I often struggle to pick up non-fiction books but gave this one a go whilst at Champneys this time week.

It’s a strong, feminist self help book. It’s current and topical clearly referencing the Covid pandemic and the Trump election. However, I struggled to identify with it, I think partly as I am British rather than American and partly because being a millennial I have benefitted from the results the struggles of women like Elizabeth faced working in male dominated industries, like law, in the 90s. It’s an interesting and very personal, brave and open read, it made me think but I rarely read it and thought ‘yes, that helps me’ and as a result it felt a little preachy at points.

I’m sure this book with change some people’s lives and support and guide many others. Elizabeth is clearly doing some incredible work and I enjoyed finding out more about it.

I really enjoyed this book!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS BOOK WITH ME!
I got behind in the COVID DRAMA and missed posting about this important book when it came out.
Thank you!

This inspirational book is full of meaningful experiences from the author's own experience in a patriarchal workplace. and proposes a new way of breaking the old rules by supporting each other and re-write them.

Man this book was just NOT it.

I've read a pretty decent amount of self help books, I've read tons of different opinions and road maps for how to handle your own trauma and work through your feelings to ~be the very best you~

But this author gets up on her high horse of how she has healed and gone through stuff, and I'm sure she has, but this entire book feels like she is speaking down to those who have not worked through their shit yet. The author assumes that everyone is on the same page as her. She talks about all of her victories before telling you any of her struggles and it just comes off as a brag rather than as sharing her experience.

And I will say that this could just be a me thing, maybe because I am unable to relate to her struggles in a corporate world this book just went over my head, but I don't feel that self-help books should be geared toward a specific place in someone's life. They should cover everything, they should be able to be referenced time and time again over the years when you're feeling down and also when you're feeling happy to help you reflect on your journey.

I would never want to suggest that the author hasn't had her own struggles so I'll say maybe this book just went over my head but honestly, i just couldn't do it.

I heard an interview with the author on the Daily Beans podcast and immediately went to Netgalley to see if an ARC was available, and to my delight, it was. The only negative thing I thought as I read this book was that I wished I had discovered it when I was younger. But then, the author spoke about living in the fullness of time and I realized that the past, present, and future are so closely linked that it doesn’t really matter. Also, and much more importantly, I wouldn’t be the person I am now if I had read it back then.

ECM (I hope she doesn’t mind if I abbreviate her full name) spoke to me in a voice that made me feel as if we have always been friends. So much of what she expressed resonated with me on a level that only served to confirm the link we all share that she refers to in her book. After four very difficult years of almost constant stress and discouragement, she provided me with the hope I’ve so desperately wanted to feel. In fact, the best thing about this book is that I have hope once again.

If a book includes exercises, I generally feel I must, at least, make an effort to complete them if I’m going to fully experience the contents of the book. I made a point of doing the exercises, but I had trouble because I’ve already done so many of the personal explorations suggested. That said, I think they are really useful and part of the reason why I wish this book had existed when I was younger. I will be sharing them with my daughter in the hopes she can avoid some of the hard lessons I’ve had to learn.

I’ll sum up my review of this book with the following quote:
“Trust yourself. You have everything you need, right now, and you have from the beginning. You are here for a bigger purpose and as a part of a collective mission. You will know the moment that calls you when you know yourself.”

This is a powerful and inspiring read that will move you to your core. Its filled with insight that will resonate with you for years to come and is perfect for women of all ages. Extremely relevant and a must read for anyone who wants to facilitate change.

To be perfectly honest, I’m not one for self-help books. I tossed Girl, Wash Your Face in the trash and DNF’d Untamed. However, when a book starts right out of the gate with this:

“So much of what we thought we could count on as Americans is now revealed to be part of a great lie. The reliability of our institutions, the myth of American exceptionalism, the idea that we had moved beyond the crimes at the root of us (without ever truly addressing them), have been rightly revealed in their weakness and falsity [….] Finally, we see the truth, the injustice, of what America has always been, and it feels though everything is on fire.

“However, ashes make for fertile ground.”

YES! I AM HERE FOR THIS.

Throughout the book, the author describes how our personal and professional lives are inexorably impacted by our daily struggles to survive and thrive in our patriarchal and racist structures, even if – and perhaps ESPECIALLY if – we try to ignore them, and provides concrete steps of how we can do the work to change things.

Ladies [I use that term inclusively], it’s time to burn this shit down and build institutions that work for EVERYBODY on our own terms. Are you ready?

I started tabbing pages that especially resonated with me, and when I got to page 30 and had tabbed about 10 pages already, it dawned on me. I own this book! I can write all over it!
So thank you @ecmclaughlin @portfolio_books @kccpr @letstalkbookspromo for the gifted copy.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to burn down the patriarchy.

Ever have a book that questions who you are and inspires you to be more? Becoming Heroines is one of those books for me. @ecmclaughlin beautifully writes how we need to come together and be a force for who we need to be in our lives. She leads with examples, ideas and activism that inspire others to be their own Heroines. Discover who they are and take POWER into who you are!
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SYNOPSIS: Within every woman lies a powerful healer. She is an ageless and resilient force for good, in her own life and in the broader world.
 
This is how you find her.

You were born with massive reservoirs of strength, confidence, and creativity. But oppressive structures that keep you “in your place” have disconnected you from your natural gifts. The decision to recover and reclaim your latent ability follows a path forged by myth and legend: the heroine’s journey. Becoming Heroines is your guide to inner rebirth, opening the closed doors in your heart, shining a light on dark places, and ultimately, unleashing your full power.
 
For decades, Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin has been the go-to mentor for women who’ve wasted years playing by traditional rules and are ready to break away. Now she’ll lead you on a journey of radical personal transformation, starting by healing the painful memories that hold you back from living to your fullest capacity. You’ll ditch the individualist values that pit women against one another and confront any internalized bias contributing to systems of oppression. And joining with the growing revolution, you’ll lend your voice to those repairing the wounds of history and building a future of freedom and justice for all.
 
More than your average leadership manual, Becoming Heroines is an invitation to claim your rightful role as the heroine of your own journey. For any woman ready to live out her values more radically, rise from the ashes of trauma and grief, and lead us all to a better world, the journey begins.
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THANK YOU @letstalkbookspromo
And @penguinrandomhouse
For the opportunity to read and review this book. Elizabeth, ill be passing your words down to others
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#becomingheroines #elizabethcronisemclaughlin #penguinrandomhouse #letstalkbooks

Review posted on www.Instagram.com/ashleyreads13

This book has been an insightful read about how women can stand-up for and empower themselves through recognition, reconciliation, revolution and rebirth.

Throughout the book, the author also offers practical exercises for personal reflection, processing, healing and growth.

I also really enjoyed the author’s personal experiences and stories as examples. I also appreciated her passion for allyship and collaborative leadership.

This inspirational book gives women tips on how to become the heroines of their own story. In this book, Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin explains that by unleashing our full power and potential, women have the ability to break and dismantle systems of oppression throughout our community and create a better world. It is a mix of stories from Elizabeth’s own life experiences, mixed with advice and ways to achieve this, with entry points at different levels. I think all women would find that this book is able to meet them where they are in their life and there is something in this book for any woman looking to grow as a leader and do her part in changing the world. As with most non-fiction, this one took a little longer to read as I wanted to give myself the appropriate time to digest and reflect on each section.