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The Book of Jezebel: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Lady Things
From Jezebel.com, the popular website for women, comes a must-read encyclopedic guide to pop culture, feminism, fashion, sex, and much more.
Within months of Jezebel's May 2007 appearance on the new media scene, fans of the blog began referring to themselves as "Jezzies" in comment threads and organizing reader meet-ups in cities all over the world. By 2008, the devotion of the self-appointed Jezzies reached such a fever pitch that the New York Times ran a feature story about them and parody blogs and copycat websites began popping up right and left.
With contributions from the writers and creatives who give the site its distinctive tone and broad influence, The Book of Jezebel is an encyclopedia of everything important to the modern woman. Running the gamut from Abzug, Bella and Baby-sitters Club, The to Xena , Yogurt, and Zits, and filled with entertaining sidebars and arresting images, this is a must-read for the modern woman.
Within months of Jezebel's May 2007 appearance on the new media scene, fans of the blog began referring to themselves as "Jezzies" in comment threads and organizing reader meet-ups in cities all over the world. By 2008, the devotion of the self-appointed Jezzies reached such a fever pitch that the New York Times ran a feature story about them and parody blogs and copycat websites began popping up right and left.
With contributions from the writers and creatives who give the site its distinctive tone and broad influence, The Book of Jezebel is an encyclopedia of everything important to the modern woman. Running the gamut from Abzug, Bella and Baby-sitters Club, The to Xena , Yogurt, and Zits, and filled with entertaining sidebars and arresting images, this is a must-read for the modern woman.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
970 people want to read
About the author
Anna Holmes
38 books12 followersAnna Holmes has written and edited for numerous publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, InStyle and The New Yorker online. She is the founder of the popular website Jezebel.com and the 2012 recipient of a Mirror Award for Best Commentary. In 2013 her Twitter account was named one of the top 140 Twitter feeds by Time Magazine, at which point she became incredibly self-conscious and stopped tweeting as much. She is the editor of two books, including the Book of Jezebel. She lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 16, 2013
ARC via NetGalley
The Book of Jezebel is a perfect example of that always awkward category of pop-culture coffee table books that exist primarily to communicate to others that you having an affection for Topic X. I originally assumed that this volume would serve as an encyclopedia of key authors from and topics covered on Jezebel.com (a pop-culture focused women's issue site with a strong feminist bent), however I was very much mistaken. Instead it serves as an encyclopedia about anything vaguely related to contemporary women's issues (culturally, politically, historically, etc) with only the occasional image borrowed from the site itself. The entries are too pithy to be of use to anyone actually trying to gather information on the topic while the subjects covered are too well-trod to be unfamiliar to anyone with even a rudimentary education of contemporary feminist views on mass media and key feminist historical figures. Beyond the 20+ contributors and those who have a gaping hole to fill on their bookshelf, I'm genuinely not sure who will serve as the market for this book. Certainly skim it if you see it in the bookstore (perhaps YOU are the mystery market I can't quite see), but I suspect most readers will leave in on the shelf until it hits the $4.99-and-down discount table at Barnes & Noble.
The Book of Jezebel is a perfect example of that always awkward category of pop-culture coffee table books that exist primarily to communicate to others that you having an affection for Topic X. I originally assumed that this volume would serve as an encyclopedia of key authors from and topics covered on Jezebel.com (a pop-culture focused women's issue site with a strong feminist bent), however I was very much mistaken. Instead it serves as an encyclopedia about anything vaguely related to contemporary women's issues (culturally, politically, historically, etc) with only the occasional image borrowed from the site itself. The entries are too pithy to be of use to anyone actually trying to gather information on the topic while the subjects covered are too well-trod to be unfamiliar to anyone with even a rudimentary education of contemporary feminist views on mass media and key feminist historical figures. Beyond the 20+ contributors and those who have a gaping hole to fill on their bookshelf, I'm genuinely not sure who will serve as the market for this book. Certainly skim it if you see it in the bookstore (perhaps YOU are the mystery market I can't quite see), but I suspect most readers will leave in on the shelf until it hits the $4.99-and-down discount table at Barnes & Noble.
