After about 30 minutes of listening I emailed them back and said, "oops, probably not the book for us" and picked another book. The first 30 minutes were so incredibly personal to me that the thought of having to discuss the book with my bookclub ladies was more then I thought I could bare. The funny thing is I have been in bookclub, every month, with these 5 women for 15 years! They know everything about me. They love me, warts and all, but this book was taking me to a place that I wasn't sure I could tolerate exposing to them.

I can't remember the last time a book has made me challenge my own thoughts, stereotypes, bias, and judgements as this did. I feel simultaneously embarrassed and righteous.

What a gift Lindy has given to all of us women. I only wish I had a fraction of her strength, wisdom, humor, beauty and grit.

Job well done. Must read.

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63 people found this helpful

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Impressed

I didn't know this author before this book (not well enough to be excited, at the least), and I am VERY GLAD to have heard it. There are chapters I would like to use in my syllabi in the fall and winter. I would recommend this book as an eye opening approach to life in modern womanhood. She is careful to transact in intersectionality (doesn't pretend white women are the only people on earth). I deeply appreciate that. And she doesn't let any false burdens of "correctness" detract from her story, her life, her experiences. I greatly appreciate that. Worth the listen, for sure.

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56 people found this helpful

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Didn't do it for me

For me, this book felt like listening to someone go on and on about their "issues". Maybe I'm too old. Maybe her issues aren't issues I can relate to. Maybe I'm decades past getting caught up in these problems. I don't know, but I couldn't finish the book. I didn't feel like it was adding to my knowledge or understanding, and I didn't find it entertaining either.

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39 people found this helpful

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I love this woman

I am a long time audiobook fan (I like to read with my ears) but I have never binged listened to any book before this. May Lindy West continue to lead platoons of strong, smart, out spoken women whose armor and weapons are their wit and hilarity.

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32 people found this helpful

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very negative and not funny

I got this book on a promotion (bogo) and it was just a waste, really. So negative and awkward! I really pushed to listen to it but ended up giving up after about an hour, although it felt to be way longer tha that.

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24 people found this helpful

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Completely necessary

She put into words so eloquently the dehumanization of women who are overweight or obese. It was fun, funny, strong, and not once did feel sorry for herself or try to change herself in hopes people might be nice to her. I tend to despise people more when my appearance is more acceptance, all of a sudden they can turn-on a decency switch & treat you how'd they'd expect to be treated. Funny thing most of the 180 degree personality change is by people who could loose a couple pounds themselves, the nerve! Anyway, she's a brilliant writer and thinker. I admire her for this book.

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23 people found this helpful

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Necessary and delightful

Lindy West's is a voice we need and I'm so happy her book is in the world. If you're a fan, some of these essays will be familiar, but they're enriched a great deal by being presented all together. She's funny and trenchant on the topics she's best known for, but a lot of my favorite moments were the more personal ones. Her account of her father's death and the work she and her now-husband did to build their love and make a family both brought tears to my eyes. Also great to have this on audiobook because her delivery is so great. Put her in a Pixar movie! Wonderful vocal performance. Lindy, we love you.

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Best book ever!

I learned how to look at things a little differently and I am a part of the changes in this world not a bystander any more. I am a smart fat chick who has decided not to fear...just live well and be kind.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not what I expected, but that might be my fault

To begin with, I should say that I listen to audio books and podcasts to relax. I found Linda West's opinion on This American Life fascinating, and I wanted more of the calm, interesting, honesty in this book. It's anything but calm. It's loud, awkward and often preachy. I was also hoping that this book would have some humor in it, but if there was, it didn't work for me. I finished four and a half chapters before I became too stressed from listening to the book. Ms. West clearly has an agenda, and I wanted more information. But, I wanted to know more about facts instead of her opinion. However, I think that this book would be appealing to those who are used to robust discussions based on life experience so long as you agree with her views.

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Lindy West is feminist leader and gives me hope.

What did you love best about Shrill?

Lindy West is my hero. Her writings make me feel less alone in being a woman. She humorously and unflinchingly looks at some of the darkest parts of modern womanhood. Reading this felt like the quiet conversations you have with a best friend that you think no one else understands. She is a social justice warrior and speaks on behalf of those who are often silenced. This book makes me feel more courageous about standing up to those who silence me when I speak up about injustice.

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