Customer Reviews

Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm writing this review primarily to refute Milly's poor rating of this book. While I completely agree with her comments about Meredith and Rachel, I feel the author did an excellent job portraying all the women for who they truly are. It is a relief to see that people who seem to have it all really are like the rest of us and struggle with the same issues we do. It is also wonderful to see the different ways these women deal with their issues, whether they do so in a healthy manner or not.

This book helped me realize my life isn't so bad and that I do ok dealing with my own issues. Thus, I recommend this to all working women as you are bound to benefit from it in one way or another.

I've read alot of magazines on women in the working world; but, none of them ever step thru the decision making process this well. These are people facing extremely tough challenges, usually alone (or with friends who are not actually in the same "trenches", but are looking at the challenge from afar.)

These are brave people, on their own - working thru challenges; How else will i learn about the challenges i have yet to face but through stories like this. I do not learn from tv or movies - nor from newspaper articles or magazines - i do not see these types of stories anywhere. There is room for them and there is a big need for them. Women with daughters should read this; women with a passion for their careers should also; women debating whether or not to have children at a later point in their life should read this.

It is written with tolerance for other opinions which so many stories and people today are lacking. It was really enjoyable...

The struggles in this book touched my soul. Perhaps because I'm a journalist, I could totally relate to Meredith Vieira. And even though it has been four years since I've read it, I can still recall vividly the image of her crying at her kitchen table. Balancing work and the roles of wife and mother is a minute-by-minute-challenge for almost every working woman I know! If working women had more time on their hands, this would be a best seller! Buy, borrow, or steal this book....

I thought this was an excellent book and really touched on the issue of balancing work and family. It was fascinating to read the stories of very succesful women who probably appear very self confident about their very successful careers, but who are really struggling. I found it motivating to hear their stories of how they balanced work and family, even though some of it was a bit hard to relate to (i.e. taking a $50,000/year pay cut when you're making $450,000/year!). I found this book to be inspiring and a must read for anyone struggling with these issues.

It was difficult for me to empathize with Meredith and Rachael. Their lives seemed to have everything, but their lack of maturity stopped them from realizing this and finding joy. These two women were in deep need of therapy to resolve past mother-issue problems that now seemed to dominate their decision making capability and their day-to-day functioning. Both Meredith and Rachel are smart, financially stable and have, what seems, very understanding, caring, and husbands. I found both Meredith and Rachel very spoiled! They totally erased these blessings to dwell on their angst, their woe is me! attitude, and their inability to self-sacrifice. Alison, the third women, has the same advantages of Meredith and Rachael, but approaches life pro-actively. She looks for counsel among friends and professionals, she evaluates situation, and handles frustration and inequity with aplomb and class. Alison, knows that every decision in life entails some sacrifice. I wish the book were more about women like Alison. Since it was not, I give it one star...the star goes to Alison.

I learned of this book watching a "Booknotes" re-run on C-SPAN, and found Elsa Walsh's discussion intriguing enough to buy and read her book. While a longtime enthusiastic believer in the wisdom, strength and talents of women, but who also believes women and girls continue to be considered inferior or unworthy (in some cases by members of BOTH genders), I still found this book to be a fascinating study of how these women had to struggle to attain their full potential. I'm a man, but I know from my experience that countless women today are totally unaware of these kind of struggles by their sisters. I also have to wonder, based on periodic and recent observations, what women continue to experience today. I fear that things may not have improved all that much, and I'd like to see an updated version.
I bought copies for my daughters, all of whom were youngsters or not yet born when this book was written.

I adored this book. The stories of Meredith (of THE VIEW)and others touched my heart in ways I never imagined. I couldn't put it down.. a must read!

While the book is well-written, there are no answers here. There are women who need to stick to their priorities and accept the tradeoffs that come with them (Meredith Viera) and who need to take a realistic look at the choices they've made (Rachael Worby). These are women having trouble making a career and family function despite having no real financial constraints, yet they still can't do it. I suppose this should make the rest of us feel better, but I found it quite depressing.

I am still reading this book. Of course we have read and have in our library several of Bob Woodward's books, but this is the first time we became aware of his wife's talent. I like the book very much and what inspired me to order it was her interview on Book TV. It is very easy reading and amazing that her three women she settled on were so candid in their conversations to her.