December 23, 2014
I received this book as an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Fun, funny, and informative. I found myself really interested in finding out more about the men, and women I had never heard of, and seeing different perspectives on people I thought I knew. I liked how unflinching some of the articles on some of the different people were, and they didn't avoid looking at the more negative attitudes, and judgments of many of them. Pretty sad how many older feminist leaders seem to be deeply transphobic. I did like the breadth of women and men included. They seemed to do a good job including important, and less well known figures from all groups without having anyone feel included just to be included.
They tried very hard to keep an open mind, but there were places that I felt were a bit disappointing. I didn't like some of the dismissive, and almost patronizing attitude they seemed to have towards Pagans and Wiccans. They are not all flaky Goddess worshippers or Hippies (that really shouldn't be a pejorative term), and it's pretty sad to see a book like this falling for those outdated stereotypes. I also didn't like the generalizations of "white women". Making blanket statements about any race should be unacceptable, and white women are no more a homogeneous group than any other race of women. I wouldn't make such a statement about another race of women, and it would be nice to receive the same courtesy in return. I did like the refusal to fat shame, and the respect shown to women of all sexualities, and gender expressions, and the attention focused on racism (except for that one small issue), and classism.
Overall a well researched, interesting book on a diverse range of people, and ideas. Both funny, and thought provoking. An enjoyable read that was really an immersive experience. Thanks to this book I found some really interesting art, some great music, and expanded my knowledge of the people who have and are shaping our world.
Fun, funny, and informative. I found myself really interested in finding out more about the men, and women I had never heard of, and seeing different perspectives on people I thought I knew. I liked how unflinching some of the articles on some of the different people were, and they didn't avoid looking at the more negative attitudes, and judgments of many of them. Pretty sad how many older feminist leaders seem to be deeply transphobic. I did like the breadth of women and men included. They seemed to do a good job including important, and less well known figures from all groups without having anyone feel included just to be included.
They tried very hard to keep an open mind, but there were places that I felt were a bit disappointing. I didn't like some of the dismissive, and almost patronizing attitude they seemed to have towards Pagans and Wiccans. They are not all flaky Goddess worshippers or Hippies (that really shouldn't be a pejorative term), and it's pretty sad to see a book like this falling for those outdated stereotypes. I also didn't like the generalizations of "white women". Making blanket statements about any race should be unacceptable, and white women are no more a homogeneous group than any other race of women. I wouldn't make such a statement about another race of women, and it would be nice to receive the same courtesy in return. I did like the refusal to fat shame, and the respect shown to women of all sexualities, and gender expressions, and the attention focused on racism (except for that one small issue), and classism.
Overall a well researched, interesting book on a diverse range of people, and ideas. Both funny, and thought provoking. An enjoyable read that was really an immersive experience. Thanks to this book I found some really interesting art, some great music, and expanded my knowledge of the people who have and are shaping our world.
December 17, 2013
This is a truncated version of my full review [ http://www.vivalafeminista.com/2013/1... ].
The Book of Jezebel has been called a feminist text/coffee table book that will be on the coffee table of every third-wave feminist. NPR suggests you choose it over the latest Bridget Jones book! I suggest that you should instead send the $27 to your local abortion fund, Planned Parenthood or other fave feminist organization.
Basically, "We can do better feminism."
Admittedly, as a critic of Jezebel, I went in wanting to not like the book. I tried to talk myself into being fair, especially after I saw that Kate Harding was a lead writer on it. As a disclaimer, Kate & I went to high school together, have hung out a few times since reconnecting at a Shakesville meet-up and she's bought Girl Scout cookies from my daughter. I also admire her brilliance. So the book can't be that bad, right? I went right for my personal music moment in the book...To the L's!
WHAT?! No Lilith Fair? OK, they covered it under Sarah McLachlan then...WHATTHEFUCK?! After cryptically posting to my FB page about this egregious error, I was told that an online second edition would be created and this error would be corrected. And it has. While I won't spend time outlining every person or idea I feel was left out, I will say that I do not think those left out on purpose, but as editor Anna Holmes points out in an interview with the Washington Post, "just were not thought of."
