Devi Nair
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by Dr. Jennifer Gunter ā± Duration: 18 hours š·ļø Publisher: Random House Canada
The title best describes the book. It's supposed to have some sharp debunking of menstruation myths, and Dr. Jen Gunter absolutely delivers it. The book left me with a kind of quiet, slow-burning anger that only comes from realizing how much information has been deliberately kept from us, wrapped in shame and passed off as normal. Dr Jen Gunter explains away centuries of weaponized ignorance, with a frankness that feels like finally sitting across from a doctor who actually has time for your questions. Her narration feels equal parts doctor, teacher, and big sister who's just done with societal nonsense.
The best parts about this book are the myth-bursting chapters. Each time Gunter connects a ridiculous cultural belief about periods (think menstrual blood as face mask because of the "medicinal properties", or ancient rituals rooted in fear of women's bodies) to the actual science of why that narrative exists, I came out of it with equal parts fascination and anger. The message is clear and powerful: your body is yours. Your comfort is yours. For your comfort and relief, you owe no one any apology.
That said, the audio book is dense. I love a good scientific deep-dive, but at times, it felt like getting lost in a medical journal. the 18-hour listen occasionally dragged, especially when the data took precedence over storytelling or cultural critique. Around the 15- hour mark, I found myself satisfied enough to stop, partly because the key takeaway had already sunk in for me: my body, my comfort, my rules!
Still, the combination of history, medicine, and haunting cultural insight makes this book essential reading. It's empowering, educational, and thoroughly dismantles shame in a space that desperately needs candor and compassion.
Would I recommend it? This is a required reading for anyone who wants to understand how deeply shame and misinformation have shaped women's healthcare, and how science, culture, and gender politics intersect. It's not a breezy listen, and it can be dense in some stretches, but the moments of clarity and empowerment make it worth the effort. Dr Gunter's work is bold, factual, and deeply validating. Think of it as a book your body deserved long before now.
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by Dr. Jennifer Gunter ā± Duration: 18 hours š·ļø Publisher: Random House Canada
The title best describes the book. It's supposed to have some sharp debunking of menstruation myths, and Dr. Jen Gunter absolutely delivers it. The book left me with a kind of quiet, slow-burning anger that only comes from realizing how much information has been deliberately kept from us, wrapped in shame and passed off as normal. Dr Jen Gunter explains away centuries of weaponized ignorance, with a frankness that feels like finally sitting across from a doctor who actually has time for your questions. Her narration feels equal parts doctor, teacher, and big sister who's just done with societal nonsense.
The best parts about this book are the myth-bursting chapters. Each time Gunter connects a ridiculous cultural belief about periods (think menstrual blood as face mask because of the "medicinal properties", or ancient rituals rooted in fear of women's bodies) to the actual science of why that narrative exists, I came out of it with equal parts fascination and anger. The message is clear and powerful: your body is yours. Your comfort is yours. For your comfort and relief, you owe no one any apology.
That said, the audio book is dense. I love a good scientific deep-dive, but at times, it felt like getting lost in a medical journal. the 18-hour listen occasionally dragged, especially when the data took precedence over storytelling or cultural critique. Around the 15- hour mark, I found myself satisfied enough to stop, partly because the key takeaway had already sunk in for me: my body, my comfort, my rules!
Still, the combination of history, medicine, and haunting cultural insight makes this book essential reading. It's empowering, educational, and thoroughly dismantles shame in a space that desperately needs candor and compassion.
Would I recommend it? This is a required reading for anyone who wants to understand how deeply shame and misinformation have shaped women's healthcare, and how science, culture, and gender politics intersect. It's not a breezy listen, and it can be dense in some stretches, but the moments of clarity and empowerment make it worth the effort. Dr Gunter's work is bold, factual, and deeply validating. Think of it as a book your body deserved long before now.