Rating: 
Summary: Making Self-Centeredness Sound So Good
Review: "Radical Sanity" is not nearly as delightfully manic as "Bitch" or "Prozac Nation." You cannot picture a young woman seething with anger, depression, or ideas, but perhaps this is good. "Radical Sanity" is more ambitious than Maria Shriver's attempts at telling young woman how to live, even though some points are duplicated. In this very fast read, Wurtzel tackles the problems of ex-boyfriends and the stigma of single women with cats. As always, she is honest, but I missed the sense of controversey and Wurtzel herself that her other books have had. In "Radical Sanity," Wurtzel shares her experiences, but she seems far more... normal (and organized). For that, I think this book is good for 20 and 30 something females because Wurtzel makes feminism and self-centeredness seem so simple and needed. Of course you shouldn't clear the dishes if the men don't. Of course you should enjoy your single years. Some readers may dislike the fact that Wurtzel joins the ranks of the common woman for this book, but I think many young women will find reassurance in Wurtzel's ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: If you don't see the value in this advice, wake up!
Review: I loved this book so much that I re-read it regularly. It has many truths that, sadly, are lost on several of those who've reviewed it before me. At the very least, it provides one with outlooks and crutches (and let's face it, everyone has a limp) that make life more bearable, especially for those of us that aren't born with obliviously happy dispositions. One example of this would be the chapter about having pets-- let me tell you, a low-maintenance, super-cool & sweet cat is more than worth the cost of meow mix, plus he entertains guests when I take too long to get ready!Beyond that, this book is enlightening for anyone stuck in the 50's-- I have always lived by the chapter entitled "Don't get up to do the dishes unless the men help too". Whose brilliant idea was it to make women do housework while men smoke cigars?? (I'll give you a hint: it was a HE.) This is the 21st century, and scientists have discovered that women have IQs that are identical to those of their male counterparts. Of course you'd never know this after attending such a dinner party! When other readers comment that Wurtzel is spoiled, I really want to shake them-- the aforementioned "do not do the dishes" portion is is the only part of the book I can find that would (mistakenly) lead one to that conclusion. In any case, I'd hope that the chapters about being self-sufficient and not dumping your problems on friends & family neutralize any misconceptions about Wurtzel being a spoiled brat. To me, advising people never to do something unpleasant that they can pay someone else to do does NOT make one spoiled, but smart. Ditto for spending $$ on good hairstylists. I mean, if you're smart enough to make more than the money it takes to hire a maid, why would you be dumb enough to do such work yourself?? Work an extra hour and use the $ to pay the maid for 2 hrs, rather than cleaning your own apt for 4 hrs (unless, of course, you dislike efficiency enough to sew your own clothes & grow your own food, circa 2000 B.C.!) And is walking around with orange hair really worth the money you saved by doing it yourself? All of the above are reasons why this book is titled "Common advice..."-- the thing about common advice is that it's not at all common, as the college educated, house-cleaning, man-worshiping Miss Clairol victims show us everyday. This book is a public service!
Rating: 
Summary: By far, not "radical"
Review: I opened up this book not knowing what to expect, and was surprised at first how empowering it seemed on the surface. Some of the advice is actually worthy of praise, for example, she encourages women to ask questions and learn more about the world and to have opinions about things-- in other words, to use our brains and our voices! She also encourages women not to be afraid to indulge in life by doing things such as eating dessert and not being afraid to let the men clean up after a dinner party. Where the book starts to fall apart, however, is when she starts to suggest that in order to "be gorgeous," women should have some make-up on and should be pleasing to look at (in order not to offend those around them), and that to be fulfilled, a woman should fall in love and settle down. It's not that there's anything wrong with these things, but these are not radical ideas-- in fact, they fall very much in line with traditional advice-- and they may not be for everyone and these chapters don't seem to fit with the rest of the book, as the former chapters were vague enough to fit most women's lifestyles and choices. Was she running out of ideas on things to write about or was she that locked in to one path to happiness? We didn't need another book aimed at young women that claims to contain some secret to life so that when they try to live up to it and fail, they feel guilty and miserable, unaware of the rich options available out there.
