📖 Overview
The Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood presents relationship advice for women based on traditional gender roles and religious principles. The book outlines specific behaviors and attitudes that it claims will create harmony between husbands and wives.
The text draws from the teachings of Helen Andelin's original Fascinating Womanhood movement from the 1960s, updated by David Coory for modern readers. The book includes personal anecdotes and testimonials from women who have applied these concepts in their marriages.
Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of femininity and wifehood, with practical exercises and reflection questions for readers to complete. The material covers topics like communication, appearance, domestic duties, and spiritual development.
At its core, this book promotes a specific view of marriage where traditional gender dynamics are seen as the path to relationship fulfillment. The teachings reflect conservative social and religious values about the roles of men and women in marriage.
👀 Reviews
Readers split into two distinct camps on this relationship advice book based on Helen Andelin's original 1960s work.
Those who favor it say:
- Improved their marriages through practicing submission and femininity
- Helped them understand male psychology
- Clear, practical steps they could implement
Critics say:
- Promotes outdated gender roles and female subservience
- Advises women to act childlike and manipulative
- Places all relationship responsibility on women
- Contradicts modern equality principles
Common criticism from reviews: "Teaches women to be fake and infantile" and "Dangerous advice that keeps women trapped."
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.7/5 (127 ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings)
Top positive Amazon review: "Saved my marriage by helping me understand my husband's needs"
Top critical Amazon review: "Manipulative tactics dressed up as relationship advice. Tells women to suppress their authentic selves."
📚 Similar books
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This book presents principles for wives to build trust and intimacy in marriage through relinquishing control.
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger The text outlines methods for wives to strengthen marriages by understanding and meeting their husbands' needs.
The Total Woman by Marabel Morgan This marriage guide provides instructions for wives to enhance their relationships through traditional gender roles.
What's He Really Thinking? by Paula Rinehart The book explains male psychology and communication patterns to help women navigate relationships with men.
Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl This guide presents biblical principles for wives to support their husbands and maintain traditional marriage structures.
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger The text outlines methods for wives to strengthen marriages by understanding and meeting their husbands' needs.
The Total Woman by Marabel Morgan This marriage guide provides instructions for wives to enhance their relationships through traditional gender roles.
What's He Really Thinking? by Paula Rinehart The book explains male psychology and communication patterns to help women navigate relationships with men.
Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl This guide presents biblical principles for wives to support their husbands and maintain traditional marriage structures.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 While the book was authored by David Coory in 1986, it's based on Helen Andelin's original "Fascinating Womanhood" teachings from the 1960s.
🌸 The principles in the book have sparked both devoted following and controversy, with some crediting it for saving their marriages while others criticize its traditional gender role approach.
📚 The book outlines "Six Secrets" that include accepting a man completely, admiring his masculinity, and making him feel needed - concepts that influenced relationship advice literature for decades.
💝 David Coory wrote this version after attending Fascinating Womanhood classes with his wife in New Zealand, believing the original material needed to be more accessible to modern readers.
🌺 Despite being published in the 1980s, the book continues to sell worldwide and has been translated into multiple languages, including Chinese, Spanish, and Russian.