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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
My rating is strictly related to the book, its writing, interviews, stories and long overdue topic. However, as I am not British and wasn't familiar with the author previously I was unaware of her families involvement with brothels, her father was jailed, her mother complicit and emails reveal that she knew about her father's 'whores' (her word). I therefore have issues with the way she talks about feminism, #metoo and that all women should be empowered while being silent on sex work and the abuse of women in that industry while knowing her family contributed to this. I think she has some nerve even referencing sexual abuse and the me too movement. All that to say that if I didn't know the background on the author I can appreciate a much needed book on periods.
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
This book was an impulse buy from our local bookstore last summer. It wasn't in my plans, I didn't even know it existed, but the moment I saw it, I had to have it.
And I really liked it to be honest, which kind of an oxymoron since I don't like my period, not one bit. But I do believe, like the author of this book, that we should openly talk about our periods, good or bad without shame and without fear. It's high time we stopped hiding our menstrual products stop hiding our pain and discomfort , or sexual desire while menstruating and it is certainly bloody time we used the word period (and menstruation) loud and proud and teach (by example) our kids (girls, boys, non-binary) to do the same.
There were a few things that I would change of course, I would make it shorter (a few things were quite repetitive), I would skip a few things (like the "motivational" phrases at the end of each chapter), I would rephrase a few other things (like the fact that we owe our existence to periods, and that menstruation is a woman thing), I would make it more diverse and inclusive (I wanted more trans and menopause experiences and references) and I would also like more reference to menstrual cups and the possible toxic shock syndrome due to the use of tampons.
And I really liked it to be honest, which kind of an oxymoron since I don't like my period, not one bit. But I do believe, like the author of this book, that we should openly talk about our periods, good or bad without shame and without fear. It's high time we stopped hiding our menstrual products stop hiding our pain and discomfort , or sexual desire while menstruating and it is certainly bloody time we used the word period (and menstruation) loud and proud and teach (by example) our kids (girls, boys, non-binary) to do the same.
There were a few things that I would change of course, I would make it shorter (a few things were quite repetitive), I would skip a few things (like the "motivational" phrases at the end of each chapter), I would rephrase a few other things (like the fact that we owe our existence to periods, and that menstruation is a woman thing), I would make it more diverse and inclusive (I wanted more trans and menopause experiences and references) and I would also like more reference to menstrual cups and the possible toxic shock syndrome due to the use of tampons.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
“We can’t continue as a human race without periods - and yet we still can’t acknowledge their existence” - Emma Barnett
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars
When I saw there was an audiobook available about periods, I was all for it. I am a huge advocate for female health in general. It’s important that we all feel confident enough to communicate with each other and push for better support. 🙌🏻
There was A LOT that this book could’ve covered, and I do think Barnett did a good job at hitting a handful of key areas and used humour pretty well. The chapter on period poverty is so important right now so I’m glad that was highlighted. 🩸
I think a lot of us needed a book like this as a teen. So many of us go in blind, often feeling embarrassed. Discussion and knowledge surrounding periods definitely needs to be normalised. 👌🏻
That being said, I don’t think this was anything particularly groundbreaking or helpful considering it came out in the last few years. I also don’t think it’s was particularly inclusive and sometimes not sensitive enough either. 👀
It was empowering to start with but did start to become a bit samey after a while. It is straight forward and simple enough for people who do not experience periods or have little knowledge to pick up. But it’s not really marketed towards them… 🤔
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars
When I saw there was an audiobook available about periods, I was all for it. I am a huge advocate for female health in general. It’s important that we all feel confident enough to communicate with each other and push for better support. 🙌🏻
There was A LOT that this book could’ve covered, and I do think Barnett did a good job at hitting a handful of key areas and used humour pretty well. The chapter on period poverty is so important right now so I’m glad that was highlighted. 🩸
I think a lot of us needed a book like this as a teen. So many of us go in blind, often feeling embarrassed. Discussion and knowledge surrounding periods definitely needs to be normalised. 👌🏻
That being said, I don’t think this was anything particularly groundbreaking or helpful considering it came out in the last few years. I also don’t think it’s was particularly inclusive and sometimes not sensitive enough either. 👀
It was empowering to start with but did start to become a bit samey after a while. It is straight forward and simple enough for people who do not experience periods or have little knowledge to pick up. But it’s not really marketed towards them… 🤔
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, Blood
Moderate: Chronic illness, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual content
informative
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Bloody loved it! (Pun intended of course)
It was so informative, engaging and empowering. I am going to recommend it to literally everyone I know! Really taught me about periods and inspired me to make a difference!
It was so informative, engaging and empowering. I am going to recommend it to literally everyone I know! Really taught me about periods and inspired me to make a difference!
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
I really wanted to like this book and I love Emma Barnett and think the topic is important, but it really misses the mark.
The whole book feels more like an extended opinion piece (which, in the form, it would have been great), so becomes quite repetitive and never really delves beyond the surface level. The last few pages of each chapter are the same call to action, which again is a little odd in a book.
I was hoping to learn more about the biology behind periods, although her sections on endometriosis are interesting. The chapter on trans people is quite bad, and doesn’t do enough to correct the running theme through the rest of the book of all women have periods and no men do. The book overall was relatively interesting, but felt quite out of date and unnecessarily long- a long read article would suffice.
The whole book feels more like an extended opinion piece (which, in the form, it would have been great), so becomes quite repetitive and never really delves beyond the surface level. The last few pages of each chapter are the same call to action, which again is a little odd in a book.
I was hoping to learn more about the biology behind periods, although her sections on endometriosis are interesting. The chapter on trans people is quite bad, and doesn’t do enough to correct the running theme through the rest of the book of all women have periods and no men do. The book overall was relatively interesting, but felt quite out of date and unnecessarily long- a long read article would suffice.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This book is all about the taboo around periods and it is essentially a manifesto to remove the stigma and myths that continue to surround the female body. Broadcaster and journalist Emma Barnett uses this book to ignite conversation among women and men everywhere.
I saw this book a while back on here and when I came across it in a local charity shop I had to pick it up! It is fantastically written and I don’t think I've ever dead quite so much about menstruation in one sitting ever in my life. For a non-fiction it's easy to read and gives you the top line information for a lot of topics.
The book is split up into chapters around different stages of life and how periods can affect you at school, in the workplace, wanted and unwanted blood around pregnancies, and going through menopause as well as the politics, discrimination, and inequalities that surround periods.
It shines light on a lot of serious topics that taught me something, such as homeless people using sanitary products as a means of extortion on the streets to control and take advantage of homeless men and endometriosis and some light hearted content too, such as a comprehensive list of handy period euphemisms (which made me laugh).
The one chapter that is an absolute must read is about wanted and unwanted blood, and one bit that particularly moved me was a poem by Cass who is trans and non-binary. They wrote a poem about how periods made them feel betrayed by their own body. Imagine not wanting a period because you don't identify as a woman, or wanting a period that is never going to come because you are a trans woman which creates gender dysphoria.
I've added this to my list of feminist recommendations, and I think you should too!
informative
slow-paced