A Woman's Worth [Paperback]

Marianne Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 1994

With A WOMAN'S WORTH, Marianne Williamson turns her charismatic voice--and the same empowering, spiritually enlightening wisdom that energized her landmark work, A RETURN TO LOVE-- to exploring the crucial role of women in the world today. Drawing deeply and candidly on her own experiences, the author illuminates her thought-provoking positions on such issues as beauty and age, relationships and sex, children and careers, and the reassurance and reassertion of the feminine in a patriarchal society. Cutting across class, race, religion, and gender, A WOMAN'S WORTH speaks powerfully and persuasively to a generation in need of healing, and in search of harmony.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Williamson ( A Return to Love ) here tells women that they are goddesses with cosmic functions. A weakness: she often lets women hear what they want to hear--how "special" they are, how beautiful, how close to nature. When she draws from her own experience, Williamson gives sound, empowering advice on relationships, work, love, sex and childrearing. Still, her soft focus on the so-called feminine virtues, including that of assuming the submissive role during sex, often seems reactionary and contradictory, as when she argues that women were meant to be passive, but later claims that woman should assert their power. This mix of the mystical, the modern (Williamson says one of her old boyfriends left her for a "bimbo") and the Christian could be called visionary--but the combination doesn't always make sense, as in this statement: "Our Kingdom is our life and our life is our Kingdom. And we are all meant to rule from a glorious place." Author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This is essentially a feel-good book, meant to inspire and empower women to take control over their lives and help return the world to the feminine qualities from which it has strayed. As in Williamson's best-selling first book, A Return to Love ( LJ 1/92), love is the key. Although Williamson's messsage is admirable--who among us is against the prospect of a world order based on love and understanding with an end to all that is antithetical?--many readers will be put off by the means she posits to that end. Most women do not think in terms of growth from girl to princess to queen to goddess. In addition, her assumption that all women intuitively know what is right is at best optimistic. This work could serve as a starting point for those who have difficulty approaching the concept of feminism. The success of Williamson's first book indicates New Age enthusiasts will be attracted here; aticipate demand where the first was popular. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 1/93.
- Kathleen L. Atwood, Pomfret Sch. Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 8, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345386574
• ISBN-13: 978-0345386571
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a whole lot of underlining, June 15, 2001

By 

Robi (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Woman's Worth (Paperback)

I read, I stop, I underline, I think, I smile a knowing smile. I read, I stop, I underline, I make a note about my worth. I read, I stop, I remember why I am here and honor all of the women before me. Whether I knew those women or not, they carved out the path of my existence. Their tears are the oceans I swim in and they set me afloat. I have read two other of Marianne Williamson's books, but those don't even compare to the simple, bold, in your face message of the value of your worth as a woman. I wish Marianne had a twin brother to write A Man's Worth, but she does graciously pay tribute to Sam Keen's Fire in the Belly on the very first page. See, always a woman to think of others and nurture the universe! Mostly, Madame Williamsons' book just made me feel so worthy of the gift of me. I am accountable to and of myself and it is my obligation to share the best of myself. So many juicy quotes, so many rich, alive, statements. This book HONORS MEN and WOMEN and CHILDREN simply by recognizing the golden opportunity we each have in being in love and living of love every day. That is the essence of all of our worth.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book refreshed me when I was down, February 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Woman's Worth (Paperback)

A Woman's Worth is a great book for any woman to read who has lost herself; or perhaps even better for someone who has not figured out who she is yet. I read it when I was having a hard time feeling grounded and it really helped my self-confidence. I was able to begin to love myself again (or for the first time). And have since recommended it to a friend who is going through a difficult divorce - she loved it! Though I did not agree with everything that Marianne Williamson had to say , the tone of the book is such that you can easily take what you need and leave the rest.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC BOOK: HONORS FEMININE BEAUTY!, January 24, 2003

By 

Tarin Frances (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Woman's Worth (Paperback)

Here's a book that guides women back to their true essence.

The Goddess within every woman is embraced, honored and adored in A Woman's Worth. If we ever doubted the feminine beauty, Marianne Williamson passionately weaves a modern mystical tale reminding us of Her necessity.

In countless ways she gives testimony to the love and goodness all women can provide the world. It is the feminine in all of us that brings the finer subtleties to life fulfilling what Nature craves. It is the responsibility of men and women alike to balance our masculine communities, our masculine governments, our masculine ways. It is through our own gracefulness that we attune ourselves to the highest good.

Throughout her passionate commentary of her own life and the lives' of women, Marianne teaches how to embrace all that is feminine. From chapters Glorious Queens and Slavegirls to The Castle Walls, her personal, intuitive insights move all of us to cultivate that which is pure in our being. In order to develop the Goddess within, appreciation is given to the necessity of pain in our lives while the importance of forgiveness, patience, and understanding is encouraged. At any stage in our personal development journey all can benefit from Marianne's conversational and uplifting prose.

Finally, this is the book that will take you to higher plains in your development.