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78th out of 575 books
—
742 voters
Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem
The well-know women's rights activist and feminist connects the external revolution to an internal revolution of spirit and consciousness, offering readers parables from the lives of figures as diverse as Mahatma Gandhi and Julie Andrews. Reprint. 150,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
January 20th 1993
by Little, Brown and Company
(first published 1991)
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i won the hardcover version of this book in a feminist essay contest as a freshman (or first-year, i should say... i think it was my first year, maybe second...) in high school. as a result i sat on a panel with other winners of the contest. being a panel there were people in the audience. the male participants dominated the conversation. i'm not sure i said anything. same thing when i was on the academically speaking team in middle school -- man, i didn't want to press that buzzer. later in hig...more
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I can't believe I waited until I was 34 to read this book. If someone had handed this to me when I was 21 or so it would have saved me so much pain from making idiotic choices because I didn't know better, or have an example as to how to navigate a world that I wasn't emotionally equipped to handle. I wouldn't have married an abuser. I wouldn't have looked for my "missing half" in another person, I would have learned it was already there, in myself.
I skipped over this book dozens of times when I...more
I skipped over this book dozens of times when I...more
This book sat on my currently-reading list for what seems like forever. It took me a long time to finish the text, not because it isn't interesting, but rather because it is. I took a lot of time savoring Steinem's words and doing a lot of highlighting and mental note-taking. (Actually, I should have taken more written notes; they serve me a lot better). I have always admired Steinem as a straightforward, pull-no-punches feminist. (I have a picture of her in my office with the quote, "When viole...more
A wonderful wonderful book.
Gloria Steinem managed to gather together feminists and committed christians throughout the 1980s and 90s in her pursuit of evil. Whilst others dropped away in the pursuit of witches and satanists, she has remained true to the cause and has never ever compromised.
Her introduction to modern women of the power of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) in Revolution from Within is nothing less than inspired. See how she writes about DID across two...more
Gloria Steinem managed to gather together feminists and committed christians throughout the 1980s and 90s in her pursuit of evil. Whilst others dropped away in the pursuit of witches and satanists, she has remained true to the cause and has never ever compromised.
Her introduction to modern women of the power of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) in Revolution from Within is nothing less than inspired. See how she writes about DID across two...more
First of all, who can can think of feminism in the U.S., nay, the world, without thinking simulatenously of Gloria Steinem? And as forward thinking as I consider myself, feminism feels like a turnoff. Only after watching a Steinem documetnary on HBO did I become interested in Steinmen. And this woman is the real thing. In Self Esteem, Steinem is mind-blowingly intelligent. As a woman, a parent, a child, and a human thinker, this book speaks to me. She integrates many disciplines-sociology, psych...more
Sep 26, 2012
Tristy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Beginner Feminists
Shelves:
historical,
women
In the introduction, Gloria Steinem writes that she originally wrote "250 pages of psychological research, anecdotal examples, and philosophical prose," only to realize through feedback from friends, that she didn't put any of HERSELF into her writing. She wanted to change that with this book and she *almost* does, but not quite. It is still dense with historical facts and fascinating feminist editorials (as only Gloria Steinem can do!) but I really missed hearing her own voice. She starts with...more
As you would expect, a book on self-esteem is likely to cover a lot of ground. After all, this is a huge topic, but Gloria Steinem manages to pare it down into seven insightful chapters, covering everything from unhappy childhoods, to the importance of un-learning and relearning, to our bodies, romance, and more spiritual and universal issues such as connecting to nature and animals to help self-esteem.
Filled with references to interesting studies and individual stories to demonstrate points, th...more
Filled with references to interesting studies and individual stories to demonstrate points, th...more
I probably bought this book over 15 years ago but never read it. I came across it recently and decided it's now or the charity box. While I consider myself neither a feminist nor a liberal I was slightly surprised to find the book interesting and thought provoking. While the underlying theme is self-esteem there is a lot more to it than that. I found some of the history very interesting as well as the argument that a male dominated world view exists. While I think the author's viewpoint sometime...more
Part memoir, part cultural critique, part self-help book, Gloria Steinem's Revolution from Within remains extremely innovative in its premise of connecting the concept to individual self-esteem to the larger context of social justice. Despite being written nearly 20 years ago, the book's message remains profoundly relevant: the political is personal. From education, to science, to romance Steinem deftly demonstrates the ways in which we can lose our self, because of the messages we absorb from t...more
Finding ourselves brings more excitement and well-being than anything romance has to offer, and somewhere, we know that. Think of the joy of self-discovery.
Women marry their lives instead of leading them.
“To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company.” -Jane Eyre
Children Upbringing & Education
Power of expectation.
-When teachers of randomly selected students are told their students are slow, they become slower. They become more gifted when teachers beli...more
Women marry their lives instead of leading them.
“To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company.” -Jane Eyre
Children Upbringing & Education
Power of expectation.
-When teachers of randomly selected students are told their students are slow, they become slower. They become more gifted when teachers beli...more
I have always enjoyed Gloria Steinem's books. In this book she defines Self-Esteem as: "Favorable appreciation or opinion of oneself". I remember reading this book years ago and truly realizing that we accompany ourselves where ever we go - we cannot get away from ourselves - so we might as well become our own best friend. We have the power to change some things about ourselves that we do not like and learn to accept those things that cannot be changed.
