The Trouble with Women

One of those rare books in the humor category that made me laugh AND filled me with rage!

This tongue-in-cheek book showcases some common misconceptions that have been spread about women through the ages and why history books are dominated by men. Along the way we are introduced to important women who have been relegated to the "dustbins of history."

The drawings are black & white and have an old-timey look. They are simple, but effective. The illustrations highlight the absurdity of the stereotypes. Some of them made me laugh without even having to read the text! The text is all in cursive handwriting.

The Trouble With Women illustrates the damaging effects of a singular entity with delusions of grandeur getting to make the rules and write the history books. It made me laugh…and then made me cry, because I still hear politicians and pundits saying modern variations of the ridiculous statements in this book (and not just with regards to women)! The constant textbook drama in my own state of Texas makes it clear how important this book is.

This is being compared to reading Kate Beaton, and in a way, it is. This book explains why we never hear about women doing anything in the past. And now we know, it is because they didn't exist, or those that did had tiny heads, so couldn't study very well.

Very occasionally a woman would learn a foreign language, go abroad to study and come back qualified as a doctor, but that didn't prove anything except hat women cause trouble as soon as you allow them out.

or
For a long time there were no black women. Everyone was white, except for Sarah Forbes Bonetta who was brought up by Queen Victoria.

Great fun, and now we know why there are no great women in history. :)

"In the 700 years between Hildegard of Bingen and Jane Austen, women writing was frowned upon becase it required thought, which interfered with childbirth. Women found lifting a pen very tiring as it caused chlorosis which disrupted blood flow and in some cases led to uterine prolapse. Or was that the corsets?"

This was a light and short take on how women have been bullied throughout history and why they have been deemed too incompetent to deserve a place in history books.

The book is built around theories from the Olden Days that dictated how women were supposed to work, look and behave. Then a set of examples followed, examples that showed women who clearly rejected said theories but that have nonetheless being kept into oblivion up to this day.

I enjoyed it but I wasn't a fan of the format. The handwriting was confusing and often I couldn't understand it. The sass was very strong and entertaining, still certain times it made it difficult for me to understand whether what was being said was a joke or an actual fact from history.

I really liked the aim of this work though, that is freeing women's history from the Dustbin in which it has been hidden for too long.

From this book I got a bunch of names that I'm going to research on my own, names of forgotten poetesses, female mathematicians, doctors and physicians for which I'm really grateful and thrilled!

"Darwin said if you made a list of eminent men next to a list of eminent women it was obvious that men were better at everything. Which was an odd conclusion for a genius to arrive at given the evidence avaible, and his five naturally selected ounces of extra objectivity."

I don't think that The trouble with women is a must have book but it is fairly enjoyable and I'd recommend it for a not-so-demanding read.

Love this! Funny and scathing. Buying this for all my female friends immediately.

What a great and very funny take on a subject that everyone should talk more about-the lack of women in history and how that needs to change. This subject is showcased in a humorous way in this graphic novel and really makes you think.

Hehehehe, oh my days. I loved The Trouble with Women by Jacky Fleming. It is a satirical look about the development of women in a man’s world. It is told through hilarious illustrative representations which had me howling out loud.

It is sad that in these modern times that a book like this still seems so relevant but seeing as men still earn more than women in the workplace for doing the exact same job and seeing how girls playing certain sports is often viewed as a novelty I guess we can still see how imperative a book like this exists.

The Trouble with Women is a brilliant book and a must read for any young woman who intends on kicking ass through any and all glass ceilings.

The Trouble with Women by Jacky Fleming is available now.

For more information regarding Jacky Fleming (@JacksterFleming) please follow her on Twitter.

For more information regarding Andrews McMeel Publishing (@AndrewsMcMeel) please visit www.andrewsmcmeel.com.

