First off, my usual disclaimer: Betty and I have been pen pals and long distance friends since the 80s. I am a fan and greatly admire her work to liberate women (and men) from the shackles of sexual ignorance and irrational Puritanical dogma. I think she is the most important feminist (or for that matter, liberation writer) of our times, bar none.
That said, this may be her most important work, because it details her personal journey from "normal" young woman in middle America to the foremost rebel against sexual tyranny of our time. This is not so much a book of principles as it is the story of how she developed and exercised those principles in her life. Through her life we get a glimpse of the changing scene of sex and sexual liberation from the 60s to our current times.
Obviously, it is sexually explicit in places, so be forewarned if you are on the prudish side.
The book is organized into 31 chapters which take us through her journey from childhood in the Midwest, through her work as a fashion artist and on into her fine art period and the beginnings of "second wave" feminism. She discusses her relationships with various men and women in her life, her movements in and out of various forms of sexual expression and sexual communities, and her thoughts and feelings as she works through her own challenges and those encountered in the world around her.
While not a whirlwind tour of purely sexual adventure, there is plenty of discussion of her sexual explorations, if that is what one is looking for. There are also a few pictures of Betty and others, some of which display full nudity. There are detailed descriptions of some sexual behavior, but this is not a sex manual nor pornographic novel, so don't expect a great deal of that. It is all in context and appropriate.
We are also treated to some inside views of the wave of feminism of those times, including some hints of "feet of clay" on some of the idols of that age. The reasons she broke from mainstream feminism are discussed.
Having lived through the same time period, albeit somewhat removed from the cosmopolitan circles in which she circulated, I can say that the glimpses of my generation's changes over this time are revealing. Again, this is not meant to be a tour de force assessment of that generation, but some of our changes do get mirrored in her life experiences. A lot of people, myself included, explored and experienced similar flavors of seeking liberation, if not from exactly the same menu. If we had been given intelligent sex education at the time, and had better knowledge of Tantra and Taoist sexual alchemy been available, things could have been far more productive and our liberation far more powerful and complete.
Alas, such is life....
In any case, it is a great read, definitely provocative, inspiring, and even "stimulating" in places. Part of me is envious of many of her adventures, but she had her struggles as well.
I would recommend it to every woman out there who wants to be truly alive, and to all the men who want to cheer them on and even join them. Ultimately, liberation has no gender, and sexual energy is the fundamental energy of liberation (which is why it is so heavily controlled and punished). It is a great ride on one woman's journey to liberation (which still continues, by the way).
Good job (as usual), Betty Ann.
(I read the paperback edition - I will check out the Kindle version and update this review if I find anything to report about the difference.)
UPDATE on the Kindle version:
The book translates well to the Kindle - text flows easily and is well formatted. Pictures are clear and sharp. The only drawback I have found is that the Table Of Contents is not linked or active - it is just another page of text. I would like to see the publisher link the TOC to the chapters in an update.
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isaleReviewed in France on February 24, 2020
great titlte ! About a woman experience.
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hataibuReviewed in Germany on January 16, 2015
Feminismus und Liberalität. Ein Widerspruch?
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JuanReviewed in Spain on October 8, 2023
Algunas hojas se despegan
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Algunas hojas del libro se despegan. Parece que no están debidamente encuadernadasJuanAlgunas hojas se despegan
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