Apparently Katie Roiphe is a very controversial writer, and although I didn't agree with everything she wrote in this collections of essays, I agreed with her most of the time. The first essay was spectacular--worth the price of the book--for anyone going through a life change (in Ms. Roiphe's case separation and divorce) that is assumed to be only bad, but that also may have a hidden upside.


I grew up in a home of literature professors and writers, and I myself am a scientist. I can say with great certainty, that Ms. Roiphe is a critical thinker, and if she ever writes before thinking, she doesn't subject her readers to it. I didn't devour the book as many of the essays were worth the time to think about. Very few writers can actually make me have to think about something other than just plain facts and their veracity. I was pleased and refreshed to read this collection.