Rating:
Summary: A quick and painless dose of good advice and humor
Review: I understand why some readers may think that this book is silly and it didn't compare to other writings from this author. But, if you take it for what it is, you would enjoy it. First off, she is writing to a certain type of audience. Woman in their twenties who are getting over their "wild stage"...if they had one to begin with. I doubt that my 26 year old friend who is currently at yale getting her phd in french literature, who lost her virginity a year ago will relate to this book and understand why sex with an ex is the worst kind of sex you can have. Nor, would I assume that a woman who married at age 21 that has two kids and does yoga in her free time would find most of the chapters in this book useful. Especially the one about enjoying your single years. However, while it may seem like she is only writing this for herself, there is some great advice for the right reader. Not to mention, that she is dead on about alot of the expierences that happen to women and gives very easy "pep-talks" about how to overcome them. You can tell that the situations she is writing about not only happened to her, but she found ways to not let certain things rule her life. I wouldn't reccommend this book to everyone, but it is great for a friend who is going through a breakup, or someone just down in the dumps. It's easy reading that doesnt require alot of thought, you can read it in one sitting, and if you can relate to the author at all you will enjoy some good laughs.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious advice
Review: I'm a big Wurtzel fan, so I had to read this book even though I'm part of the male species. Most of the advice is so simple that I had to wonder whether she's trying to get a reaction out of people by saying silly things, or perhaps she really is serious. Like another reviewer said, reading this is sort of like overhearing a conversation between thirteen-year-old girls- not exactly too sophisticated. I don't know whether Wurtzel is getting desperate for more attention, but maybe she isn't, because this probably won't do it. I'd really like to see her do something a little more intellectually challenging, like her previous books. Overall though, most of her fans may still enjoy this book. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious advice
Review: I'm a big Wurtzel fan, so I had to read this book even though I'm part of the male species. Most of the advice is so simple that I had to wonder whether she's trying to get a reaction out of people by saying silly things, or perhaps she really is serious. Like another reviewer said, reading this is sort of like overhearing a conversation between thirteen-year-old girls- not exactly too sophisticated. I don't know whether Wurtzel is getting desperate for more attention, but maybe she isn't, because this probably won't do it. I'd really like to see her do something a little more intellectually challenging, like her previous books. Overall though, most of her fans may still enjoy this book. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".
Rating: 
Summary: Funny but Rushed
Review: Radical Sanity has funny stories but not much substance. The book is short, costly and has several typos. As you read it, you get the feeling that the writing was rushed and it would have been very good if it had been given the time needed to develop a stronger voice. If you like the story format, check out Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey it is funny, practical and well written.
Rating:
Summary: Great advice but I feel a bit cheated
Review: This book contains Elizabeth Wurtzel's words of wisdom--hilarious insight and advice from a great writer. However, I was disappointed when this book arrived due to the fact that it is less than one hundred pages and cost $15.00! It seemed a bit on the pricey side to me. However, the book is well-written and will keep you laughing. If you have read any of Wurtzel's other books, you may be wary about getting advice from a girl who has, by her own admission, snorted Ritalin, but she also admits that she does not always take her own advice. Like any other book, you should simply read and take what you think is sound, leaving anything you think sounds slightly off-kilter. Well worth reading...but not necessarily worth $15.00.
Rating:
Summary: Great advice but I feel a bit cheated
Review: This book contains Elizabeth Wurtzel's words of wisdom--hilarious insight and advice from a great writer. However, I was disappointed when this book arrived due to the fact that it is less than one hundred pages and cost $15.00! It seemed a bit on the pricey side to me. However, the book is well-written and will keep you laughing. If you have read any of Wurtzel's other books, you may be wary about getting advice from a girl who has, by her own admission, snorted Ritalin, but she also admits that she does not always take her own advice. Like any other book, you should simply read and take what you think is sound, leaving anything you think sounds slightly off-kilter. Well worth reading...but not necessarily worth $15.00.
Rating: 
Summary: contradictory fluff
Review: While Wurtzel's book attempts to be a direly needed kick in the rear for the hoards of young woman who have no identity or hope outside their Prozac prescriptions or pot-bingeing habits, it's nothing but a poorly written suburbanite piece of fluff that does as much harm as "good." That girls read this book &decide to join the ranks of feminism while denouncing dishes as "too beneath them" &"something other people should be hired to do" proves only how shallow, thoughtless, racist, &classist this book really is. Wurtzel's readers claim women &girls everywhere should embrace feminism &end the oppression of women everywhere &then define success as how many maids you can hire to do your dirty work for you. Yeah, it certainly is easy to be a liberated female when you have all those faceless Mexicans/blacks/poor women doing your basic household chores, right? It's really liberating womankind, right? Wrong! Gender-defined liberation cannot be had at the expense of the poorer versions of your own gender...and gender roles (esp. that archaic &gross "women belong in the kitchen" adage) can't change so long as we continue to assign working class WOMEN to clean our [mess]. There are millions of women out there who have harder things to deal with than "should I get my hair professionally dyed pink or purple?" -- there are women out there who HAVE to cook, &clean, &work, &then decide whether or not their minimum wage paycheck should be spent on a doctor's visit for their kid, food, or bus fare. This book has absolutely no qualms telling girls that liberation is had by making these poor usually non-white women clean your house/earn no respect/receive no benefits/experience no choice while you go have your feet pedicured, &it's gross. Radical Sanity is another lame &VERY unfeminist piece of trash directed at bored suburbanites everywhere who are tired of choosing between Contempo Casuals &Hot Topic &should be skipped. Read some bell hooks instead.
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