Customer Reviews

Fire with Fire : New Female Power and How It Will Change the 21st Century

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Naomi Wolf understands the importance of balance. She understands that women have in many ways been deprived of (or at best, discouraged from claiming) our rights, and that we have a responsibility now to stand up for ourselves and claim them, and to use them with our own AND others' interests in mind when we have claimed them. Speaking out about victimization is useful because it is the first step toward concrete action to reverse the situation - but glorying in one's identity as a victim is not productive.

Because she refuses to shove feminism into a rigid dogmatic paradigm and promotes balancing rights and responsibility, she gets criticism from both sides. Those on the sociopolitical right are afraid of her because she is a popular feminist who wants women to have all the resources they deserve. Some of those on the staunchly ideological left are afraid (somewhat understandably, but unfortunately) that her deviations from their dogma will undermine their efforts. This criticism is really a good thing, as it means she understands the complexity of these issues. Feminism is supposed to be about choices and balance, and Wolf espouses both. The book (like any book ever written) is not without its weak points, but these are minor in comparison to the validity of the underlying message.

After the excellent 'Beauty Myth', I found this book to be a great disappointment. It may be useful for those women who have college degrees and now want to break the glass ceiling in the high powered business world, but it has nothing to say to those of us who are still trying to get access to equal pay and decent jobs. Wolf is a white middle class American and it shows - she can talk to other women like herself, but in this book she has absolutely nothing to say to the rest of us. Susan Faludi's book 'Backlash' is far more worthwhile for addressing issues that matter to the majority of women.

I have long believed that the biggest obstacle to re-popularizing feminism is the inaccurate but widespread belief that feminism is fundamentally anti-male. In this very well written tome, Wolf diagnoses this problem and points us all in the direction of overcoming it once and for all.

Wolf is rare among feminists in that she is not afraid to acknowledge that, while the patriarchy is primarily to blame for the continued pervasiveness of sexism, the feminist movement at large does hold some degree of responsibility for its own predicament. In reading her assessment of "victim feminism" (which really does skate dangerously close to the stereotypes of male-bashing and self-defeatism for women), we see both the shortcomings of feminism in the 1980s and how the patriarchy expertly exploited those shortcomings. We also see, once and for all, that being more accommodating is not in any way tantamount to giving up on the core values and principles of the movement. Men and women both have responsibilities to improving gender relations; and by the same token we all deserve to be recognized for our efforts and judged as individuals.

Unfortunately, this book does sound a bit dated in that it was published in 1993 and Wolf appears to have seen that era's political gains as a harbinger of a progressive decade. Throughout the book, I couldn't help wondering how her tone may have differed if she had written the book two or three years later. But the core of her argument remains unchanged by the rise of the Republican Congress and the "election" of George W. Bush. If anything, the call has only become more urgent for feminists of both genders to follow the lead Wolf has laid out for us.

I intend to urge all my male friends - and my more conservative female friends - to read this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.

This book changed my life. When I read this book in college it opened a whole new world of feminism to me. Prior to this book, feminists were women who didn't shave their legs, or who were lesbians, or who didn't like men. But this book really revealed the power of all women, the unity that just being a woman provides and the opportunities to work towards that unity. I truly loved this book and recommend it to all.

If you read one book on feminism, read this: Fire With Fire clearly explains how women today are in a battle for equality-- and what women can do to help themselves succeed. Naomi Wolf's style is direct and straightforward, and hits the nail on the head; she rejects the ivory-tower academics and the poor-me victims in favor of concrete examples of real problems, the damage caused to women (and to men) and specific suggestions of what could improve the situations. I recommend Fire With Fire most highly.

This is a great book! We so often overlook the simple decisions we make everyday that could change our situation. Little things like letting the manager at the bookstore know that we don't enjoy having Maxim next Newsweek.

It is an imperfect but eye opening book. Recognizing the power you already have is critical to advocating change. This book is inspiring in a way feminist literature hasn't been since the 1970's.

If women read this and apply the information, the results will be absolutely astounding. An embrace of logic, analysis, and an unflinching look at how to fight a battle, win, and have a lot of fun doing it! This book is a rarity, pick it up today!!

I have read all of Naomi Wolf's books and feel this is one of her best. Her knowledge and insight is truly astounding. She makes you wonder why we don't question or challenge the way women are perceived in modern society. She raises valid points that give credibility to the title, Fire with Fire. Great book ... I highly recommend it.

This is one of the most captivating books I have read on the subject of women's studies. The message was so strong and exciting and completely tangible. I am a man and enjoyed it immensely...no doubt other men and women will enjoy it too.

This book is an insult to the women and men who fought so hard against sexism, racism , militarism and the other ugly aspects of corporate America during the 1960's, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond. It is an invitation to affluent spoiled brats to get their share of a pie produced by garment workers in Bangladesh and Mexican cleaning ladies and feel good about it at the same time; after all, when you get your share of the goodies you are really being a feminist, beating men at their own game. Reasoning like this could be used to justify rising to the top in the Mafia or the CIA. At one point Wolf claims that "we" would wage war to stop atrocities in the former Yugoslavia. Funny, I don't remember hearing about her enlisting when war really came. Perhaps that kind of thing is for lower class women (and men) who don't fit into her bourgois pseudo-feminist scheme. I saw Wolf's name listed on a "Learning Annex" ad with pop psychologist Wayne Dyer, various get rich quick frauds, dubious instructors who will teach you how to break into acting, and similar characters. Nice company she's keeping these days. I guess that's called fighting fire with fire.