The Feminine Mystique

By: Betty Friedan

Narrated by: Parker Posey

Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in 1963, The Feminine Mystique ignited a revolution that profoundly changed our culture, our consciousness, and our lives. Today it newly penetrates to the heart of issues determining our lives - and sounds a call to arms against the very real dangers of a new feminine mystique. The underlying issues raised by Betty Friedan strike at the core of the problems women still face at home and in the marketplace. As women continue to struggle for equality, to keep their hard-won gains, to find fulfillment in their careers, marriages, and families, The Feminine Mystique remains the seminal consciousness-raising work of our times.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of Betty Friedan's book, you'll also receive an exclusive Jim Atlas interview. This interview – where James Atlas interviews Naomi Wolf about the life and work of Betty Friedan – begins as soon as the audiobook ends.

This production is part of our Audible Modern Vanguard line, a collection of important works from groundbreaking authors.

©2001 Betty Friedan (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[ The Feminine Mystique] now feels both revolutionary and utterly contemporary....Four decades later, millions of individual transformations later, there is still so much to learn from this book....Those who think of it as solely a feminist manifesto ought to revisit its pages to get a sense of the magnitude of the research and reporting Friedan undertook." (Anna Quindlen)

"If you want to understand what has happened to American women over the last half-century, their extraordinary journey from Doris Day to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and beyond, you have to start with this book." ( The New York Times Magazine)

"One of those rare books we are endowed with only once in several decades." (Amitai Etzioni)

Most boring narration

A seminal book which is still highly relevant. The narrator however is dull, boring and uninspired. If you suffer from insomnia, this recording will help put you to sleep, instantaneously.

Eyeopening

Smooth, interesting and eyeopening. It definitely got me reflecting, it will take a few weeks to finish digesting it. Performance is good, calm and factual and doesn't get in the way of the narrative at all. I recommend this audiobook.

Relevant, but also outdated.

This book is somehow relevant and outdated at the same time.

On the one hand, I do believe that equality between men and women is still not accomplished, especially in the workplace and when it comes down to money and therefore this book is still relevant.

On the other hand, it is very noticeable that it has been written 50 something years ago... I guess it's a good thing that things have evolved for women so much.

Nevertheless, only three stars, because this is dry material for long stretches and the research is limited to white middle class women in the US.

interesting and important!

I think that everyone should read this book despite being dated. Much of the information is still relevant and teaches you the history of the feminist movement. I really enjoyed listening to this, even though the narrator is dull and monotone. I had to speed it up a bit because she’s too slow. But once I get into the message of the book, I forget about the narrator. A MUST READ!

Eye opening

An essential book for anyone wanting to learn about feminism and an existential journey.

Important reading still

This influential book has been around for five decades, and I just now got to it. It's important still.

Feminine

I was curious to read this especially since it's been around for quite some time and I never did. Quite interesting...

A landmark book of its time and relevant now

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is a landmark book of its time, and it is still relevant for all women today. This book describes the early 20th century turning of women from vital human beings, who were fulfilled by higher education and work, into a mystique that proved to be a mix of self-suppression and repression, which eventually was supported by society at large and by women themselves.

How did women go from being over 50% of university educated people in the 1900’s through 1930’s to a human being who was supposed to be dedicated to others who gained her sense of self-worth and fulfillment from serving and giving up her own personhood? How did this effect the women themselves, and their family? How did it affect the age at which women married?

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, how did women, who while society was telling them that they should be happy, start breaking out of the mold of the feminine mystique.

How damaging was the illusion of the feminine mystique to women themselves, husbands, daughters, and sons? How does this affect us today?

How was this related to profit? There was a lot of profit to be made at the expense of the wellbeing of women. This is still true.


I highly recommend that everyone read this book.

This is an inspirational novel

I loved the narrator, toward the end of the book I did feel she was more soft spoken making it harder to hear. Over all I lover her voice.
This book is amazing! I never have time to read book now with an over demanding full time job. I'm glad there was an audible book for it. Please give it a listen and it will change the way you view femininity.

Necessary & Captivating

This book is amazing, illustrative, and educational. This truly is a classic. I now have a better understanding of the culture in which I live. I have a better understanding of how post-war society impacted family lives and especially the roles for women in the 1950s in the United States.