Thus began my journey to read the book in order, cover to cover. Come on with me as I Frodo this book...
It starts off strong with a full-page photo of Bella Abzug. Then I read the first entry on Aaliyah. Oh, my...I was not a huge fan of Aaliyah, so for me to read it and think, "This does not do justice to her legacy," says a lot. So let's move on my precious...We get to a pretty good entry on Abigail Adams. Jezebel defines her as "the baller behind President John Adams who was the real brains behind the American Revolution (p 6)." I chuckle. Then I hit "adoption" and I throw the book like Frodo tosses the ring:
"If you're pregnant and cannot raise the child yourself, antichoicers would have you believe this is a relatively easy process and morally superior alternative to abortion, even thought it means enduring forty weeks of pregnancy, labor, and any complications that might arise from those, then handing the baby over to stranger while you're physically exhausted and maximally hormonal (p 6-7)"
Now I've written about adoption before and the idea that feminists are best suited to look after the birth mother. I think everyone should read, "The Girls Who Went Away," before saying adoption is the best choice for an unwanted/planned pregnancy. But this description is offensive and not just in the normal Jezebel offensive manner. OK, deep breath...let's keep moving.
Overall I did end up pretty "meh" about the whole book. There are some excellent entries (A League of Their Own, Buffy Summers, Venus & Serena Williams, and Princess Diana), but also some low points such as summing up Deidre McCloskey's awesomeness with this entry: "As far as we know, the first out trans woman who's also a famous economist (p 179)." For me, she's important to know because lately she's been calling into question the idea of "statistical significance" and I think as feminists, we like people who question science in a manner that ensures that good science prevails.
I asked a few #NoJez folks what they would look up in "The Book of Jezebel," and the most requested idea was cis/transgender. I will say that I think their entries on these terms are fairly good despite the McCloskey entry.
But overall, the "meh" feeling came from a sense that some entries were just super shortchanged. That some individuals received well-rounded entries and others did not. I know not every entry can be perfect, but some glaring omissions did occur.
I also feel that the time and energy given to riot grrrl over all other musical genres was short-sighted, to say the least of the amazing feminist work in hip-hop, country and rap, not to mention the aforementioned Sarah McLachlan and her contemporaries. There were also entries that were rightly critical of the person or idea (Helen Thomas, Naomi Wolf), but others did not get that same critical eye (Gloria Steinem, SlutWalk).
Overall, "The Book of Jezebel" is uneven in how it treats lady things, presents some ideas in too snarkastic of a light and overall is just ok. It's not a terrible book, but if you are looking for something to give a young woman who might need a nudge towards claiming the feminist label there are plenty of other gift ideas.
full review at http://www.vivalafeminista.com/2013/1...
The Book of Jezebel has been called a feminist text/coffee table book that will be on the coffee table of every third-wave feminist. NPR suggests you choose it over the latest Bridget Jones book! I suggest that you should instead send the $27 to your local abortion fund, Planned Parenthood or other fave feminist organization.
Basically, "We can do better feminism."
Admittedly, as a critic of Jezebel, I went in wanting to not like the book. I tried to talk myself into being fair, especially after I saw that Kate Harding was a lead writer on it. As a disclaimer, Kate & I went to high school together, have hung out a few times since reconnecting at a Shakesville meet-up and she's bought Girl Scout cookies from my daughter. I also admire her brilliance. So the book can't be that bad, right? I went right for my personal music moment in the book...To the L's!
WHAT?! No Lilith Fair? OK, they covered it under Sarah McLachlan then...WHATTHEFUCK?! After cryptically posting to my FB page about this egregious error, I was told that an online second edition would be created and this error would be corrected. And it has. While I won't spend time outlining every person or idea I feel was left out, I will say that I do not think those left out on purpose, but as editor Anna Holmes points out in an interview with the Washington Post, "just were not thought of."
Thus began my journey to read the book in order, cover to cover. Come on with me as I Frodo this book...