“Women have been retrieving each other from the Dustbin of History for several thousand years now...”
This is what this wonderful book does: it teaches us about brilliant women that nobody told us before. The humour is so witty and sarcastic; I loved it! After reading it, I felt some sort of bittersweetness, though. It is awful that women had to endure everything Jacky Fleming tells us, but it is awful as well that not much has changed since then. We still have to fight every day for our rights, and it is a tiring task indeed.

This book was wonderful and very much something I can't wait to see in physical form! I find graphic novels do better in person but still a brilliant arm piece i loved it!

You may have a lot of questions about women in history. The main one is probably why there were no women back in days of geniuses like Darwin or Schopenhauer. Or you may wonder why you never learned about women in school? Or if you learned about some women at school, why only about three of them? This book will answer you questions and even more!

"In The Trouble with Women, feminist artist Jacky Fleming illustrates how the opinions of supposed male geniuses, such as Charles Darwin (who believed that women have smaller brains than men) and John Ruskin (who believed that women's main function was to praise men), have shaped the fate of women through history, confining them to a life of domesticity and very little else."

Fleming does a perfect job of showing how ridiculous history is. Pokes at beliefs of some geniuses about who you learned at school, and laughs at their logic on feminine brain, health, body. Through humor and illustrations, Fleming makes serious points about the baffling history of women that you may not know. And after the read, you will need to reconsider if the 'geniuses' you learned about at school really were so smart.
It was a fantastic and funny read. But why is it so short? I want more!

Hilarious look at women throughout the ages and the men who thwarted their intellectual and professional progress.

The Trouble with Women is an illustrated look at why women don't appear in our history lessons. It's a wonderfully dry, sarcastic book, and while it has a clear feminist voice it's also brilliantly witty. And the illustrations along side the text, complement to tone wonderfully.

To give you an idea of Jacky's writing, the book starts as follows: 'In the Olden Days there were no women which is why you don't come across them in history lessons at school. There were men and quite a few of them were Geniuses

I would highly recommend this to anyone!

OMG. I can't remember when I've laughed so hard!

Jacky Fleming is spot on with her portrayal of how women have been treated - historically, and in history.

A light read with a heavy subject matter. A hilarious take on some not-so-funny trends in history.

I highly recommend this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.

"In the Older Days there were no women which is why you don't come across them in history lessons at school. There were men and quite a few of them were Geniuses.
Then there were a few women but their heads were very small so they were rubbish at everything apart from needlework and croquet."


"In the 700 years between Hildegard of Bingen and Jane Austen women writing was frowned upon, because it required thought, which interfered with childbirth.
Women found lifting a pen very tiring as it caused chlorosis which disrupted blood flow and in some cases led to uterie prolapse.
Or was that the corset?"


This little graphic novel was genius.
Pretty much everyone should read this, it only takes 15/20 minutes but it has such a powerful message and it's so important that I don't understand why only 40+ people reviewed this. GO READ THIS PLS.

3.5 stars. This was a really quick read, written with true wit and wonderful toungue-in-cheek humor.

Overall, I think the point - that there are an endless amount of ridiculous double standards when it comes to women - was effectovely made. The illustrations only added to the humor for me!

That being said, I think that Fleming chose topics that are perhaps not as relevant to our modern times. In no way are there not current double-standards that could be satirized in this light, clever, but ultimately revealing manner. For instance, pay equality or consent, are topics that would have further added to this piece.

If you are looking for a light read, that might still get you thinking, I suggest giving this quirky book a try! If for nothing else than a giggle or two. Also, it's an excuse to read a "picture book" as an adult.