She also writes: "The art of life is not c...more
She also writes: "The art of life is not c...more
i'd always been interested to read something by Gloria Steinem and was excited when i saw this book on my friend's bookshelf. but this book seriously affected my mental health. Gloria Steinem takes the stance that everyone's childhood was really really fucked up, and if you don't remember it being fucked up it's probably because you repressed traumatic memories. after reading about 300 pages i was feeling desperately grim and gave up. it took me a couple of weeks to recover. :S
Read this book thrice.
After the first time I read it, I started thinking about religion and also roles I was expected to play in society. Why am I expected to marry? Why am I not good enough? Why are there no female Popes?
I've also read the Cinderella Complex by Colette Dowling and it made more sense after reading this book.
I would recommend this book to men and women.
After the first time I read it, I started thinking about religion and also roles I was expected to play in society. Why am I expected to marry? Why am I not good enough? Why are there no female Popes?
I've also read the Cinderella Complex by Colette Dowling and it made more sense after reading this book.
I would recommend this book to men and women.
I grew up with Ms Steinem being a model for any young woman who was interested in being liberated and feminist. This book looks at and talks about the difficulties many , if not most, women have with the basic idea of liking themselves, and being good enough just as they are. She uses herself as a guide, and writes in a personable and engaging way.
Revolution From Within was surprisingly uplifting, given the defensive nature of Steinem's usual public persona no matter which group of people she is addressing (comrades or enemies alike). As long as you can sift through her personal anecdotes, there are seeds of powerful ideas here. A good primer to the concept of the "Emotional Landscape".
I read this a long time ago and its exact contents are hazy in my mind. However, I do remember having a sense of being nurtured by her. There was no proselytizing or sense of superiority that some authors writing in this genre seem to possess. What really came across was her great compassion towards women and their personal struggles.
Oct 08, 2011
AJ Conroy
marked it as to-read
No 54 on Ms. Magazine's Top 100 Feminist Non-Fiction Countdown: Sharing insights from her own psychological journey toward wholeness as well as the stories of Margaret Mead, Alice Walker, and her friends and colleagues, the founder of Ms. provides a variety of pathways to overcoming denigrating social messages and finding self-esteem.
When this book was released I had to peruse through the pages. I grew up in the south during the 1960s and 70s. I remember overhearing a lot of bad mouthing regarding Gloria Steinem, so I felt somewhat like a radical as I skimmed the pages. I bought the book because her words resonated a certain truth within me.
This was very influential in my life. I read it when I was in my early twenties, and it devastated me, leading me to much introspection and the greatest growth I've ever experienced. I have no idea how it would stand up today; I just know it was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.
I think of this book often..especially now as I live in Greece, which has so many problems. So many people here have absolutely lost-or perhaps never had self-esteem. This is another country that needs self-esteem help as described in the book. Maybe I should try and send a copy to the new government!!
Haven't heard of Gloria Steinem until I got myself a copy of this book. I have read more than a dozen self-help books and most of them say one thing - if you want to be succesful, you have to start from within. Then I ask, what wihin? Steinem answered that. It's self esteem. Steinem, and the experiences of people she used in this book made me revisit the monsters of my past and face them, head on. I may not be a totally changed person after reading this, but it sure awakened something in me.
A wonderful book of self-esteem - should be required reading for all high school girls! Love Steinem! I would have burned my bra for her, but at the time I was too young and wasn't wearing one! But in all seriousness, a really, well-written book by an amazing lady.
Jun 22, 2012
Ann Ramsey
added it
Not a self help book! Wonderfully written about the evolution of women's roles. Explained a lot of progress that as someone born in the Sixties, have taken for granted. Recommend you "read" this one as well on audible.com, as Steinem reads it.
There are some clear messages within the book that have stayed with me. 'flipping it' to find situations that we have accepted that are not valid! For this message alone....I am thankful to this book.
Plan to read again. I read the paperback with her epilogue. It is falling apart so I need a new copy. I would like a hardback with the epilogue but maybe I will have to get another paperback with the update and buy the hardcopy without. I think this book would be a beneficial read for every elemetary teacher.
Very informative, educational and accurate. I appreciate the amount of research and facts put into the book and I feel thoroughly rife with motivation and a new appreciation for my life and my true self.
Loved this, even its occasional tendency to meander. Like a good, long Ms. magazine piece. Full of interesting tidbits and revelations.
Parts of this were so great, but others felt a little aimless. It could've been condensed some for sure.
Feb 08, 2010
Jill
added it
Revolution From Within A Book of Self-Esteem by Gloria Steinem (1992)
This book made me a feminist and started me down the path to self discovery.
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Jewish-American feminist icon, journalist and women's rights advocate.
She is the founder and original publisher of Ms. magazine, and was an influential co-convener of the National Women's Political Caucus.
More about Gloria Steinem...
She is the founder and original publisher of Ms. magazine, and was an influential co-convener of the National Women's Political Caucus.
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“It still would be years before I understood the seriousness of my change of view. Much later, I recognized it in "Revolution," the essay of Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski, who describes the moment when a man on the edge of a crowd looks back defiantly at a policeman — and when that policeman senses a sudden refusal to accept his defining gaze — as the imperceptible moment in which rebellion is born. "All books about all revolutions begin with a chapter that describes the decay of tottering authority or the misery and sufferings of the people," Kapuscinski writes. "They should begin with a psychological chapter — one that shows how a harassed, terrified man suddenly breaks his terror, stops being afraid. This unusual process — sometimes accomplished in an instant, like a shock — demands to be illustrated. Man gets rid of fear and feel free. Without that, there would be no revolution.”
—
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