Customer Reviews

Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow, this book is great! It's so much better than the previous editions. The previous editions were extremely informative, but they sometimes stuck more to a feminist "party line" than I am comfortable with. This edition really covers both sides (or all sides) of every argument. For example, it covers the pros and cons of postmenopausal hormone therapy, rather than just taking an "estrogen is evil" approach. I was blown away by how good the breast cancer section is, and the birth control chapter is well done too. In addition to the medical information, this book gives you something to think about, by describing the political context that leads to many of our health issues and decisions.

One more note: They finally updated the photos, thank goodness! I've already gotten copies of the book for myself and my mother, and now that the style lives up to the substance, I can feel free to get copies for my nieces as well. Recommended.

I believe, rather than making The New Our bodies Ourselves "easier to understand" than previous editions, or "updated," they have taken an almost defeated stance on women's issues, especially healthcare! I am in my mid 20's and have to say I learned about my body and myself from reading the earlier editions when I was a teenager. I came from a strict household that didn't really discuss sexual orientation or feminist issues, and Our Bodies, Ourselves was key in developing who I am today... It taught me to have no shame for my sexual feelings, how to demand the best healtcare possible, even how to eat properly. I was really looking forward to what the Boston Healthcare Collective had to say to a new generation... and saw that they have, in an attempt to stay "up-to-date," taken a much more passive stance on almost all the issues they used to so passionately educate their readers on. I personally became a supporter of the the movement to end the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth, and the right for women to use midwives. So I was especially disappointed to find the disclaimer at the begining of the chapter on childbirth in this version saying that in the U.S, women are not always allowed to have natural childbirth, but "it is important to know what is possible." Which to me says, there's a good chance you won't have a choice, but, it's possible, maybe we will someday... rather than, Here's how you fight the injustice! And that seems to be the tone of the entire book, rather than taking a "radical" stance (ie, speaking up) they seem to promote dealing with many issues facing woman today with quiet resolve. I got the impression of, "This is unfair, but we're strong women and can deal with it," instead of "This is unfair, but we're strong women and can overcome it!"
But as far as basic information and facts, I do believe this is probably still the most down to earth, informative guide to women's health and fertility that's widely available. But personally I also turned to OBOS for inspiration, not just facts, and I still find the truly feminist past editions to be more inspiring.

This book is by far the best ever. It is the first edition of OBOS which I feel really addresses the equally pressing healthcare needs of myself and younger generations of women.

I had used prior versions of this book, but still had felt that the authors of those versions assumed that the readers had been with them through the 1970's...etc. The tone of this book is very inclusive and non-presuming. Consequently the medical information presented does not get lost in the personal vingettes. Our own generational experiences are just as important.

Also, the authors take an enligthened approach to sexuality instead of segmenting off "LGBT/queer" issues into a couple of areas. This book is further commendable because it made more of an effort to tell the stories (and thus provide culturally sensitive health care) for different women.

Kudos to the people who suggested a redesign and updating of the book layout.

A must-have for anyone who has ovulated or will ovulate in the future... and not a bad idea either for some of you guys!

This is the ultimate handbook of being female, knowing about your body, your health and your options. This life manual covers a range of 'should know' topics like nutrition & exercise, aging, female sickness and medical procedures ... and yes, sexuality, sexual orientation and reproduction. It drives me crazy when people try to denounce this milestone of female text because it is _completely_ not about politics. OUR BODIES, OURSELVES is about women knowing about their body and their options for nearly everything associated with being a woman. OUR BODIES, OURSELVES is not about selective reality, and it's not about selective memory. It's just about delivering data to help make better, informed choices or lead a richer life. Don't like what's written about reproductive choice and options? Tough. Welcome to the real world. Reproductive choice is a hot topic on either side, a tough issue to tackle for any woman, and this book isn't about to sugar-coat it. It sums up `the big issues' and delivers them in a straight-forward, easy to understand manner... and not in a manner that dictates or undermines your intelligence.

What's unique about OUR BODIES, OURSELVES is that it's even a bit fun to flip through to any page and start reading. Sounds twisted, right? If not fun, then it's definitely engrossing. What other medically-oriented manuals can claim that? Even better, this updated issue appears more organized that previous ones - it's what ultimately sold me on updating my old edition. I'm very glad to have grown up in a household that had it in the library and I'm proud to expose the future women in my home to it.

I was thrilled to see a new edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves," and picked one of the first editions up immediately. This 2005 edition is truly an expansion and an improvement of past publications. The new "Our Bodies, Ourselves," addressed the international perspective of violence against women, which has long been a under-served issue and touched more on the profoundly political nature of women's issues, most particularly on race, health care, lesbian and gay and violence against women. This book should be required reading for ALL women.

Having read the 1998 edition, I expected the book I received this Christmas to be the same and looked forward to study OBO's coments on amiocentesis and disability rights further. I was very disapointed to find that in this edition, statements concerning disability, amiocentesis and abortion had been omitted, replaced by a short caption directing anyone concerned with these issues to the OBO website. As a disabled person, I feel ostracized and let down-these issues are just as important as racial and economic issues involved in various reproductive choices, commentary on which remained in the current edition. The fact that disability issues were singled our for relegation to the OBO website is disturbing.

Moreover, much of the history behind the women's movement and the positions the book takes, particularly on abortion, have been omitted. I felt that this section in the 1998 version was uniquely valuable for the historical context it provided. Such information can help women and others decide how to approach abortion rights because it provides information on how current pro-choice and pro-life positions evolved. I felt like the new edition didn't trust women to make up their own minds on this issue and presented a watered down restatement of the well known pro-choice position.

I would recommend skipping this edition and referring to the 1998 version instead, which provides superior information on the history behind the women's rights movement, reproductive rights, and related social issues that women often encounter when making some of the most difficult decisions of their lives.

This is the book you want at your fingertips for accurate, helpful, proactive advice about your body. I had an earlier edition as a teenager, and I plan to have a copy on my bookshelf, for when my children have questions and need thoughtful, medically based, accessible answers.

Especially in a culture as embarrassed to talk about anything sexual, this book is a great resource for everyone. Information as open and educated gets harder and harder to find in today's political environment, and this book has it all. No home should be without it!

I have the original Our Bodies Ourselves from the 80's and it is much more extensive than this version. So I was a little disappointed, and i gave it to the library. The original was a great reference, this was missing a lot of subject material and in depth explanations that the first one had. So if you are looking for a replacement for the old one, save your money. If you don't care and just want a basic reference, go for it.

I have been following this publication throught the years. The Collective uptades this book every few years with the most recent medical data for women. It is my main source of up-to-date information regarding female health poblems or issues. It is extremely helpful to me and both male and female friends regarding contraceptive use, reproductive organs conditions including cancer, hormonal changes, sexually trasmitted diseases, and medical treatments. It is also a main source of information for preventiving health problems.