<i>*I received this book from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in return for a fair review.*</i>

I'm no sure how well known it is, but Jane Austen, when she was a kid, wrote a parody of English History. I read it a while back. I mention it here and now because this book here, 'The Trouble With Women' reminds me of Austen's work. It also reminds me of things I see passed around at times - mostly passed around by teachers, but occasionally others. Those 'things' being passed around are exam answers - humorous exam answers. Not because the person answering the question were so witty, but because they were so earnestly . . . . dim. No, I'm not saying this book is dim, I'm saying there's a similar feel among all three things I've mentioned - Austen's short work, this book, and humoroius exam answers. That, of course, being earnestly stated opinions stated as facts of little baring with actual facts. The difference between this book and Austen's on the one hand, and the humorous exam answers on the other, is that the Austen book and this were intended to be humorous (the humorous intention of the exam answers is unknown though assumed to not be the intention of the exam answerer).

This book here dives right in. Noting how, in the beginning, there were no women. Just men. Studying stuff. Then a few women were around, but they had small heads, so men were still the ones 'doing things' of historical importance. And . . so forth.

Randomness seen as I read: 'Jean-Jacques Rousseau, keen flasher.' Eh? heh.

Ah, so that's why women sat side-saddle - 'to avoid a Sexual Awakening.' Must be hard to get a bicycle to work sitting on it side-saddle.

'Women were more concerned about their skirts getting caught up in the wheels, and sat astried wearing Bloomers which turned them into Lesbians.' - this one made me laugh out loud, it did. Of all the things to turn a woman into a lesbian, bloomers never crossed my mind until now. Or sitting upon a bicycle while wearing bloomers.

hehaha - 'Big frocks were an early form of handbag'.

The book's text is handwritten notes. Not always the most easily deciphered handwritting, at that. Slowed me down at times, that did.

Annie Oakley had dainty feet. hehehe

Ah corsets. Invented by someone who wished to cause women to suffocate and die, I assume.

'In the end it was simpler just to disguise yourself as a man.'

I am both vaguely depressed now that I've completed the book, and feeling this slight desire to know how certain men, historical men, men with flowing beards and genius hair, kept from having random people slam things into their testicles. I fear that I shall never know the answer to this question. For man deserved several swift 'corrections' administered directly to their testicles.

This has been both a humorous and depressing book to read.

July 31 2016

The book is heavily illustrated, and full of sarcasm and irony. It is a critic about the secondary role women have had to have in history, and is kind of a wake up call.

The Trouble With Women by Jacky Fleming illustrates, quite literally, the omission of women from the annals of history. I wanted so much to give 5 stars but I found the over misuse of the word genius too annoying.

I realize the word genius was used to make light of the intellect of these men in relation to the equally intelligent women of the day but I am already annoyed at the over use of the word every place today. Many of the men mentioned as genius were not considered genius even though they may have been responsible for important discoveries or ideas. I find this type of satiric humor more effective if the word that is repeatedly skewered was indeed one used in describing the object. Genius was certainly under-used when describing women but even Darwin was not widely considered a genius. Yes, I realize this is as much about my feeling about the misuse of the word in contemporary culture as it is about the repetitive use of it in this book, so it will likely not bother many other people.

One would think the need for such books would have decreased during our "enlightened" times but that is not the case. There are still many who honestly believe that early (acknowledged) creators, inventors, thinkers and writers were men because, well, they're men. Those are the ones who need to constantly be reminded that the history they learned bears only a passing resemblance to what really was. Unfortunately this work won't reach them and really isn't written in a manner that would persuade them, it is written for those who already are aware and like to laugh and shake our heads at those poor ignorant beings who don't know better. In other words, this book is written specifically to preach to the choir, so to speak, not to make new converts. That said, it could be used to educate if used as a springboard into more detailed history. I would have used it in a lower level WGS course when I taught or perhaps in a writing course to prompt both writing and thinking about what is being talked about here.