It starts off strong with a full-page photo of Bella Abzug. Then I read the first entry on Aaliyah. Oh, my...I was not a huge fan of Aaliyah, so for me to read it and think, "This does not do justice to her legacy," says a lot. So let's move on my precious...We get to a pretty good entry on Abigail Adams. Jezebel defines her as "the baller behind President John Adams who was the real brains behind the American Revolution (p 6)." I chuckle. Then I hit "adoption" and I throw the book like Frodo tosses the ring:
"If you're pregnant and cannot raise the child yourself, antichoicers would have you believe this is a relatively easy process and morally superior alternative to abortion, even thought it means enduring forty weeks of pregnancy, labor, and any complications that might arise from those, then handing the baby over to stranger while you're physically exhausted and maximally hormonal (p 6-7)"
Now I've written about adoption before and the idea that feminists are best suited to look after the birth mother. I think everyone should read, "The Girls Who Went Away," before saying adoption is the best choice for an unwanted/planned pregnancy. But this description is offensive and not just in the normal Jezebel offensive manner. OK, deep breath...let's keep moving.
Overall I did end up pretty "meh" about the whole book. There are some excellent entries (A League of Their Own, Buffy Summers, Venus & Serena Williams, and Princess Diana), but also some low points such as summing up Deidre McCloskey's awesomeness with this entry: "As far as we know, the first out trans woman who's also a famous economist (p 179)." For me, she's important to know because lately she's been calling into question the idea of "statistical significance" and I think as feminists, we like people who question science in a manner that ensures that good science prevails.
I asked a few #NoJez folks what they would look up in "The Book of Jezebel," and the most requested idea was cis/transgender. I will say that I think their entries on these terms are fairly good despite the McCloskey entry.
But overall, the "meh" feeling came from a sense that some entries were just super shortchanged. That some individuals received well-rounded entries and others did not. I know not every entry can be perfect, but some glaring omissions did occur.
I also feel that the time and energy given to riot grrrl over all other musical genres was short-sighted, to say the least of the amazing feminist work in hip-hop, country and rap, not to mention the aforementioned Sarah McLachlan and her contemporaries. There were also entries that were rightly critical of the person or idea (Helen Thomas, Naomi Wolf), but others did not get that same critical eye (Gloria Steinem, SlutWalk).
Overall, "The Book of Jezebel" is uneven in how it treats lady things, presents some ideas in too snarkastic of a light and overall is just ok. It's not a terrible book, but if you are looking for something to give a young woman who might need a nudge towards claiming the feminist label there are plenty of other gift ideas.
full review at http://www.vivalafeminista.com/2013/1...
October 26, 2013
This books is loaded up on pictures and has barely any text, not to mention, it reads at a grade three level. I thought the 'teasers' the site was featuring for this book were just that and there would be more 'meat' to it, but nope, that's pretty much it. I'm honestly insulted that Jezebel not only would charge $30 CDN for this, but that they're marketing it to adults.
I could maybe see this as a good book for pre-teens who want to get their toes wet in the world of feminism and issues pertaining to women, although tbh, even that's a stretch because the tone is snarky and I think they may feel like they're being judged which is the last thing a 12 year old girl needs lol. Also, they covered more on a dead R&B singer who died before their time than they did on Abortion; a topic which Jezebel simply writes as "A safe and legal way to end a pregnancy." Uh, K? Not exactly useful to someone who wants a more in depth understanding into these issues, and since most women know what abortion is, what the frig was the point in adding that? It just feels juvenile.
I could maybe see this as a good book for pre-teens who want to get their toes wet in the world of feminism and issues pertaining to women, although tbh, even that's a stretch because the tone is snarky and I think they may feel like they're being judged which is the last thing a 12 year old girl needs lol. Also, they covered more on a dead R&B singer who died before their time than they did on Abortion; a topic which Jezebel simply writes as "A safe and legal way to end a pregnancy." Uh, K? Not exactly useful to someone who wants a more in depth understanding into these issues, and since most women know what abortion is, what the frig was the point in adding that? It just feels juvenile.
