I like the premise of the book. I'm glad to see a shift in challenging our patriarchal society to allow women to be themselves, for themselves. Well done to the author in addressing that.

The downside of the book, for me personally, is the inclusion of some eastern religious beliefs. An early example is her going to a healer, where she is told she "must believe" for her son to be healed. At the end of the book she shares her story about breast augmentation, and the process to get them removed so it would no longer block her chakra to her heart. She talks of apologizing to her body for toxins from breast implants. As a previvor myself, who has had a double mastectomy, and now I am reconstructed with breast implants, it seems rather insensitive and "higher than though".

As women, yes, let's encourage ourselves to stop abandoning ourselves. To age as we wish. To get cosmetic surgery *if you want*. What is right for the author is not necessarily right for others. Let's aim to keep the balance between letting go of "musts" of the patriarchy, without jumping to "musts" of the all-natural group-think (cultish).

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book really gives you plenty to ponder, especially about how our perceptions began and how they’ve evolved throughout the years. So much food for thought!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Greenleaf Audiobooks | Greenleaf Book Group Press for this ARC.

#Muse #NetGalley

“In Muse: The Magnetism of Women Who Stop Abandoning Themselves, Dr. Amanda Hanson examines the history and current systems that put women in the position of living their lives based on their worth to men. She then guides us through exquisite rituals and practices to reclaim our womanhood and build our most beautiful lives. 
 
Weaving together research, personal stories, and insights from Dr. Hanson’s decades of helping women through her unique method that combines clinical psychology and ancient holistic practices, Muse gives us the power, built on matriarchal consciousness, to reconstruct our lives.”

What I was promised was not what I got. This book is mostly a “womanifesto” of Hanson ranting about her personal experiences and perspectives, and much less about the ‘rituals and practices’ to reclaim womanhood.

While there were some points made that felt sound, reasonable, and I am 100% behind, this book has some ableist culture woven pretty deep. At one point, Hanson says that women using Botox on their foreheads are “freezing their 3rd eye chakra and freezing their intuition” - what about those that are using it for extreme migraines? Do they not deserve the treatment that’s available with the lowest side effects?

Just after, she suggests “surrendering to” instead of suppressing our natural cycles. What about those with terrible endometriosis and adenomyosis? Should they surrender to becoming so riddled with pain that they can’t function on any level?

The talk of breast surgery completely glosses over how important that gender-affirming care can be to our trans family.

By the end of chapter 3, things get dangerous. I’m so glad that she found a magical healer for her son, but to say to only go with your thoughts? There are too many scam artists - and folks without sound reasoning skills and education - to live in that world for folks who don’t have the means to risk it.

All in, this isn’t a book that I would recommend. There are some much better books out there that speak on the system that we live in with actionable changes that can be made.

Thank you NetGalley and Green Leaf Audiobooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.