I would highly recommend this to those who like some humor in their history though it isn't very well suited for a reader who might still think women never were able to write or think coherently until the last century, or maybe even this century.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

Reviewed favorably on Litsy. Writing a blog post to be published on November 14, 2016 about feminist books released this year. Was excited to be able to add this little gem to the mix. The portion of the post related to this tile follows:

While doing my feminist reading homework, I ran across The Trouble with Women by Jacky Fleming. This tongue-in-cheek graphic book attacks the “his”-story of history right out of the gate. Fleming attacks the dismissal of women from art, science, politics and often relates the downfall of women to women’s fashion throughout history. The illustrations work hand in hand with the quick succession of jabs to make this a very entertaining book. However, Fleming’s stabbing humor would not be able to sustain the book on it own, but it doesn’t have to. Wrapped in this biting package are a lot of misogynist nuggets including lots of nasty quotes by famous, genius men. But the best part of all of this are the bits of history that Fleming, in her words, rescued from the “Dustbin of History”. (“Women have been retrieving each other from the dusbin of history for several thousand years now.”). She introduces us to the first four female doctors in the world (and, yes, they span the globe and three of the four are NOT western women). And, I was delighted to learn of Eliza Grier who became a teacher AND doctor after fourteen years of alternately studying and picking cotton. Did I mention she was a former slave? A fabulous book for all Upper Elementary and Junior High classrooms, this is a great discussion opener for girls and boys alike. Also recommended for fans of Kate Breton, whose artwork and historical emphasis, are similar in feel to Ms. Fleming’s.

A unique approach tongue-in-cheek to the history of women. I loved the sarcasm. Would highly recommend it.

In "The Trouble with Women" Jacky Fleming combines quotes, statements, misconceptions and illustrations about the role of women in an utterly hilarious way. It's a pretty fast read which mentions a lot of women who proofed that not only men have the right to education and greatness. Some points got repeated which wouldn't have been necessary though.

This is a hilarious graphic novel about women (or the lack thereof) in history books. The illustrations are laugh out loud funny and the tongue in cheek comments sum up everything quite nicely. My only critique is that it had awkward transitions between topics and then it ended abruptly.

This is a super funny book of cartoons/drawings about women, tongue firmly in cheek. These cartoons attempt to explain why women were "forgotten" from history, carefully explaining to the reader why women simply couldn't achieve greatness. This will make a fantastic gift for any feminist with a wicked sense of humor.

This is a really fun illustrated book (or should I say book of illustrations?). For anyone who likes sarcasm - you should love this book. A really fast read with way over the top sarcastic humour about how women were treated and thought of before the 20th century. Fun quick read!

I got this book free on Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. This was definitely worth my time!

The trouble with women is that our brains are so feeble and unable to comprehend complicated thoughts that the fact that this graphic novel is very pointed satire would be lost on us.

Fleming tongue-in-cheek points out the ridiculousness of believing women to be inferior to men intellectually, emotionally, physically, using historical examples. I laughed a number of times -- I laughed, so I wouldn't cry. The art is fantastic. The humor is biting. The commentary spot-on. Also, the "domestic sphere" may be the best play on words I've ever seen.

The trouble for women is that there are men who still think this way.

A delicious skewering of the male lens of history. Genius, as we know, has always been masculine, naturally because men have bigger brains. Oh, there might be female exceptions here and there, we know, but those are largely unattractive and relegated to the Dustbin of History. Women have been pulling each other out of the Dustbin for centuries (here illustrated quite literally as a large Dustbin, and Fleming continues the work here with her highlighting of various groundbreaking women, from first doctors Joshi, Okani, Islambooli, and Crumpler, to Marie Curie to Eliza Grier (who paid her way through medical school by alternating years of study with years of picking cotton - wow!). Fleming's tongue is perfectly in cheek throughout this mock history, with such deliciously droll gems like "Women were more concerned about their skirts getting caught up in the wheels [of bicycles], and sat astride wearing Bloomers which turned them into lesbians." Notions like the domestic sphere are illustrated as quite literal spheres containing women.
All in all, I chuckled my way through this little gem, wishing, perhaps, that it could have been longer and given spotlights to more phenomenal women. Perfect for the women's studies student in your life or fans of Kate Beaton, this is a charming entry in the canon of feminist herstory.

