Crazy Salad: Some Things About Women

Crazy Salad: Some Things About Women is a collection of essays by journalist Nora Ephron, originally published in 1975. The essays were written during the height of the women's movement in the early 1970s, first appearing in Esquire magazine. The collection covers topics ranging from feminist politics and media representation to beauty standards and women's health. Ephron writes about figures like Dorothy Parker, Betty Friedan, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, mixing reporting with personal observations. Through a blend of journalism and memoir, Ephron examines the cultural shifts happening during the women's liberation movement of the 1970s. The book includes coverage of events like the National Women's Political Caucus and discussions of products marketed to women. The essays remain relevant decades later as an examination of gender roles, power dynamics, and social change in America. Ephron's signature wit serves to illuminate serious subjects while making broader observations about society's treatment of women.

Readers appreciate Ephron's sharp wit and candid commentary on women's issues from the 1970s that remain relevant today. Many note her ability to balance humor with serious topics, particularly in essays about the women's movement and feminist politics. Readers highlight the essays "A Few Words About Breasts" and her coverage of the National Women's Political Caucus as standouts. Multiple reviews mention her clear-eyed reporting style that avoids preaching or melodrama. Common criticisms include dated cultural references that require context for modern readers. Some find certain essays too focused on upper-middle-class New York perspectives. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (190+ ratings) "Her observations are just as true now as they were then" - Goodreads reviewer "Some essays feel like time capsules, others could have been written yesterday" - Amazon review "The feminist movement parts feel stuck in their era" - LibraryThing review

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🔷 Crazy Salad, published in 1975, collects essays originally written for Esquire magazine, where Ephron was one of the few female columnists during the height of the women's movement. 🔷 Nora Ephron wrote the book while working as a journalist, years before becoming the acclaimed screenwriter of romantic comedies like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle." 🔷 The book's title comes from a line in Yeats' poem "A Prayer for My Daughter": "In the old days, men made the rules / When all the wild summer was in the juice / And the juice was in the wild salad grown." 🔷 Among the book's most famous essays is "A Few Words About Breasts," a candid and humorous piece about body image that became one of Ephron's signature works. 🔷 The collection includes coverage of significant feminist events of the 1970s, including the Women's Action Alliance meeting and the National Women's Political Caucus, providing valuable historical documentation of the era's women's movement.