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Rating: 
Summary: Started my own group!
Review: After reading up on various types of groups for a couple of years (salons, book/movie clubs, activism groups, networking circles, cooking clubs, etc.), I decided that I wanted to be in an eclectic group focusing on forming lasting friendships first and foremost through varied activities.The same night that I announced this to my great friend with whom I had been discussing this idea with for some months, we went to the bookstore after dinner and drinks and the very first book that I saw was this one! I bought it, read it hungrily, and decided that this was a sign: time for me to start that group! I read the stories of the various groups covered in this book and picked up a lot of ideas for activities. I was also moved by the stories of all these women, it is beautiful to see how important these friendships have become in their lives. The practical information at the end of the book was very useful too, it helped me to plan the launch of my own group. Some of the topics covered at the end of the book: - Should you join an existing group or start your own?
- Finding a co-creator
- Choosing people to invite
- Accepting new members or not once the group is formed
- Considering the size of the group
- How to start the group (tips for first meetings)
- Suggestions for activities
- How will the group function? (tips on decision making, having set "rituals" or a check-in, leadership, organization, having a mailing list, getting involved with the community, etc.) I looked up sources for second hand or cheaper books online (www.abebooks.com is the best source, in my opinion) and bought a copy for each of the women that I had invited to get them inspired and excited about participating. I even got lucky and received a copy that had been signed by both authors! Every woman that I invited (8, so we're 9 in all, including myself) answered yes. This is a good number because if a woman or two leaves the group after a few months, we'll still be enough to have an interesting group going. Our first meeting was a tiki themed party! We had tons of luau-style food, decorations, leis and flowers to decorate our hair with, and even grown-up versions of party favor bags. We played 2 truths and 1 lie to get to know each other (we each said 2 true things and 1 false thing about ourselves, and whoever guessed the lie was able to go choose a small tiki or woman-themed prize). On our private Yahoogroups.com mailing list, the women all sent glowing messages after the meeting, it was a smash! I can't wait for our next meeting, and neither can they! If you want to try new things and to discover what your city has to offer in the company of friends, to make new connections and establish lasting friendships, read this book then start thinking about whom you could invite (I invited some friends and some women that I had only met once or twice but wanted to get to know better). I know that it can be stressful to make the first steps, but chances are these women will be thrilled that you have thought about them too! It's your life, you choose how you live it and what is in it. Wouldn't you like more friends, a "gang of gal pals" of your own? :) Best of luck!
Rating: 
Summary: an inspirational read
Review: I loved this book -- it's very inspiring and easy to read. It's comforting to hear about how groups of women enjoy, support and celebrate each other. The authors profile a rich diversity of groups: those who came together over politics, religion, movies, books, yoga, mah-jongg, even motorcycles. You can hear the individuality in each group's story through the real voices of their members. Reading GNO made me want to start a group of my own!
Rating:
Summary: Very easy read, touching and warm
Review: I read this book because of my girlfriend. After pooh-poohing the subject for years, the book showed me how valid and important women friendships are for family life and for getting through events in life both adverse and good. It would be interesting to find out if there is an equivalent for men.
Rating:
Summary: Very easy read, touching and warm
Review: I read this book in a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is inspiring, touching and interesting. I have made a list of expectations I now have for forming my own group and am ready to do it. What a need that is unmet in so many women. Thank you for the inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: A great read/A great gift
Review: I thorougly enjoyed this book!! I was a sceptic, but was so moved by the personal stories of all of these different types of women from different places on the American landscape. I felt I came to understand not only myself, but women from all different walks of life. You are taken deeply into each group's world, their struggles and their ways of making meaning. It's perfect for travel or night time reading because each chapter is a little gem that you can read, put down and then start a new chapter for a brand new experience. Let's face it we are all on the go whether we work at home with our kids or in an office. Seeing how other women not only manage, but thrive is a real gift.
Rating:
Summary: A great read/A great gift
Review: I thorougly enjoyed this book!! I was a sceptic, but was so moved by the personal stories of all of these different types of women from different places on the American landscape. I felt I came to understand not only myself, but women from all different walks of life. You are taken deeply into each group's world, their struggles and their ways of making meaning. It's perfect for travel or night time reading because each chapter is a little gem that you can read, put down and then start a new chapter for a brand new experience. Let's face it we are all on the go whether we work at home with our kids or in an office. Seeing how other women not only manage, but thrive is a real gift.
Rating: 
Summary: Preaching to the Choir
Review: There was nothing new, or of particular interest in this book.
Even the title is extremely misleading. It says "across America", but apparently America is limited to privately educated, liberal Jewish women in the Northeast and on the West coast. Even the picture on the cover reflects this. If you fall into this particular demographic, then you will love this book. But to me it just seemed to be written by a couple of academics without any basis in the reality. I would love to know more about the authors. But I can guess. It is easy to be idealistic when you are born with a silver spoon. The rest of us have to go out in the world and survive. No grants, no rich parents. You can make a career out of grant writing. That is the academic's welfare system. But sometimes you have to step out of the ivory tower and experience the real world. Real people are not theories or academic projects. "Woman's groups" represent a very narrow slice of the population. Traveling around and meeting these groups is very limiting. C'mon, these are all the same type of people. What do you learn when you go around and meet people just like you?
These two have to get in touch with the other 98% of the woman in this country. Then maybe they will have something of substance to say. This book is just fluff that will make their own privileged group feel warm and fuzzy.
Rating:
Summary: Preaching to the Choir
Review: There was nothing new, or of particular interest in this book.
Even the title is extremely misleading. It says "across America", but apparently America is limited to privately educated, liberal Jewish women in the Northeast and on the West coast. Even the picture on the cover reflects this. If you fall into this particular demographic, then you will love this book. But to me it just seemed to be written by a couple of academics without any basis in the reality. I would love to know more about the authors. But I can guess. It is easy to be idealistic when you are born with a silver spoon. The rest of us have to go out in the world and survive. No grants, no rich parents. You can make a career out of grant writing. That is the academic's welfare system. But sometimes you have to step out of the ivory tower and experience the real world. Real people are not theories or academic projects. "Woman's groups" represent a very narrow slice of the population. Traveling around and meeting these groups is very limiting. C'mon, these are all the same type of people. What do you learn when you go around and meet people just like you?
These two have to get in touch with the other 98% of the woman in this country. Then maybe they will have something of substance to say. This book is just fluff that will make their own privileged group feel warm and fuzzy.
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