Why have I never heard of Jacky Fleming? She's bloody genius. This little book of satire made me happy and really, really angry at the same time. I read it all in one gulp, and it left me wanting more. I actually would have loved to see the book extend beyond into the 1960s and today. Please write and illustrate a Trouble with Modern Women book! Also, as an aside, the book gave me a list of women to look up and read more about - thank you!

What a viciously sarcastic and hilarious book. Absolutely brilliant! A full review will be posted on my blog in due time.

I have a background in studying feminist literature and admit I was intrigued when I saw this book with it's woman in a bubble (actually the Domestic Sphere - capitalisation essential - as we soon find out) on the cover and ironic title.

It's an absolute gem! Lovely illustrations accompany an acerbic narrative of female history; traditional ideas about women aren't criticised directly, but more shown to be ludicrous through the wording and illustrations (I especially loved the idea that women coudn't stand up without corsets, alongside illustrated lolling women!) Men are Geniuses (with a capital letter, obviously), while women aren't suited to anything that might damage their marriage prospects (including, but not limited to, art, science, writing, riding bicycles).

This book is an obvious choice for anyone interested in women's history and feminism., and is one I'll be sharing with my daughter when she is old enough. However, it has much wider appeal than us card-carrying feminists! Indeed, this book should also be read by anyone who thinks that the fight for equality is over; there's plenty of food for thought here about the messages we are still given about women's role in history.

Though I don't really understand why anyone would take seriously The Trouble with Women, provided to me and published by Andrews McMeel Publishing on September 20, primarily because it is illustrated and written by a woman, I'm going to tell you about it anyway.

Or, really, rather show you about it because, being a woman myself, I doubt my ability to accurately describe the acerbic, deeply vicious intelligence portrayed in this history of how women managed to come into the world only about two hundred years ago and all the reasons put forth by the geniuses of the world (i.e. men) as to why women didn't exist before this time.

If Jane Austen and John Oliver had a baby, and that baby could draw, she would be Jacky Fleming. Such ancestry is high praise indeed because I dearly love both Austen and Oliver: Jane, for her deft satire of the business of marriage and John, for his ability to use satire to make you angry and make you laugh at topics that you would have thought might bore you to tears. Net neutrality? Done! Credit card debt sales? Yes, please. Charter school regulations? Hilarious!

What Austen has done for marriage and Oliver has done for the Trump campaign (“Make Donald Drumpf Again!”) is what Jacky Fleming has done for women in history. She deftly skewers the lack of women in history books and proceeds to rescue some from “the dustbin of history.”

Along the way, she tips over some of our sacred cows, particularly Charles Darwin, who “proved” that women were less intelligent than men by making a list of their achievements and comparing it to a list of masculine achievements, an exercise that Fleming finds singularly lacking in scientific method.

And even when history books do make mention of women, they are usually damned with faint praise (see Fleming’s drawing of Queen Victoria, “shown here holding something unaided”). Like Oliver, Fleming has a way of repeating a funny motif that resonates. Anyone who watches Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” will undoubtedly hear a reference to Donald Trump’s tiny hands, and Fleming’s readers will likewise note women’s unfortunate propensity throughout history to damage their marriage prospects by engaging in such activities as riding astride, swimming, and thinking.

Many have compared Fleming’s work to that of New Yorker cartoonist Kate Beaton, which is apt, but her drawings also remind me of Gary Larson’s “Far Side” cartoons. Both use simple line drawings with a few telling details to great effect. One difference: Larson’s humor relies on wacky, esoteric references, while Fleming wants her references to be ubiquitous. The fact that the women she mentions are not household names is a point that she relentlessly yet hilariously drives home.