January 3, 2014
I thought this would be a neat book to flip through, since I am of the female persuasion and love a good illustrated collection. However, I wasn't much a fan of this at all. I didn't realize that "lady things" was an all encompassing term for whatever the editors felt like talking or complaining about. Not only that, but the information for each seemed mostly useless and often random. Some terms were given full, in depth paragraphs and others a sentence. It's an encyclopedia, not a dictionary. I expected more meat on the bones.
However, the main thing I really disliked about this book was the tone. It was overly snarky and downright judgemental at times. I don't know who this book is geared towards, but it's definitely not me. I can look this stuff up in a few seconds on the internet and receive a whole lot more information without the eye rolling and the headaches.
I can't give this book one star, because there were some entries that were well done and gave good information. However, overall, if I saw this on a bookshelf I would keep walking. Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my copy of this book. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
However, the main thing I really disliked about this book was the tone. It was overly snarky and downright judgemental at times. I don't know who this book is geared towards, but it's definitely not me. I can look this stuff up in a few seconds on the internet and receive a whole lot more information without the eye rolling and the headaches.
I can't give this book one star, because there were some entries that were well done and gave good information. However, overall, if I saw this on a bookshelf I would keep walking. Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my copy of this book. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
October 16, 2013
Synopsis
The Book of Jezebel: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Lady Things, edited by Anna Holmes of Jezebel.com, is a witty, entertaining guide to all things "lady adjacent."
High Points
Praises those early pioneers of the feminist movements and the women who continue to fight for women's rights and champion their issues. Witty as all get out. Did you know Bea Arthur was a staff sergeant in the Marines?! Also, Ab Fab!
Low Points
Hypercritical and down right judgmental at times. Certain entries made me feel guilty for being a wife and mother when I could be fighting the good fight even when it is obvious that is not its intentions. I think.
You'll love it if...
You can appreciate tongue-in-cheek analysis of society at large. You consider yourself a "broad." Are a Jezzie (moniker for fans of Jezebel.com).
You'll hate it if...
You are super conservative and easily offended.
Overall Rating
3.5 stars
See more reviews by The Readist at www.thereadist.com
The Book of Jezebel: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Lady Things, edited by Anna Holmes of Jezebel.com, is a witty, entertaining guide to all things "lady adjacent."
High Points
Praises those early pioneers of the feminist movements and the women who continue to fight for women's rights and champion their issues. Witty as all get out. Did you know Bea Arthur was a staff sergeant in the Marines?! Also, Ab Fab!
Low Points
Hypercritical and down right judgmental at times. Certain entries made me feel guilty for being a wife and mother when I could be fighting the good fight even when it is obvious that is not its intentions. I think.
You'll love it if...
You can appreciate tongue-in-cheek analysis of society at large. You consider yourself a "broad." Are a Jezzie (moniker for fans of Jezebel.com).
You'll hate it if...
You are super conservative and easily offended.
Overall Rating
3.5 stars
See more reviews by The Readist at www.thereadist.com
November 13, 2013
This just made me sad. I miss the Jez of yore. Not that I don't think there are some great writers there at the moment, but nothing can erase the profound change that came with the passing of the flag from Anna to Jessica, marked by the infamous French street harassment post of November 2010. I'd hoped the book would have more direct discussion of or reprints from the site, but instead it's an encyclopedia of things and people that the editors felt tied into the idea of Jezebel.
Listen, if there's not a lost tampon and someone losing their mind over a DivaCup, it's not real Jezebel.
Listen, if there's not a lost tampon and someone losing their mind over a DivaCup, it's not real Jezebel.
January 25, 2014
Terrible and boring. It's too bad I can't just mark it as DNF and not as "read" since I didn't bother reading too far in this book. The book is so bad I actually added a DNF shelf to my books.
July 20, 2015
If you like the Jezebel site, you'll like this book! Feminism FTW!
