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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
It’s hard to put the way this book made me feel into words. Emily Ratajkowski writes about pain, beauty, and the modeling industry with such resilience, yet so much hurt. These essays are nothing short of phenomenal, reaching in and telling all women that they are not alone.
I've heard good things about this book, but I had my doubts. Turns out it was actually pretty decent. Emily's writing is tender and captivating! These essays were very easy to read.
I devoured them in one day!
She writes about her own reflections after becoming a successful model, and the impacts of it all, from early age on, to now. About empowerment, objectification and the power dynamics between men & women. +++
There are some contradictions, but this is ultimately Emily's own experiences, which in the end, aren't black & white.
I hope she will continue writing
I devoured them in one day!
She writes about her own reflections after becoming a successful model, and the impacts of it all, from early age on, to now. About empowerment, objectification and the power dynamics between men & women. +++
There are some contradictions, but this is ultimately Emily's own experiences, which in the end, aren't black & white.
I hope she will continue writing
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This is a combination of a biography and an essay, which I quite enjoy. I don’t usually read many biographies, and when I do, they’re rarely about models or celebrities. I prefer those about people in science or technology. I did enjoy her essays. I liked her writing style—it was very dry and to the point, deeply analytical. I understood her need for control, and I appreciated the way she created a separation. You could sense the division between body and mind even in her words.
I don’t know if someone else wrote her book, as often happens in Hollywood, or if she just wants to present a polished image to the public. But I doubt it, because she included many embarrassing details and was brutally honest. I didn’t know much about her before, so it was definitely interesting to see all those events from her perspective. I wasn’t familiar with any of the events, so I experienced them solely through her point of view.
I do believe her—first of all, because she’s a woman. I hope she was truthful in what she said, because I really connected to it. I think Hollywood is a microcosm of what happens in the world, especially for women—the watchful eyes, the constant sexism, all magnified. If you want to measure progress in the world, you can look at Hollywood.
But most of all, I loved the control theme running throughout her book. I think many women struggle with the feeling of losing control, or with control in general, because the world doesn’t freely grant us autonomy. Often, we rationalize by separating our bodies and minds, observing the world as if we’re not part of it—because it makes the pain more bearable.
I understood that feeling even more when she talked about the pressure to be perfect. And I think she understands it best, because she is a model. The more you strive for perfection, the more miserable you become. The closer you get to the Western beauty standard, the more miserable you are.
Especially the part where she spoke about the forgotten muses—the ones who were perfect, discovered by artists, but most didn’t survive long. None of them ever got a name, or their names were forgotten, yet their bodies remained. It’s such a sad evolution.
Also, the part where she said that men believe the evolution of women is simply to be an object, then a mother, and finally forgotten. Sadly, I think that is how evolution looks in men’s eyes. It’s not the true evolution of women, but within a patriarchal system, it apparently is.
If her words are true—and I hope with all my heart they are—then I hope she is doing okay.
I don’t know if someone else wrote her book, as often happens in Hollywood, or if she just wants to present a polished image to the public. But I doubt it, because she included many embarrassing details and was brutally honest. I didn’t know much about her before, so it was definitely interesting to see all those events from her perspective. I wasn’t familiar with any of the events, so I experienced them solely through her point of view.
I do believe her—first of all, because she’s a woman. I hope she was truthful in what she said, because I really connected to it. I think Hollywood is a microcosm of what happens in the world, especially for women—the watchful eyes, the constant sexism, all magnified. If you want to measure progress in the world, you can look at Hollywood.
But most of all, I loved the control theme running throughout her book. I think many women struggle with the feeling of losing control, or with control in general, because the world doesn’t freely grant us autonomy. Often, we rationalize by separating our bodies and minds, observing the world as if we’re not part of it—because it makes the pain more bearable.
I understood that feeling even more when she talked about the pressure to be perfect. And I think she understands it best, because she is a model. The more you strive for perfection, the more miserable you become. The closer you get to the Western beauty standard, the more miserable you are.
Especially the part where she spoke about the forgotten muses—the ones who were perfect, discovered by artists, but most didn’t survive long. None of them ever got a name, or their names were forgotten, yet their bodies remained. It’s such a sad evolution.
Also, the part where she said that men believe the evolution of women is simply to be an object, then a mother, and finally forgotten. Sadly, I think that is how evolution looks in men’s eyes. It’s not the true evolution of women, but within a patriarchal system, it apparently is.
If her words are true—and I hope with all my heart they are—then I hope she is doing okay.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Minor: Gaslighting
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced