It's a Woman's World

by Ruth Stout

2018 Reprint of 1960 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. Ruth Stout, already famous through her well-known book on gardening, reveals ideas on a different art -- the art of living. Written by a woman who enjoys her life so fully that she wants to share her outlook with the plethora of women who suffer exasperation and self-inflicted limitations for no good reason, this book covers everything from practical philosophy, morale boosting, shortcuts in kitchen techniques, to economical budgeting, marital adjustments, and the rearing of children. Reminding the reader of the power of women and underscoring the importance of making an art of living, the author attacks conformity without reason, denounces women's propensity for remorse and "looking back", and points out that "Making too much of too little is a pathetic and almost universal pastime", as almost any mishap with a time limit can be taken philosophically. With a definitive, individualistic, and positive view of life, she emphasizes the necessity of looking ahead, and doing only what you, as a person, deem right and desirable. A book of value to women who are so enmeshed in an unconsciously self-imposed and other-directed web of activity that they feel somewhat persecuted in the distorted role of womanhood.

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Ruth Imogen Stout was the fifth child of Quaker parents John Wallace Stout and Lucetta Elizabeth Todhunter Stout. Her younger brother Rex Stout, an author, was famous for the Nero Wolfe detective stories.

Stout moved to New York when she was 18 and was employed at various times as a nurse, bookkeeper, secretary, business manager, and factory worker. She coordinated lectures and debates and she also owned a small tea shop in Greenwich Village. She worked for a fake mind-reading act.

In 1923, she accompanied fellow Quakers to Russia to assist in famine relief. She met and married Alfred Rossiter in June 1929. In March 1930, the couple moved to Poverty Hollow at Redding Ridge, on the outskirts of Redding, Connecticut.

Ruth continued to use her maiden name as her pen name and Rossiter as her official name. Fred, a Columbia-trained psychologist, followed his passion for wood turning and subsequently became known for his wooden bowls. Ruth decided to try her luck at gardening, and in the spring of 1930, she planted her first garden

Reviews

[Ione · Rating 2 out of 5]

A likeable author but the contents are really very dated. It is like a "how-to" book for the housewives of the 1950's.

[Maggie Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these vintage books. Some of the advice seems a little dated, but most of it still holds true. Since Ruth was a Quaker she believed in the inner light of God. If we all believed we hold that in us, work hard, take time for ourselves each day, complain less, take time off of "modern" devices (in her era it was wasting time on the telephone, to us it's social media), found some hobbies, ate well and treated each other more kindly the world would be a better place indeed!

[Christine Kenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old timey timeless advice. More worthwhile than an equivalently-priced set of fashion magazines. This wasn't such a paradigm shift that I'd feel the need to re-read it in the future though.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick easy & fun read- terribly outdated.