May 11, 2018
[2.5]
Nothing extraordinary. At times, appeared to be poorly planned, with some entries feeling repeated, with some entries merely linking to other entires where the entry would be poorly written joke or otherwise non-existent. Some of the "humour" was pointless or unnecessary. Only one entry (off the top of my head) actively irritated me, which was the one about multiple personality disorder, where it was non-jokingly called a condition most likely made-up. It wasn't a terrible read overall, but it doesn't offer more than incredibly basic entries that may be related to the website's ethos. So alright.
Nothing extraordinary. At times, appeared to be poorly planned, with some entries feeling repeated, with some entries merely linking to other entires where the entry would be poorly written joke or otherwise non-existent. Some of the "humour" was pointless or unnecessary. Only one entry (off the top of my head) actively irritated me, which was the one about multiple personality disorder, where it was non-jokingly called a condition most likely made-up. It wasn't a terrible read overall, but it doesn't offer more than incredibly basic entries that may be related to the website's ethos. So alright.
October 7, 2013
Funny, interesting, and covers a lot more ground than I anticipated. I do wish they'd sacrificed perhaps some of that breadth for depth, and their coverage of people, events, and issues was more appealing than their coverage of random words ("unfriend").
Also, why a section on Barnard and none of the other Seven Sisters? There was a bit on the Seven Sisters themselves but no other individual school was name-dropped, even though at 3-4 Mount Holyoke alumnae were named, and 1-2 Smith names were highlighted.
Also, why a section on Barnard and none of the other Seven Sisters? There was a bit on the Seven Sisters themselves but no other individual school was name-dropped, even though at 3-4 Mount Holyoke alumnae were named, and 1-2 Smith names were highlighted.
October 29, 2013
Great cover, horrible coffee table book. Wait and find this in a bargain bin on clearance and use the cover for crafts, tossing the actual text.
December 30, 2013
loved reading from A to Z in this "encyclopedia of lady things"! Since it was a gift to my daughter, I may have to consider getting my own copy when she leaves for home :-)
Read
September 9, 2016uuuuugh.
shuffling and pointless, all over the map without evidencing much original wit or erudition.
i'm not sure i'll EVER bother finishing this self-indulgent mass.
shuffling and pointless, all over the map without evidencing much original wit or erudition.
i'm not sure i'll EVER bother finishing this self-indulgent mass.
February 24, 2014
Fun supplemental text for their website.
January 12, 2023
Broad and self-aware yet still projects white, (sub)urban, middle-class, and SATC aspirational. The poor and the rural and the Latin and the corporate are mostly missing. Lots of good entries of people, particularly in the art world. But some get short shrift featuring only a quote or a 'notable fact' that makes it feel at times like a trivia game prep book. No Rita Mae Brown? Most of us would have agreed with their Joss Whedon entry at the time, but oh boy no longer.
March 19, 2017
Coffee Table book ?
Reads like a dictionary. I ordered from library so didn't have much use to read A-Z. Would be a book to own and look up items/definition as subject matter comes up. Not interesting as stand alone book.
Reads like a dictionary. I ordered from library so didn't have much use to read A-Z. Would be a book to own and look up items/definition as subject matter comes up. Not interesting as stand alone book.
Currently reading
October 29, 2021Full of short snippits of popular culture and female historic figures, this album is a funny analysis of all things feminine. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book because it declared that Megan Follows was the ultimate "Anne of Green Gables"!
March 19, 2017
Interesting facts!!
May 31, 2017
The part on Lindsay Lohan was rude as hecky. For a book that tries so hard to be intersectional why is there a white girl on the cover
June 1, 2017
An unusual amount of typos, but it passed the time well enough.
May 16, 2022
Occasionally funny and occasionally informative
December 17, 2022
Oddly outdated in 2022. The book has a specific time in recent history
April 25, 2014
The tagline of Jezebel.com is "Celebrity, Sex, Fashion for Women. Without Airbrushing." When the website debuted in 2007, it took the Internet by storm. Founding editor Anna Holmes said she set out to create a women's magazine that she would actually want to read, albeit one that lived online. Unlike many traditional women's magazines, which perpetuate a negative body image to better sell beauty products, Jezebel gave women thoughtful commentary and a safe place to discuss everything from reproductive rights and stalking to beauty norms and red carpet fashion.
