I'm breaking my own rule- I never rate a book without reading it all the way through. I'm making an exception for this one, and for a good reason.

First- here's what I love. This book is packed with solid, high quality, empathetic information and stats about menopause from a dedicated and caring female gynecologist. There is advice about everything from sex to incontinence to cardio vascular disease, all couched in a firm rejection of patriarchal derision. I "read" the audio version— narrated by the author— and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Which brings me to the reason that I'm abandoning this edition at 71%. This book is so very dense with information, I am absolutely convinced that I will return to it over and over as a reference through the next decade (at 48, I am not yet feeling any menopausal indicators). In this situation, I just prefer to have a visual version of the book. While this edition was given to me for free in exchange for my honest opinion, I've decided instead to purchase the Kindle edition. I look forward to doing so as soon as the book is published (just a few more days!) and I'll be buying The Vagina Bible, as well.

My thanks to author Dr Jen Gunter, the publisher and #NetGalley for this opportunity. #TheMenopauseManifesto

There is so much information and misinformation, science and pseudo-science surrounding menopause that any book that helps you figure out which is which is important. This book purports to do just that.

The first few chapters start with a history of women’s health and medicine which explains why we don’t know all the answers to the questions surrounding menopause. Here the author, a medical doctor, uses some feminist vocabulary that might put some readers off, but certainly not turn them away from the message. I work at a small rural library and I could see some of our patrons not reading further than the first “misogynist”, which is unfortunate.

The information presented is up-to-date and based on research. I do not know if the research is footnoted or if there is a literature cited section as the audiobook indicated neither. I would suggest you look into the validity of any information presented, and not wholeheartedly believe the author just because she’s a medical doctor. And I think Dr. Gunter would agree, as she dispels the poor medical advice given by some popular medical providers. She dispels many commonly held beliefs with a brief aside, and I would like to know a source for this information. You can’t just drop a sentence like needing to drinking 8 glasses of water a day is a myth in the middle of a paragraph without telling me more. But this book is a good start for someone just starting down the path of understanding what’s happening with their body.

The author reads the audiobook and she does well. Presented in an even tone with an occasional inflection, just like you would assume a doctor would use when giving medical information.

Unfortunately, I think there is just too much data given to fully grasp it from an audiobook. There are facts and figures given that are hard to keep straight (and why, oh why, do all the hormones sound similar?). Plus, you’ll want to refer back to tables and sections of the book after your first read through. This is a valuable text to have on your shelf for reference.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing and ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

With fabulous narration by the author herself, this is an informative and interesting book.
Full of useful information and delivered in a straight forward way, often with great humour.
Thoroughly recommended.
With thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this comprehensive manifesto.

It was VERY informative, with lots of useful facts and figures to, hopefully, prepare me for the inevitable commencement of my menopausal transition.

I was less interested in the mention of a patriarchal references and comparisons but the overview at the end of each chapter was of most use, to bring together all of the information in that chapter and give an overview of its most salient points.

If I take nothing more away from this book, it will be that most symptoms will be normal for someone in the menopausal transition and if I am in any doubt to seek help from a medical professional, as help IS available and I don’t need to suffer alone.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Written and narrated (in this case) by Dr. Jen Gunter, The Menopause Manifesto is a sort of terrifying look at what's to come as an adult human female who is a hair's breadth away from 40. I've kind of always sarcastically longed for menopause (so I would be rid of my period), but with more information, and the comparison to it being a reverse puberty (my words) which was terrible the first time around, I'm scared.

I'm grateful that my doctor is female, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read this (or listen, whatever, same same), and it is actually a lot of incredibly valuable information to have in one place. I may get this in hard copy just for reference.

The material is not dry, it's delivered really clearly, and contains enough information that I feel educated but there's still so much about women's bodies that is unknown.

There is a huge stigma attached to women aging and menopause and Dr. Gunter does a really good job of calling it out for what it is: misogyny.

It's a VAST improvement on The Vagina Bible, although right at the beginning of the book she does still talk about men's "experience" with "menopause-like symptoms" if they're taking hormones to pretend to be women; in this case, I was irritated but it's actually kind of reasonable from a medical perspective to note that men taking opposite-sex hormones for an extended period of time and then stopping will have an impact.

I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and HighBridge Audio in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

A wonderful audiobook narrated by the author. She did better than a lot of professionals
This book is very straight forward and told in a relaxing text which put me at ease. I’ve been looking for ANYTHING that would be helpful to help me understand what was happening and how to try to manage my symptoms.
The author says, this book was created so that we (as women) can better advocate for ourselves and become more educated about our medical needs and choices. I can not express enough how much, if you’re a women that you need to read this! I’ve ordered two copies myself because I’m giving one as a gift! This is a life changer.
Ive been menopausal for three years and nothings been as helpful or as informative as this book.
I also want to say that this isn’t just about menopause but a lot of other women’s issues.
Dr Gunter carefully examines and explains the issue. Then she shares ALL of my available options.
Hot flashes, memory, depression and osteoporosis were my favorite topics. I could go on forever so I’m just going to list some things about the book. I highly recommend this. You won’t be sorry.

The book discussed symptoms such as:
• Abnormal bleeding
• Hot flashes
• Night flashes
• Sleep disturbance
• Brain Fog (cognitive changes)
• Joint pain
Along with medical conditions such as:
• Heart disease
• Osteoporosis
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s
• Depression
• Metabolic syndrome
• Diabetes
• UTI
Thanks Citadel Press, HighBridge Audio via Netgalley.

Quotes from the book:
“If menopause were on Yelp it would have one star.”

“Menopause is puberty in reverse.”