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taffi's review against another edition
3.0
Firstly, I want to agree with the reviewers that point out that this book is really not about sleep. It is about Gen-X women. Since I am of that cohort, I found a lot of the book interesting, and related to the cultural references. She explains how historical changes and mixed messages have created pressure on this often ignored group. On one hand, it was nice to see attention paid to middle-age, peri-menopause and menopause, but also she seemed to focus on mothers that worked outside the home, with little mention of the circumstances of stay-at-home parents and how they are seen (or not seen) in the present day.
davisek223's review against another edition
4.0
This author gets what it's like to be a Gen X woman. It's not that she offers any amazing cures for what ails us, but she does succeed in making us feel seen and less alone with our middle-aged angst. Safety in numbers, ladies.
cathpaal's review against another edition
3.0
Obsolete now that the coronavirus has impacted all generations.
glitterkitter's review against another edition
3.0
This book gives a lot of well researched perspective, talks to a lot of women, uses a lot of statistics, but it was very similar to the other "struggles of adult women" books out there. Saying a lot of the same things, but not much of anything new or where to go from now.
And a frustrating thing about it, is because it's hook is that it's specific to Gen X women's problems, it tries to say a lot of these struggles are thing only Gen X women experience and other generations just do not know what it's like etc. Trying to say millennial women don't know what it's like to deal with debt and the cost of living and careers and young children and aging parents all at the same time, when most millennial women I know are in their 30s and dealing with all of those things and struggling? Very off-putting.
And a frustrating thing about it, is because it's hook is that it's specific to Gen X women's problems, it tries to say a lot of these struggles are thing only Gen X women experience and other generations just do not know what it's like etc. Trying to say millennial women don't know what it's like to deal with debt and the cost of living and careers and young children and aging parents all at the same time, when most millennial women I know are in their 30s and dealing with all of those things and struggling? Very off-putting.
serenitylive's review against another edition
5.0
"This is a bumpy stretch. We should not expect to feel fine." Just one of the thesis statements in this book that left me crying with the relief of being seen and validated. The book also clearly states we midlife Gen Xers do not need more self-help advice, yoga, or products. We need solace. Like the 2017 article by Calhoun that is basically sprinkled throughout this book and which I could not stop thinking about, the book is mostly a stack of evidence against our happiness. There is some relief throughout—e.g., the phrase radical acceptance when it comes to the difference between reality and our expectations plus real advice about perimenopause—but most of the good news doesn't appear until the last chapter and is mostly an expounding on these. Even that seemed perfect. I needed this book, and I'm grateful for it.
lurdesabruscato's review against another edition
5.0
Calhoun's well-researched and easily readable work speaks to me as a Gen X woman who, quite often, can't sleep. The predicaments we face aren't necessarily unique to us, but it's interesting to learn why they're especially magnified for women of a certain age. Lots of informative nuggets, even for Boomers and Millennials.
pooxs's review against another edition
3.0
If you’re looking for suggestions and advice, this isn’t the book for you. But if you’re interested in how Gen X women got to the place they’re at, the recognition of shared experience and solace in that, then this is the book for you. I’m just outside of the age bracket that this book applies to, but found commonality in the overwhelming sense of frustration and disaffection, despite having pretty great lives comparatively.
spinstah's review against another edition
3.0
I only finished this a couple of days ago, but it already seems to have slipped thorugh my grasp. I think it's because the approach is scattershot - there are too many women quoted in the book, most of whom you only hear one story or quote from. My overall takeaway is "Yeah, lots of other (white, cis, well-educated) women feel this way. Here's some research." And maybe that's enough for some readers.
I take issue with the things she highlights being a Gen X specific phenomenon. Yes, Gen X was the first to have to deal with some of what she discusses. But many of these issues are things that all women are going through. We are all expected to look gorgeous, have a curated design aesthetic, become a CEO, and raise perfect children. I don't really feel like the generational aspect of this brought enough to the table, aside from the fact that at 40 you start to run out of energy and/or willingness to deal with the bullshit.
While the focus is different, I think [a:Anne Helen Petersen|7219002|Anne Helen Petersen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596205069p2/7219002.jpg] did this type of analysis better in [b:Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation|48930297|Can't Even How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation|Anne Helen Petersen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583442527l/48930297._SY75_.jpg|74338637]. While I also felt that the generational focus of that was not needed, she did a better job making a coherent argument about the systemic and policy reasons behind the experiences and situations she discussed.
I take issue with the things she highlights being a Gen X specific phenomenon. Yes, Gen X was the first to have to deal with some of what she discusses. But many of these issues are things that all women are going through. We are all expected to look gorgeous, have a curated design aesthetic, become a CEO, and raise perfect children. I don't really feel like the generational aspect of this brought enough to the table, aside from the fact that at 40 you start to run out of energy and/or willingness to deal with the bullshit.
While the focus is different, I think [a:Anne Helen Petersen|7219002|Anne Helen Petersen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596205069p2/7219002.jpg] did this type of analysis better in [b:Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation|48930297|Can't Even How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation|Anne Helen Petersen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583442527l/48930297._SY75_.jpg|74338637]. While I also felt that the generational focus of that was not needed, she did a better job making a coherent argument about the systemic and policy reasons behind the experiences and situations she discussed.
brgermundson's review against another edition
5.0
So good! I kept sending friends pictures of paragraphs. I have felt like I need some super awkward psa style video about mid life and this felt like it fit all of the criteria for that, without leaving me super awkward.