Holmes described The Book of Jezebel to NPR as a feminist "encyclopedia of the world." With entries from Aaliyah ("talented 90s R&B singer") to zygote ("too young to be a slut, so way more entitled to civil rights than you are"), the book tales the bawdy (and often foulmouthed) humor of the website and brings it to your coffee table.
While it isn't for the fainthearted, the book is tremendous fun for feisty, smart women of all ages, a treasure trove of women's history and pop culture references that would delight -- and possibly unite -- every demographic in the AAUW audience. Each generation will see its icons represented. Entries include not only AAUW members and luminaries Jane Addams ("philosopher, activist, and suffragette") and Eleanor Roosevelt (whose entry is simply a photo, a quote, and the descriptor "complete boss") but also famous fictional, and more contemporary, feminists such as Cathy (yes, the comic strip), Daria ("MTV series...for acerbically smart teenagers of the 90s"), and Clair Huxtable ("the most awesome TV mom ever").
With The Book of Jezebel, Holmes and her contributors have succeeded in creating a book that almost any community of clever, funny, and rabble-rousing women will want to read, proudly display, and discuss.
This review originally appeared in the winter 2014 issue of AAUW's membership magazine, AAUW Outlook.
Holmes described The Book of Jezebel to NPR as a feminist "encyclopedia of the world." With entries from Aaliyah ("talented 90s R&B singer") to zygote ("too young to be a slut, so way more entitled to civil rights than you are"), the book tales the bawdy (and often foulmouthed) humor of the website and brings it to your coffee table.
While it isn't for the fainthearted, the book is tremendous fun for feisty, smart women of all ages, a treasure trove of women's history and pop culture references that would delight -- and possibly unite -- every demographic in the AAUW audience. Each generation will see its icons represented. Entries include not only AAUW members and luminaries Jane Addams ("philosopher, activist, and suffragette") and Eleanor Roosevelt (whose entry is simply a photo, a quote, and the descriptor "complete boss") but also famous fictional, and more contemporary, feminists such as Cathy (yes, the comic strip), Daria ("MTV series...for acerbically smart teenagers of the 90s"), and Clair Huxtable ("the most awesome TV mom ever").
With The Book of Jezebel, Holmes and her contributors have succeeded in creating a book that almost any community of clever, funny, and rabble-rousing women will want to read, proudly display, and discuss.
This review originally appeared in the winter 2014 issue of AAUW's membership magazine, AAUW Outlook.
October 22, 2013
This review is based on an advanced electronic copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Fellow feminists, put this in your must have coffee table book of the year.
Let's start with my disclaimer above. I haven't seen a hard copy of this book, what I'm hoping for is better illustrations. Glossy coffee table book magic illustrations. The illustrations and pictures in the e-book left me a little flat. I'm hoping for something more beautiful, I need to get down to a bookstore and see.
Moving on to actual content this book is funny, sassy, and totally unapologetic. You're getting far-left feminist entries, if you don't hail from that camp or you lack a sense of humor about your politics, religion, etc. this book is definitely not for you. The entries are absolutist with a healthy bias towards women, people of color, the poor, and the LGBT community. Punches are not pulled. Since it's written and edited by the fine people that run Jezebel.com taking a peek at their website is a pretty good litmus test on whether or not this book is for you.
My other small complaint is that while the book is comprehensive in the range of things that it covers, (entries range from abortion to Little House on the Prairie to Michelle Bachmann) at times it lacks depth in the entries. Not a single entry covered more than two pages and most are just a few sentences. I think that it would be useful to have more said about prominent feminists, civil rights leaders, and movements.
That being said, while this book is educational in a way, I think the intent is to be more entertaining and it achieves that very very well.
Fellow feminists, put this in your must have coffee table book of the year.
Let's start with my disclaimer above. I haven't seen a hard copy of this book, what I'm hoping for is better illustrations. Glossy coffee table book magic illustrations. The illustrations and pictures in the e-book left me a little flat. I'm hoping for something more beautiful, I need to get down to a bookstore and see.