Read this book. It’s not a nonfiction, good-for-you vitamin of a book. It is hold-your-stomach, guffaw-in-public funny. I have an interest in women’s studies, so I worried that I was the choir listening to a sermon I already liked. Just to test audience response, I showed my 17-year-old daughter one clever page, and she read the entire book in 20 minutes and asked me to get her a paper copy. Not scientific, but good enough for me. Fleming’s book will make you laugh, teach you a few historical truths, and leave you wanting more.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My only issue with this, if you can even call it an issue, is that it seemed to have ended so abrubtly. Aside from that I was living for how shady this book is. Each page is dripping with sarcasm that is equally entertaining, appalling and informative.

Honestly, women are amazing and utterly badass. The trouble with them is that they will not take your bullshit for so long without revolting about it at some point.

"The Trouble With Women" is a satirical look at the history of women and how their achievements have been forgotten. I have read a lot on women in medicine over the last year and what this women had to go through to get their degree and to practice medicine later on. This book may take a more comedic look at these issues, but it easily succeeds at illustrating the arbitrary and ridiculous claims men made to keep women out of public spaces. Many of the women mentioned in the book I have never heard about which, I guess, really drives the point home. I hope I'll get a chance to look up these women and save them from the "dustbin of history". "The Trouble With Women" has great illustrations and wonderfully sarcastic remarks that should be recommended reading for all people with a sense of humor.

A quick, witty, sadly funny satirical graphic novel about women throughout history and the baffling thoughts of acclaimed geniuses regarding the female condition. Everyone should read this.

Hilarious with a bone dry wit and superb little line drawings - this was a great mix of visual and written humor, where the writing doesn't do it, a furious woman doing needlework and glaring at Darwin does. I needed a laugh at misogyny today (especially after the hanging effigy of Clinton was plastered all over the Internet) and this drew my spirit up. A must for feminists and nonfeminists alike. I hope we see a second volume!

I enjoyed reading this devilishly satirical book. It is far from what I usually read but I'm happy I did.

This little book packs a punch with its incisive observations about men's erroneous judgments of women's abilities through much of history. The tongue-in-cheek drawings and the clever tidbits of women's history and men's philosophy make for a quick and funny yet thought-provoking read. I will recommend it!

Short and not-sweet, this would be a great introduction to women's history, and a cool way to get teens interested in --and talking about-- feminist issues.

This book is full of eye-rolls, not from the reader, but from the women in the frames. So tongue-in-cheek that you may have a sore tongue by the end and absolutely delightful. Perfect for teenage girls on up-- and a great way to light the fire of feminism, or keep it burning bright. Especially appreciated: coverage of women of color.

Excellent!

Off to ride my bicycle... (5 stars)

Forgive me, my arms are so short I almost had to ask my genius husband to type this review for me. So I'll be brief. This tongue-in-cheek book is a bit dry but has the spot on humor women are sure to find enjoyable. It's downright painful to read what many of these educated men of science thought of the "gentler sex".

If you want to share feminism in a fresh and darkly amusing format I much recommend this.

(Note - The cover illustration pictured is pending approval and may not match final copy)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Publisher's Description

Perfect for fans of Kate Beaton, Lena Dunham, and Caitlin Moran, The Trouble with Women is a feminist's brilliant, tongue-in-cheek, hysterical look at women's "issues," "frailties," and "failures" in our not-so-distant history.

Ever noticed that women don't feature much in history books, and wondered why? Then this is the book for you. In The Trouble with Women, feminist artist Jacky Fleming illustrates how the opinions of supposed male geniuses, such as Charles Darwin (who believed that women have smaller brains than men) and John Ruskin (who believed that women's main function was to praise men), have shaped the fate of women through history, confining them to a life of domesticity and very little else.

Get ready to laugh, wince, and rescue forgotten women from the "dustbin of history," while keeping a close eye out for tell-tale "genius hair."

__________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Jacky Fleming’s hilarious look at the treatment of women throughout history who dared challenge the accepted roles of women will leave you with a stitch in your side and a wide smile that will linger long after you finish the last page.

