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chawkinsknell's review against another edition
This book felt so whiny that I was unable to care as much as I should have. I’ve really enjoyed Calhoun’s other work, so I was disappointed.
melissakuzma's review against another edition
5.0
If you’re in your 40s or early 50s, and you haven’t read this book, you’re missing out. You will feel very seen, as the millennials would say. Don’t miss the mixtape at the end!
leigh_reidelberger's review against another edition
3.0
I have many thoughts on this book that I need to sort through. I like some of what she discusses, but there definitely are times when she sounded super out of touch, and while she says she talked to a lot of middle class women, it was more upper middle class. Those interviewed are not majority of the people I know, so it's like, here's your grain of salt.
I wanted more of the statistics and the impact of the current events of the times, how that shaped and defined Gen X- that part was *really* intriguing- but most of the personal anecdotes were a little eye roll inducing.
I wanted more of the statistics and the impact of the current events of the times, how that shaped and defined Gen X- that part was *really* intriguing- but most of the personal anecdotes were a little eye roll inducing.
brontherun's review against another edition
4.0
For my women friends in your mid-life years (that ever-widening defined time) this book may be comforting to you. It is not revolutionary, as many of the ideas around next-wave feminism, Gen X psychology, and the current career/personal responsibility duality for women have all been touched on in multiple other sources. But what Calhoun does is bring these threads together in an way to reassure us that are, indeed, reasons we have landed in the tight squeeze where we now find ourselves.
As we take care of parents, pursue careers, raise kids or not, lead in our community, and attempt to meet the internalized ideals of where we should be in our life we are haunted by ghosts. "When you turn and look back down the years, you glimpse the ghost of the other lives you might have led. All your houses are haunted by the person you might have been."
Calhoun interviews women and so opens our eyes to the near universality of this situation, regardless of education, career, family, or affluence status. She shows some encouraging stories of overcoming our individual crises - seeing our way through it with the help of our friends and therapists (and often plastic surgeons, personal trainers, life coaches, yogis, salon professionals, etc).
Essentially, the issues keeping us awake at night are real, not imagined. But we can let go of expectations, drop the unnecessary aspects of our life, add in the critical missing pieces, and climb our way out to the other side.
As we take care of parents, pursue careers, raise kids or not, lead in our community, and attempt to meet the internalized ideals of where we should be in our life we are haunted by ghosts. "When you turn and look back down the years, you glimpse the ghost of the other lives you might have led. All your houses are haunted by the person you might have been."
Calhoun interviews women and so opens our eyes to the near universality of this situation, regardless of education, career, family, or affluence status. She shows some encouraging stories of overcoming our individual crises - seeing our way through it with the help of our friends and therapists (and often plastic surgeons, personal trainers, life coaches, yogis, salon professionals, etc).
Essentially, the issues keeping us awake at night are real, not imagined. But we can let go of expectations, drop the unnecessary aspects of our life, add in the critical missing pieces, and climb our way out to the other side.
abeth_parker's review against another edition
3.0
Not really about sleep. It's more about the complexities of mid-life. Although the book focuses on Gen X women born mainly in the 70s and 80s, it is a struggle that every generation faces. I remember my mother taking care of her mother toward the end of her life. My paternal grandmother lived with us off and on for many years.
Women often bear the mental and emotional load of their families. Add on parents who are aging and need help, and our responsibilities and obligations can seem like a never ending list. This book is a good reminder to find your people and be a support for each other.
Women often bear the mental and emotional load of their families. Add on parents who are aging and need help, and our responsibilities and obligations can seem like a never ending list. This book is a good reminder to find your people and be a support for each other.
keross72's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm. I identified with some, but not all, of the issues in this book, which is to be expected. I thought the book was short on solutions though, except 'know you're not alone.'
gommette's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Intéressant mais un peu trop centré sur la société étasunienne. Les propos mériteraient d'être plus approfondis et organisés.