Customer Reviews

What Southern Women Know That Every Woman Should

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Okay now, don't get all uppity. I know, I'm not supposed to be reading this, but heck, my wife had a copy and there was nothing on the TV, it not being Monday night and all, and so I picked this little book up and started in, thinking to myself, "Okayyyy, let's just see what the ladies are up to." Two hours later I had finished it (yes, contrary to popular belief, ladies, we CAN read--just don't tell our golfing buddies we do this). Anyhoooo, I now find myself skimming Cosmo, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya thing, and a host of others, trying to figure out exactly how y'all think. To be honest, I find it fascinating and a great education. So I'm giving this one five stars. Two other great books the little woman, uh, I mean WIFE brought home were also great. One was something called The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and the other was The Bark of the Dogwood--A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens. She does have good taste--what can I say?

I can certainly see why so many have appreciated Ms. Rich'stales of southern charm. The book was cleverly written, with niceanecdotes, a little too many "sweet as vinegar pie" analogies, but, overall, an interesting read.

Where it fails, on the other hand, is in its generalities. Not all southern women would look down their noses at another woman for neglecting to keep up her appearance - as on page 16, where it says, "We ignore them, scorn them, mock them, and hope, in general, that they will just go away and stop embarrassing us."

Personally, I love the idea of a woman embracing her femininity, celebrating her womanhood. However, my southern mother and grandmother would no doubt scorn ME if I were to be so bold as to shun another being based on such a superficial concept, as the one above.

Another philosophy that has my southern hackles rising is the book's fixation on "me, me, me" and what "I" can get. I don't disagree that a person, male or female, should not be afraid to chase a few dreams, or to go after what they want in life, but, to manipulate a situation to your own liking, such as encouraging one's husband to purchase a sporty car he can't afford (page 34), is going too far.

If the title were "What SPOILED Women Know (That Every Woman Shouldn't)", I would be more lenient. The book would then be as it claimed to be. As it is, it focuses on "charming compensation" - with the author "sweetly suggesting" that a clerk, who had mistakenly left a bag out of her purchase, give her the bag of groceries for free, since she'd had to drive back to the store to retrieve it - yet it, casually, overlooks the kind and giving nature found in so many genuine Southern women.

If you'd honestly like to learn a few "southern" moves, wave at your neighbors, say hi to strangers, and greet everyone with a smile. Don't, as Ms. Rich suggests, snub anyone, simply because they don't live up to your own standards. We, as a society, have come too far to be so callus in our judgments of one another.

The main theme of the book runs along the lines of "seduce and enjoy, and if you can't - seduce and destroy" - in other words it's charm all the way with great zest; fighting spirit, honoring first and foremost family and tradition and wholehearted love and respect for others, as long as they treat you well, but if they step on your toes, watch out.

Other than portraying the stereotype of a Southern woman, the author offers suggestions and advice some of which is sound and some of which may be understandable from a woman's perspective, but not necessarily healthy. Just as women in general are known to be full of contraditions, so is the advice that runs through this book - some examples of using charm in many different situations are brilliant. On the other hand, you'll encounter a struggle to be proper and ethical, advice to think positively, believe in the good, and to look at situations in optimistic light mixed with hold on patiently to your grievances (2 - 5 years or more if need be) until the timing is perfect to dish out your revenge. (That's definitely not good for one's health.) Then in the next section, you'll find "let bygones be bygones".

And yes, there is an advice in the book to be used in negotiations. Since most of the books on negotiation out there are written by guys, here is how it works from Southern woman's perspective - together with the negotiation skills available through other books and sources, wear a short skirt [the shorter the skirt you wear, the better deal you can count on getting], use charm all the way, and let your opponent sizzle (for his own good) - very soon he won't know what hit him.

All in all, it is an entertaining book.

I have read and memorized Rhonda Rich's book and consider her to be something of a Biblicist on propriety, the southern version, in particular. What else need be said? Her book and the woman herself are testimonies to the oh so rare consideration of a civilized society - one where women are allowed to be feminine and men are men - but so much more - I would advise all women from everywhere to read this book and apply it to their lives and further, I would encourage all men to read this book to help them understand. Grace and charm are, for some completely stupid reason, undervalued in today's society. And while Rhonda may be tongue-in-cheek sometimes, and God bless her for that, she only does it to serve a most valued end to her argument that life would be ever so much nicer if we were polite, forgiving, and God forbid, NICE to each other. I say Bravo! Rhonda, please write a thousand books! You are a wonderful sage!

I'm a "stay at home" mother of 3 and I recently finished reading the book, "What Southern Women Know". I want to tell you that I enjoyed it very much and while I laughed at some parts I also have taken many things to heart. (Gotta work on some things)<nervous laugh>. Actually, I was born in Reading, PA. But my parents moved south and I was raised in the Sunny South. It was, after all, the only decent thing to do...<silly grin>. So while I consider myself a southerner, I'm really just a transplant, but love it and will never leave it. I think Ronda is a very special and strong lady and while I know people say that about her I only hope they will say it about me too. "That which does not kill us, (really does) make us stronger". I have not lived through some of the more difficult life experiences that she has gone through but seeing how she dealt with big tribulations and little inconveniences gives me understanding and insight. And that, means more than you know!

Ps. I recently met Ronda at a Book Signing, she truly is a wonderful southern lady, and certainly as charming, if not more so, than her portrayal in her beautiful book.

