Rating: 
Summary: mom as person
Review: It pretty much says the same thing over and over. It is quite funny if you don't get too serious about the world and women. It is far left in many ways but don't let this get in the way of reading it. I wonder if the women who are moms have ever taken a step back and realized that one can still be a mom and a true person? Also recommended: Mommy-CEO, by Jodie Lynn who says take care of yourself and get all family members to help run the household and shows you how, BUY THE REVISED EDITION, and Mothering Without a Map, by Kathryn Black, who shows you it's ok to try and parent and be a woman on your own.
Rating: 
Summary: A whining list of excuses for bad parents
Review: Ok, so there is no such thing as the perfect parent. But trying to be the best parent you can be seems like a reasonable goal to me. After all, raising our kids IS the most important job we will ever do.
But according to these authors bad parents are just media victims, pushed into feeling bad about their shortcomings. It makes zero sense. They actually go so far as to ridicule selfeless giving, respecting your children, and putting your kids first. Hello! That's what being a real parent is about, and it's great that so many of todays moms and dads seem to realize that. The authors go on to excuse hitting your children, neglecting them and being an alcoholic parent. Like it would be some sort of blessing if parents could go back to the good old days where it was ok to have a couple whiskeys and beat your kid with a belt because he looked at you funny. Please. Do we really need a book that makes bad parents feel better about themselves?
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise, disappointing execution
Review: The Mommy Myth is a disappointing book and its topic is one that needs to be explored and understood in a deeper way than this book can deliver. The hip, sacastic tone of the writing undermines the credibilty of the book; the authors would have been better off spending more time exploring their topic and less time dreaming up one-liners. The book explores two main topics; the excessive demands placed on todays mothers and the resulting deification of today's children and pushing for nationalized healthcare. I was disappointed in the tendancy of the book to glorify the feminist movement of the early 1970s; if the movement was so effective why were most of its legislative moves defeated? If universal day care funded by the government is the answer (as the authors seem to believe) then how can the feminist movement of today help make that a reality? Worth checking out from the library but prepare to be frustrated.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty, incisive and liberating
Review: The Mommy Myth successfully exposes the worship of the "perfect mother" that has resonated throughout society for decades, and which is now reaching a fever pitch--today's "good" mother is supposed to be able to raise perfectly behaved, genius children, look fabulous and thin, be a great wife, make her own pinecone wreath every Christmas and constantly repeat such things as "Being a mother is fabulous every minute of every day and I never get flustered, overwhelmed or feel like screaming at my kids". As most women know, loving your children does not preclude occasionally feeling like you want to go on vacation... alone. The authors frequently use humor and personal anecdotes to diffuse the loaded topic of ambivalence about being a mother, which, while it exists in the majority of women from time to time, is virtually ignored by society because it's an "undesirable" feeling for "good mothers" to have. Additionally, many great examples are drawn upon from our current pop culture, such as the glowing profiles of celebrity moms in magazines (who manage to stay a size 2 and say motherhood fulfills their every need while they simultaneously pay two nannies to stay home with the babies while they fly to Paris and make a movie), who are held up as such impossible ideals that the rest of us can only become more frustrated and feel more inadequate.
Some reviews have remarked that the authors have an obvious bias towards stay-at-home moms; I feel that the underlying point of the book is that women should be able to do whatever they want with their lives without judgment from society or the archetype of a "good mother" hanging over their heads. That is, if you're the kind of stay-at-home mother who really does look gorgeous while vacuuming and who never raises her voice just because motherhood is easy and unconflicted, then you're very lucky and talented. However, I think if the authors are a bit biased, this occurs mainly because they are fighting so hard against the concept of the perfect mother--and usually the idea of the perfect mother is a stay-at-home mom. Overall, I think this "bias" should not undermine the value of this smart and funny book--highly recommended!
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Summary: The American Mother-Whatever You Do- IT'S WRONG
Review: The way that we spell "mother" is G-U-I-L-T. I saw it in myself, I see it in my daughters. Perhaps this wonderfully wise and healing book has arrived in time to spare my granddaughters,- to guide them toward the tools and the attitudes that will free them to be happy and confident moms.
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Summary: Finally, A Book That Tells the Truth
Review: This book does a fantastic job of painting a very clear picture of the political, socio-economic, and hypocritical media forces that continue to punish women and pit us against one another. Instead of spending our precious time and energy sniping at one another about the merits of breastfeeding, babywearing, and co-sleeping, and the evils of television, non-organic food and yelling at our kids once in awhile, we should be rising up to demand subsidized daycare, decent maternity leave, healthcare for ALL children and their mothers, and the chance for all of us as women to make the choices that are right for us, be it working or staying at home. Feminism should be about each and every one of us being able to make a choice about what type of mother we want to be (working, staying at home, or both) without being judged and punished by other women!! Until we stop constantly competing with one another over who does the best job as a parent, until we stop wasting our time second-guessing every single decision we make in terms of our children, until we stop lying to ourselves and everyone around us about the all-encompassing, transforming and magical power of being a MOM, the women and children of this country will continue to be victimized, undermined and forgotten. Bravo Douglas and Michaels, thank you for this HONEST look at motherhood in the United States. (Written by Janelle Ivry)
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Summary: mommie
Review: This book is a book about the bind between the media and the mother. its a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Same Old, Same Old
Review: This book is badly written and the tone is obnoxious. Example in the first chapter: "so you drag your sorry ass home." In addition, while some of the points about the media depiction of mothers hit home, one wonders about the security of women who would allow sit-coms and movies to change their view of themselves in any lasting way. As I see it, most mothers (and I am wary of saying "all" or "most" or making generalizations, although the authors are not) realize quickly that they cannot be perfect and do the best they can. The "Mommy Myth" fires some missiles in the Mommy Wars and repeats that old tired rant about, and attacks on anyone who challenges, the idea that full time child care isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread. Everyone makes the best choices they can, and it would be far better to spend less time worrying about someone else's views and more time on other things. Aside from all these anguished Moms writing books about how hard motherhood is -- which it is, but also worthwhile if not exquisitely joyful every second, and there are so many ways to do it -- nobody real seems to care about all of the evils done to us by media images or some fictional "perfect mother." Women have been having kids forever and will continue. It's time to get over ourselves and be kind to others. To that end, if you want some practical advice, try "How To Avoid The Mommy Trap." The Mommy Trap shows success stories, starting from before you're even married, of women who don't whine but instead create the life they want. And The "Over-Scheduled Child" shows why all this competition and more activities is a bad idea for children and families, and what to do about it.
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Summary: MUST READ
Review: This book is by far the best book that I have read this year. I recommend to anyone, male or female, kids or no kids, read this book!! The authors have given an important analysis of the ridiculous expectations given to parents and in particular moms. They shed light on the new cold war; the war between working and non-working moms. The motivation behind the pressures to be the perfect mom are as they authors suggest undermining feminism. Women are now expected to be June Cleaver and Carly Fiorina. The authors do a remarkable job of compiling magazine articles which perpetuate the mommy myth. Great examples of such Stepford Moms as Kathy Lee Gifford, Christie Brinkley, Cindy Crawford. The book is not anti-kids, in fact, it is pro-family it just gives one a realistic view of parenting, society, and the media. BUY THIS BOOK, I definately recommend. Make your husband and your mom read, too.
Rating:
Summary: Amen!
Review: This book is perfect for any woman who has bittersweet feelings about motherhood.
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