The Total Woman

The Total Woman, published in 1973, is a self-help guide by Marabel Morgan that became the best-selling non-fiction book in the United States in 1974. The book, which has sold over ten million copies, presents Morgan's philosophy for married women based on evangelical Christian principles. Morgan developed her approach through Total Woman Inc., a company she founded in 1970 to conduct seminars for married women across North America. The program attracted thousands of participants, including wives of prominent athletes and celebrities, who learned Morgan's methods through structured four-session courses. The book outlines Morgan's core principles for wives: focusing on their husband's positive qualities, showing physical admiration, expressing appreciation, and embracing traditional gender roles within marriage. These concepts emerged from Morgan's personal experiences and her interpretation of Christian marriage values. The text stands as a significant cultural artifact of 1970s America, reflecting period tensions between traditional marriage models and emerging feminist ideologies.

Readers view this 1970s marriage advice book as a historical artifact that reflects attitudes of its era. Many found it unintentionally humorous by today's standards. What readers liked: - Practical tips for showing appreciation to spouses - Focus on positivity and gratitude in marriage - Clear, straightforward writing style - Value as a cultural time capsule What readers disliked: - Outdated gender roles and submission ideology - Emphasis on wife changing herself vs mutual effort - Repetitive content and simplistic solutions - Religious overtones feeling preachy From reviews: "Like reading something from an alternate universe" - Goodreads reviewer "The gift-wrapping yourself in saran wrap advice is hilarious" - Amazon reviewer "Manipulative tactics masked as marriage advice" - Goodreads reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 2.8/5 (184 ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (31 ratings) LibraryThing: 2.5/5 (22 ratings)

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🔹 The Total Woman became a massive bestseller, selling over 10 million copies and ranking as the bestselling nonfiction book of 1974 🔹 Morgan's controversial "Meet him at the door wearing Saran Wrap" advice became a cultural touchstone and was frequently parodied in popular media 🔹 The author started her marriage seminars after her own marriage nearly ended in divorce, turning her personal experience into a nationwide movement 🔹 The book sparked intense debate during the height of the feminist movement, with Betty Friedan specifically criticizing it as promoting female subservience 🔹 Despite having no formal counseling credentials, Morgan influenced an entire genre of Christian marriage literature and relationship advice books that followed