A couple of years ago, I was at a wedding where every man there flocked around a guest who was a Southern woman. She was lovely but not particular pretty so I and the rest of my Southern California female friends couldn't figure out what was going on. She had cast a spell on the men and we, quite frankly, were disgusted by it. That was jealousy, because deep inside we all wanted to possess that kind of magic. Recently, I accidentally stumbled across this book and the title was so intriguing that I had to buy it. I certainly am glad I did. Until I read this book, I was positive that the magic of Southern women was woven between the lyrical lines of their drawl. But as the author points out, "It's More Than The Drawl, Y'all." And, is she ever right! It's a beauty that radiates from within and spills over onto those fortunate to be close to the stream of their thoughtfulness and kindness. It's also a special potion of femininity, some of which comes natural and some which has to be practiced --- pretty lingerie, manicures and pedicures. This book answers every question I've ever had about Southern women and now I know that even though I'm a California girl --- and very proud of it --- I can practice the secrets of the women of the South. A big thank you to the author for her generosity in sharing these secrets. If I had her address, I'd write her a thank you note!

I am a southern woman to the core and I love this book! ... Suddenly, our region is filled with as many non-Southerners as it is with Southeners. As a result it is increasingly hard to keep our traditions and cultures completely intact. ... I am thankful that Ronda Rich took the time to sit down and write a book that reflects the beauty of the South and our women. A land of women who write thank you notes, bake casseroles for those who are ailing and who know that charm and hospitality are the essence of kindness. If you are a true southern woman in your heart and your mama raised you to be lovely, charming and thoughtful, this book is for you. If you're looking to celebrate the greatness of a culture that is interesting and intriguing, this book is for you. If you need a good laugh, you'll get it when you read about the author's Cousin Wilma and an array of other characters who are eccentric, funny but heart warming. This book beginning with the chapter called "It's More Than The Drawl, Y'all" delights, entertains and inspires. The author reminds us of a southern woman's persistence and never-give-up attitude coated with sugar and a bit of spice. I'm proud to be one of these women and I, for one, hope that a sequel is soon to come. For those who have been a bit envious of southern women and their allure and never understood it, read this book! But especially for southern women who want to celebrate their inheritance of graciousness and femininity, you cannot miss out on this sparkling gem.

I saw Ronda Rich on the television show, The Other Half, and I was so taken with her wit and common sense advice that I went straight to my laptop and ordered a copy of this book. I was not disappointed! What a wonderful treat. What Southern Women Know had me rolling in the floor with laughter when I read some passages then thinking seriously when I read other passages. I always think that if you walk away from a book with one thing that sticks with you, then your time has been well served. With this book, I walked away with several but the one thing that struck me hard was when she said that we should learn everything we can from our mothers because when they die, that knowledge dies with them and it's lost forever. I finished the book, called my mother and asked, "Why don't I come over tonight and you teach me how to make your secret cheesecake recipe?"
Do yourself a favor --- treat yourself to this book.

This book saved me from going crazy! I am a woman proudly born and raised in New Jersey but found myself in Atlanta after my husband's company tranferred him South. From the beginning, it was obvious that I didn't have a clue to understanding Southern women. I was sinking fast and, honestly, was quite miserable. Then someone kindly recommended this book. I read it and the door to understanding was cast wide open. It didn't change me into a southern woman but it helped me to understand that their friendliness and hospitality is genuine and a way of life for them. I now know that make-up is also a way of life for them. I wish I had had this book a year sooner but, nonetheless, I'm glad I found it and the mysteries of Southern life were solved for me. My husband is even happier and has offered to write a thank you note to the author for making his life easier since I'm happier and more content now!

While I won't ever be a true Southern woman, I found that this book has a lot of good advice for women of any region. "Choose Your Battles Carefully" is a well written, thoughtful chapter on the importance of fighting only when it's critical. Otherwise, don't waste your time. "Pretty Is As Pretty Does" was one of my favorites. The author is so right when she says that beauty comes from the inside and the courtesy with which we treat others is the truest sign of beauty as well as the most important. True southern women, the book says, treats people with kindness and refrains from rudeness and unfair attacks. That is an universal message that we can all benefit from practicing.

I laughed, I learned and, most importantly for me, many times I said, "Aha! Now I understand!" For the many non-southern women who have found themselves living among this unique breed of women, this book is a must. For southern women, it must surely be a celebration of who they are and one they would enjoy.

I don't quite know how to start this review, because I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I ordered it because I saw a review of it in Cosmo, and the excerpts they had looked interesting. At some points in the book, it is entertaining, even humorous. Some ofthe suggestions Rich offers are right on target...but she seems to think that Southern women are so much better than women from other regions. A lot of the advice she gave was advice that's been drilled into me for years from my own mother. (by the way, I am from Montana, which is about as far north as you can get)
For some reason, Rich seems to believe that the only way you can get ahead in life is to wear a lot of makeup and focus on your outward appearance...hasn't she ever heard of inner beauty? And a lot of the stuff she says seem to be way off base. I know quite a few "southern women" whom I admire very much that have successful marriages, nice homes, and great careers who say that a lot of the things in this book simply aren't true. According to Rich, this makes them outsiders. She states straight out several times throughout her book that women who do not do the things she describes are in fact deemed outsiders and are not accepted in the south. This simply isn't true.
Overall, I guess this book is okay for entertainment purposes and does present a few valid points, but I wouldn't recommend it as a "must read".