Ariel Levy

Advantages: Eye opening
Disadvantages: Too short!

...FCP's, as Levy calls them, are everywhere in today's society. They judge each woman's accomplishments on their physical sexual appeal, their ability to provide male sexual pleasure and their sexual 'user-friendliness'. It has been a subtle and relatively unnoticed takeover, but they are here and they seem to be growing in numbers. This book looks at today's 'raunch culture' and effectively, concludes that the female race is fuelled on this distorted and degrading idea that sexual exploitation equals female liberty and therefore, a more male-friendly variety of feminism (although god forbid they ever use that F word!). Levy's book is highly readable and her observations are fascinating. I personally have become a lot more aware of the contradictions in today's 'sexually equal' society. Levy also manages to encourage women to fight back... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some excellent points, great research, non-patronising, engaging style
Disadvantages: none

...are told, is because women are now 'empowered' and we can spend our time in this post-feminist era learning how to wax off our pubic hair, amongst other things, in order to please men (or 'become more sexually desirable' as they put it). But then again, why should we not do this, if that's what we want to do? What's wrong with wanting to look and feel sexy? These are the kinds of issues explored by Levy. Complex arguments do not phase her and she explains the background to this situation clearly, without being patronising. There is no element of preachiness to her style, neither does she come across as a prude. She lets the research she has done (and she has done a lot) speak for itself. She takes us on a journey from Girls Gone Wild, through the history of feminism, Hugh Hefner's empire, the lesbian 'scene' and ends up at high school, where... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Eye opening
Disadvantages: Too short!

...FCP's, as Levy calls them, are everywhere in today's society. They judge each woman's accomplishments on their physical sexual appeal, their ability to provide male sexual pleasure and their sexual 'user-friendliness'. It has been a subtle and relatively unnoticed takeover, but they are here and they seem to be growing in numbers. This book looks at today's 'raunch culture' and effectively, concludes that the female race is fuelled on this distorted and degrading idea that sexual exploitation equals female liberty and therefore, a more male-friendly variety of feminism (although god forbid they ever use that F word!). Levy's book is highly readable and her observations are fascinating. I personally have become a lot more aware of the contradictions in today's 'sexually equal' society. Levy also manages to encourage women to fight back... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some excellent points, great research, non-patronising, engaging style
Disadvantages: none

...are told, is because women are now 'empowered' and we can spend our time in this post-feminist era learning how to wax off our pubic hair, amongst other things, in order to please men (or 'become more sexually desirable' as they put it). But then again, why should we not do this, if that's what we want to do? What's wrong with wanting to look and feel sexy? These are the kinds of issues explored by Levy. Complex arguments do not phase her and she explains the background to this situation clearly, without being patronising. There is no element of preachiness to her style, neither does she come across as a prude. She lets the research she has done (and she has done a lot) speak for itself. She takes us on a journey from Girls Gone Wild, through the history of feminism, Hugh Hefner's empire, the lesbian 'scene' and ends up at high school, where... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: clever
Disadvantages: none

...Primo Levi is an Italian Jew who was imprisoned in Auschwitz during the war. This book is takes is structure from the elements. Levi gives each of the 21 chapters the name of an element and then proceeds to recount a tale often concerning the element itself or taking the properties of the element as a starting point for an analysis of man and society. Primo Levi was a chemist and brings this side of his intellect into line with himself as the narrator with consummate artistry. A moving book against the painful background of ethnic prejudice.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful