Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: The perfect antidote to the "Feminists hate men" myth
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The perfect antidote to the "Feminists hate men" myth
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Insight
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Naomi Wolf's Best Book!
Review: 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!!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, powerful, and practical
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: She's controversial BECAUSE SHE GETS IT!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: She's controversial BECAUSE SHE GETS IT!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: What a rip off
Review: The book is very hard to read and sometimes I don't get the author's discussions. Her analysis is complex and very opinionated. I found the book distasteful and very feminist. The author's attempt to level off the feminism in her book and her pessimistic view of men by the sections full of achievements of women is obvious and poorly concealed. This is the book for the feminist and for people who don't know the difference between good and bad books.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: 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.
| 