Moving on to actual content this book is funny, sassy, and totally unapologetic. You're getting far-left feminist entries, if you don't hail from that camp or you lack a sense of humor about your politics, religion, etc. this book is definitely not for you. The entries are absolutist with a healthy bias towards women, people of color, the poor, and the LGBT community. Punches are not pulled. Since it's written and edited by the fine people that run Jezebel.com taking a peek at their website is a pretty good litmus test on whether or not this book is for you.
My other small complaint is that while the book is comprehensive in the range of things that it covers, (entries range from abortion to Little House on the Prairie to Michelle Bachmann) at times it lacks depth in the entries. Not a single entry covered more than two pages and most are just a few sentences. I think that it would be useful to have more said about prominent feminists, civil rights leaders, and movements.
That being said, while this book is educational in a way, I think the intent is to be more entertaining and it achieves that very very well.
November 12, 2013
If you’re a female and you’ve been to the Internet before, you’ve probably (hopefully) ended up on jezebel.com. And when you got there if you said aloud, “Oh, thank God!” in relief, then you might want to get this book. It is smart, funny, and very entertaining.
It is, as it says, an illustrated encyclopedia so it’s not really something you’d sit down and read cover to cover. It’s more fun to pick a letter and run. I was very pleased with how much variety is in the book, as well as the fact that the book doesn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, under the entry for Bower, Angela it reads: “The boss. Like it was ever really a question.”
So yeah, it’s filled with pop-culture references as well as historical people/places/things.
The Book of Jezebel is great fun and hey, we’re coming up on the holidays, so if you find yourself needing to buy a gift for someone who already has everything she needs, might I suggest this? Buy two copies and give one to yourself.
It is, as it says, an illustrated encyclopedia so it’s not really something you’d sit down and read cover to cover. It’s more fun to pick a letter and run. I was very pleased with how much variety is in the book, as well as the fact that the book doesn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, under the entry for Bower, Angela it reads: “The boss. Like it was ever really a question.”
So yeah, it’s filled with pop-culture references as well as historical people/places/things.
The Book of Jezebel is great fun and hey, we’re coming up on the holidays, so if you find yourself needing to buy a gift for someone who already has everything she needs, might I suggest this? Buy two copies and give one to yourself.
February 13, 2017
Entertaining and sometimes informative; lots of fun short entries.
June 3, 2015
Anything that I read from Jezebel is almost guaranteed to either tickle my feminist funnybone or make me furious. They did a little bit of both with this book, but I've evolved enough at this point to understand that I can't voluntarily read a feminist, far-left publication and get up in arms about everything I don't necessarily agree with. So instead of critiquing the politics in this book (and really, aren't we all tired of the Internet "comment pundits" anyway?) I will just say that I thought that it was immensely funny at times and was also quite informative, especially in introducing me to the work of new (to me) feminist artists. I do think a few glaring omissions were made and some of the jokes just seemed mean-spirited and lazy rather than edgy or informed, so it wasn't perfect. Overall a fun read. Jezebel, you may make me mad at times, but I keep coming back for more.
June 14, 2014
A grab bag of female or female adjacent things. For some reason, didnt include John Waters, Mermaids, Now and Then, or Drop Dead Gorgeous. Also has a self righteous and judgmental tone, which is why I am ambivalent at best about the website. Interesting to note for all their derision of transphobic female authors, only featured one trans individual : Brandon Teena. Possibly suitable for teenagers who havent discovered Rookie or as a forced parent interaction under the guise of education but really just nostalgia.
January 17, 2014
While this is a clever bit of design, in creating a pop-culture feminist encyclopedia, this was not the book I was hoping for. I'd wanted more than just some quick entries about key feminist people, events and trends. I was hoping for some collection of actual writing and analysis from Jezebel and other current, young, post-feminist feminist writers. That isn't in this book, and maybe I'm just too old, but this volume felt as ephemeral as most online content does. I was hoping for a work that created a more solid touchstone into the feminism of today in a more rigorous and studied way.
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