It is not often that I come across an illustrated book for adults that really peaks my interest and keeps me entertained throughout the entirety. Jacky Fleming’s topic is not a new study but this topic is one that usually leaves me with bad taste after reading how a certain people groups were discriminated against. However, I found that in spite of the truth telling that was behind this humorous book there was a smile on my face when I finished it. I really enjoyed her sarcastic and snappy way of showing how women were discouraged from moving beyond their socially acceptable roles to those outside of their homes and family. It was fun to look at the incredibly ludicrous reasons why men did not want women to study science, languages, accounting/banking, real estate or any other subject higher than eighth grade level. From the idea that women were unable to understand advanced learning because their brains are so much smaller than men’s to the laughable idea that women were not attuned to science and medicine because they lack “Genius Hair”, Ms. Fleming had me shouting in laughter as the pages went by. Three of my favorite topics were: Ms. Fleming’s description of “Big frocks were an early form of handbag”; that “Women who studied science ran the risk of growing a beard”; and that a girl who studied hard would “damage her health for the rest of their life and her children would be shriveled”. There were many others that could be considered equally as funny but I will leave those for other readers to discover. And although I am not usually a fan, the illustrations that accompanied each page were sometimes the part that made me laugh the most. This book was not extremely long in content but is definitely one I will look into purchasing for my personal library. I have not read any of Ms. Flemings works before but I will definitely be looking for more from her in the future. I would most enthusiastically recommend or gift this book to someone I know, knowing there is little if anything in the pages that would be offensive.



I received this E-book from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

THE TROUBLE WITH WOMEN offers a great satirical look at the place of women in society throughout history. Its a quick read with plenty of laugh out loud funny moments while also drawing attention to these historical details that are all too often forgotten about in history class.

I would recommend this book for fans of Kate Beaton and those who are looking for more comics with a feminist slant. Though I also feel like shoving this book into everyones hands because this book clearly illustrates a truth that is not often talked about and one that many are uncomfortable with - as these tongue in cheek jokes clearly show women have never operated on the same playing field as man, unless they attempted to disguise themselves as one.

There was one time in the world where there were no women. There were only men. And few of them were geniuses. Therefore we only hear of men. The book is filled with such quirky lines and equally funny illustrations that go with the text. It also talks about the function of bloomers, hobbies of the ladies and their brain size in general. Women were just dainty livings who never could take any stress. There is also a few mentions of some doing great things like shooting and running a county. But sadly they were not good enough to go to olympics. These comments raise questions and laugh at the stupidity of the society. They are funny enough to make you laugh and give out great message of feminism too.

This was fun and I grinned a lot while reading, but nothing laughing out loud as my feeble minded, tiny head would never be able to grasp it all.

On a more serious note: this booklet, it is too short to actually call it a book, makes fun of sexism by explaining historical visions on women from people nowadays considered geniuses. The sad part is of course, that while it is immediately clear now that these are all rubbish, they have held back generations, centuries even, of women.

A short read, but nice.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

'The Trouble with Women' by Jacky Fleming is a hilarious and tragic look at how women aren't in history books. It's very tongue-in-cheek and I found myself laughing quite a few times at the errors men (like me) have made.

I learned from the first page that in the Olden Days, there were no women, and that's why I didn't learn about them in history. It was just men and some of them were geniuses. Apparently women who learn become less attractive, and playing sports can lead to injuries where a woman can lose her virginity. Men like Darwin and Rousseau and Schopenhauer made stupid statements about the inferiority of women, and those statements get thrown out here to hilarious effect.

That the book remains so darn funny and never becomes preachy is a high point. It's certainly frustrating and angering that the contributions of women in history have been overlooked, but this approach makes the point beautifully. The drawings are at times hilarious too, with the chart of beards, and pictures of women with tiny heads. I enjoyed this book, and completely got the point.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.