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Summary: Great portrayal of modern life for at risk teenage girls
Review: As a teenage girl of 17, I related completely with most of the stories in the book. Ms. Pipher acurately portrays the hardships that face girls in the 90's. Also, more importantly, I battle bulimia each day, and the chapter dealing with eating disorders is very accurate. I intend to begin another book by Mary Pipher, "Hunger Pains" which I hope will help me and others understand the eating disorder epidemic in this country. Although I somewhat resent the portrayal of "most girls" as victims, for the most part the book was very inspiring and very, very accurate. This book is not only great for teenage girls, but for mothers and fathers, nad teenage boys as well. I would help everyone better understand girls, and their struggle to save themselves.
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Summary: gave me a new perspective
Review: Reading this book made me reevaluate my own ideas of how men should regard women. I reccomend this book to any other guy out there. Many of the things these girls were going through I could relate to as well. I realize though, that there are people who don't go through such difficulties. It made me feel better that I'm just a nice guy and not some jerk that screws around with girls. I look at myself and women much differently now. Kudos to Pipher.
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Summary: Moving and Concise
Review: This book goes way beyond what I once thought self help books were. Mary Pipher not only helps us understand and recognize the trials and tribulations of adolescent girls, but also those of a middle aged America who struggle to understand a social world that is simply not the same as when they were young. The book is surprisingly positive, though, telling of case after case where troubled adolescent girls were aided through therapy and moved on to better existences. I have not seen another writer with such compassion and understanding for an age and developmental group so different. Think of it as a handbook for parents and girls alike. Pipher's own observations lead to sage advice: don't think of this book as another "self help" book. It most certainly is not.
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Summary: poem for mary/please foreward
Review: Revanche! (for the politically correct who know the script)At her feet, Ophelia's play, from undertows revived. Decades old, his story told, her options still alive to that serial insousiance that self invention rides. Her green eggs imprinted to first Hamlet's stirring pan, to polyphonious warnings, celebrating bans. As thought precededs the action, words die upon her lips, to pluck or not the thor-ned rose? a choice forever on one's hips. The ghostly see from Kilbourne's walls that this ambiguity is dread, So, now not the time for stony sleep, to put to bed ironic sheep.But boldly to clarify instead, these upbeat visions in our head. Say, now, daughter, Lets dream again of Elsinor: What if Ophelia's strong and not a bore? Does Hamlet then become her play? Does she drown the brooder and save the day? (revanche?) Oh, women's work is never done. Poor Gertrude was just having fun. Too catholic laws or indicision created temporary chaos and clouded vision. If the only way to set things right and restore the peace without a fight is to retire Claudius with "commodities" on scholarship to Germany, with utmost speed, then throw in Rosencrantz and fay Guildenstern. This dark uncle will flee the crown, blessing fortune's turn. With a better thought inner play, Ophelia could save as many lives as foolish Hamlet threw away. Laertes, Horatio and Polonious saved, the ship of state is merely grazed. Why not, as consort, mount the actor king upon the throne? Its time for youth and style to rule at home. Living well. Image counts. Ophelia's rematch removes all doubts. And rotten Denmark once thus restored, will praise this woman as its rightful Lord. copywright djs October 1998
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Summary: A very insightful book that would help any girl or parent
Review: The book Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher was different from any other book I have ever read. I haven't ever read a psychological book before and i found it fascinating. Mary Pipher was great at researching and finding out every detail needed to make this book interesting. I had never noticed the change that takes place in girls during adolescence until now. She describes in great detail what "dramatic thing that happens to girls in early adolescence." There are highs and lows in a girls life, mainly brought about by peers. I felt that the first chapter lead the reader into the book and the stories of the girls helped to enfasis these points. I am very interested in psychology though also, and that may be why this book was not extremely boring. Also being a girl, I could relate to what was happening to these girls because either I had experienced it or I had witnessed it through others. The book describes that "girls know that they are losing themselves" and I believe that in troubled teens it is true. Although the book was great to me I could honestly say that it is not for everyone. Any guy would hate it. I do feel though that it is necessary for the majority of teenage girls to read this. Reviving Ophelia made me re-evaluate my life and helped me to become more of what I want to be. It helped me to figure out why i don't get along with my mother and what to do in such a superficial society. I also think that this book would be great for any paretn of a teenage daughter. A lot of what is going on with the daughter is linked to the parents, acoording to this book. The book does get repetitive in some parts but in the end it is worth reading every bit if you fall in the category of an adolescent girl or a parent.
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Summary: Can we get any further from the truth for average girls?
Review: I'm a 14 year old college freshman who had to read this book for an orientation class. While I felt that the book might shine a light on the horrors of adolescence for those in worst case scenarios, those who create their own worst case scenarios can gain nothing from it. Parents reading this book should beware: contrary to what Mary Pipher wants you to believe, your daughter probably hasn't done half of what she says all teenage young women do. After the class ended, our entire dorm proceeded to burn/rip the book, showing the general idea that young "gifted" girls have toward the work. Parents love it- "we're evil because we're kids and it's not their fault"- but like most self-help books, it should be taken with a rather large serving of salt.
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Summary: Understanding what simple words can not explain
Review: The book Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Bray Pipher, Ph.D, is one that every parent and teen should read. Not only does it attempt to explain the kind of world that girls today live in, but it gives wonderful insight and understanding into the lives and minds of adolescent girls. Reviving Ophelia confronts many issues from eating disorders, to self-abuse, to problems in relationships of all kinds. Pipher writes from an empathetic viewpoint, and throughout the book, uses examples from her own childhood as well as composite sketches of some of her clients. This book allows girls to understand their own world, when often, they can't seem to find the words to explain what they feel. And it is book that is comforting to the adolescent reader that let's her know that she is not alone.
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Summary: This is an amazing book
Review: This is such an excellent book. It truly touches the true experience of being a teenage girl.
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Summary: Depressing, enlightening, and thoroughly interesting.
Review: It's amazing to me how quickly the world can change, and that the world that adolescent girls now face is entirely different from when I faced it 10 years ago. As someone who would like to raise children, this book frightened me--the demons these girls must face that the parents must help prepare them to fight are worse than any we had to face in our teenage years. But it also gives hope, sharing many, many stories of girls who went through this most difficult time and emerged intact, as mature, interesting women. A must-read for anyone who works with these young women, or may in the future, or ever was one of them, or is simply interested in our youth and our society. Excellent book
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Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: As a 16 year-old girl, i resent Mary Pipher's portrayal of girls as victims. It seems that her objective is to get everyone to feel sorry for us poor, stupid girls. I'm sick of people telling me how unfortunate I am to be an adolescent female growing up in the 90's. Every generation has its problems,including Ms. Pipher's. She acts as if no one has ever heard of a teenage girl having problems before now. The truth is that adolescence is hard for EVERYONE, including guys. Sure, some may have a harder time than the rest, but it is silly to assume that this is the case for everyone else. Mary Pipher is just having a little pity party to remind everyone that girls are extremely delicate and should be kept in glass cases on the shelf right next to this book.
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