Review: Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin

Synopsis: What makes a woman fascinating to her husband? What is happiness in marriage for a woman? These are just two of the questions Helen B. Andelin answers in the bestselling classic that has already brought new happiness and life to millions of marriages. Fascinating Womanhood offers timeless wisdom, practical advice and old-fashioned values to meet the needs and challenges of today's fascinating woman inside. (back of the book)

Review: This was a DREADFUL book. While there was some legitimate and sound advice, it was bare scraps afloat in a sea of detrimental ideas and inane drivel. Advice on how to be a good wife is interspaced with testimonials how well this advice worked. Within a few pages, I was appalled and disgusted by Andelin's advice. Her ideas encourage women, already weak in this area, to make men the center of their world, vision, mind - to replace God with their husband.

It is commendable to remember we, as Christians, are called to serve one another - thus a wife is to serve her husband. But this book encourages an unhealthy obsession with the husband, in turn encouraging the husband to developed an unhealthy pride and self-centeredness. I also objected to the advice that encouraged woman to ignore bad behavior or questionable morals in the husband. This reminds me of For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn -another book of dreadful advice. Both books advocate never making the man "feel bad"  - which sounds good until you realize it means the man should never feel bad about his actions - any action. And that's not Godly.

Marriage is a partnership, a sharing, a giving to each other  - and recognizing your mistakes (which often involves feeling bad) is a vital part! Neither of these books every speak of how to handle a husband who doesn't admit his bad actions.

My other issue is advice that is encourages manipulative, childish and conniving behavior. Why would you direct women to play more mind games, to be more scheming and cunning or to be more devious? Absurd. Andelin seems to think it is impossible to be direct and feminine, and encouraged manipulation instead of honesty.

Advocates of FW laud the principles set out - and if the goal is to make your husband the center of your universe and lose oneself completely in abject slavery - then by all means, listen to this blather. These advocates will say anyone who doesn't like this book has lost the true meaning of womanhood and femininity. I say to tell me a true woman only does or does not [insert pet character trait] is no better then a bra-burning feminist or a patriarchal moron telling me that. I look to God for who I am - not some foolish hooey.

I do not recommend this book to anyone. at all. ever.

Bookmarks: 0 of 10

Awards: None

Date Finished: 09-21-2013
Pages: 380