Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Literary Criticism, Women's Studies, Feminism, Social Commentary, Non-Fiction

Book Review:
''Thinking About Women'' by Mary Ellmann is a brilliant, witty, and incisive work of literary criticism that remains a landmark in feminist thought. First published in 1968, this book offers a scathing and often hilarious examination of how women have been portrayed in literature, from Jane Austen to Norman Mailer.

Ellmann's sharp wit and penetrating insight expose the ''sexual silliness'' that has warped thinking about women. She writes with a rare combination of intellectual rigor and playful humor, making her critique both devastating and entertaining. Critics have praised the book for its originality and its ability to make readers laugh while simultaneously feeling indignation. Marilyn Bender of the New York Times called it ''packed with witty dynamite,'' and Francis Hope of The Observer described Ellmann as patrolling ''the literary classroom with an expert ruler, gently banging one hairy knuckle after another.''

This is an essential read for anyone interested in feminist literary criticism, gender studies, or the portrayal of women in culture. It is a funny, sharp, and deeply serious book that will challenge your thinking and expand your understanding of femininity .