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emtrik's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Informative but more suitable as a reference text than something to read from cover to cover
lisamchuk's review against another edition
5.0
Backed up by the latest scientific health research, and voiced by an expert, this is a highly recommended must-read. I’ll be referring back to it often I think.
jennshappyplace's review
Just didn’t find myself reading it. Too many other fiction books that peeked my interest. Then it was due back to the library.
2catmom's review against another edition
Reads like my pharmacotherapy book. Better to skim. Helps you see the patriarchy and how science / media views screws women
okevamae's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read the first couple of chapters of this in the Buzz Books spring/summer preview and realized – Wow, I don’t actually know that much about menopause, even though it’s eventually going to happen to me! In fact, as this book explains, most women who haven’t lived through it yet (and even many who have) don’t know all the facts about this phase of life. And considering any person who menstruates and lives into middle age is going to go through this process eventually, that’s a real problem! We educate kids about what changes are going to happen to their bodies, and the effects these changes will have on their lives. Adults should be similarly prepared for what’s ahead.
The Menopause Manifesto not only delivers the facts about menopause, but it also takes a look at the phenomenon and the way society deals with it - and women who have gone through it - through a feminist lens. These insights are sprinkled throughout a detailed description of the reasons why we go through menopause, the effects it has on the body and mind, and the ramifications these changes can have both during the process of menopause and for the rest of the person’s life. She also explains the science behind, history of, and reliability of various therapies, and busts several myths and misconceptions related to menopause. The author covers a lot of very technical medical stuff, and while it can be a little bit too technical in some places for my level of comprehension (and admittedly shaky attention span), the information imparted is still very valuable. Overall, she does a great job of explaining the most important and useful information in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. Even if you can’t wrap your brain around all the technical stuff, the main takeaways are still very accessible.
One thing I should mention - I was surprised that the book did not make any mention at all of the medical needs of trans men and non-binary people with ovaries, especially considering that trans issues were apparently specifically addressed in her previous book, The Vagina Bible (which I have not read.) There is mention of the medical risks of different surgeries to remove the uterus or ovaries, so I would think that trans issues would be addressed at some point. A medical article I looked up on the topic of gender-affirming surgery for trans men (as this book made me curious and then didn’t answer my questions) mentioned the decision to remove the ovaries as a “personal choice.” Which I’d think would mean that trans men are just as in need of facts and medical guidance in this area as cis women. Of course, the information in the book is still valuable to any individual who has the organs in question, so they could still read it and get a lot out of it. I’m just a little surprised that the author (who included trans individuals in her previous book) overlooked this potential segment of her audience entirely.
Overall, a very informative book on an important topic that for various reasons has gone ignored for too long.
I read the first couple of chapters of this in the Buzz Books spring/summer preview and realized – Wow, I don’t actually know that much about menopause, even though it’s eventually going to happen to me! In fact, as this book explains, most women who haven’t lived through it yet (and even many who have) don’t know all the facts about this phase of life. And considering any person who menstruates and lives into middle age is going to go through this process eventually, that’s a real problem! We educate kids about what changes are going to happen to their bodies, and the effects these changes will have on their lives. Adults should be similarly prepared for what’s ahead.
The Menopause Manifesto not only delivers the facts about menopause, but it also takes a look at the phenomenon and the way society deals with it - and women who have gone through it - through a feminist lens. These insights are sprinkled throughout a detailed description of the reasons why we go through menopause, the effects it has on the body and mind, and the ramifications these changes can have both during the process of menopause and for the rest of the person’s life. She also explains the science behind, history of, and reliability of various therapies, and busts several myths and misconceptions related to menopause. The author covers a lot of very technical medical stuff, and while it can be a little bit too technical in some places for my level of comprehension (and admittedly shaky attention span), the information imparted is still very valuable. Overall, she does a great job of explaining the most important and useful information in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. Even if you can’t wrap your brain around all the technical stuff, the main takeaways are still very accessible.
One thing I should mention - I was surprised that the book did not make any mention at all of the medical needs of trans men and non-binary people with ovaries, especially considering that trans issues were apparently specifically addressed in her previous book, The Vagina Bible (which I have not read.) There is mention of the medical risks of different surgeries to remove the uterus or ovaries, so I would think that trans issues would be addressed at some point. A medical article I looked up on the topic of gender-affirming surgery for trans men (as this book made me curious and then didn’t answer my questions) mentioned the decision to remove the ovaries as a “personal choice.” Which I’d think would mean that trans men are just as in need of facts and medical guidance in this area as cis women. Of course, the information in the book is still valuable to any individual who has the organs in question, so they could still read it and get a lot out of it. I’m just a little surprised that the author (who included trans individuals in her previous book) overlooked this potential segment of her audience entirely.
Overall, a very informative book on an important topic that for various reasons has gone ignored for too long.