The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets

Whatever mood I am in, however much time I have to spare, I dip into this book and always come away feeling changed by the experience. Although some reviews suggest that it is pro-women and a feminist text I would disagree - I think that it expresses also how men too have suffered in terms of identity over the past 2000 years. If anything I would say that it is anti the Roman church - something which anyone who knows a lot about this history of the church would have to agree with.

It really is the perfect book for anyone with an interest in history, religion, mythology, feminism and symbolism. If I became enormously rich I would make sure that a copy of THIS BOOK were in every hotel room around the world! I believe that the secrets which this book tells should be taught in schools and brought to the attention of everyone.

I know this seems overly emphatic but I just cannot express eloquently enough the importance and enormity of this wonderful book.


An absolute requirement   August 29, 2004
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

It's been almost 20 years since I first read Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets and I still frequently take it down from my bookshelf. Unapologetically female-biased, it's a must -read for feminists, mythologists and lovers of history. You could say it's an absolute requirement for all women.

This big book holds an incredible amount of information about myths, symbols, womens' role in ancient cultures, origins of common words and customs, fairy tales, gods, goddesses, beliefs and religious motifs. It is, after all, an encyclopedia


The goddess in you   August 15, 2003
 14 out of 14 found this review helpful

It is very interesting to read if you treat it as a fiction of the past, but it is a very rich and useful reference to have for understanding the goddess in you!! It is not about the Ultimate feminist view and power, it is about being who you are and how to perceive that for yourself through the different aspects of the 'Goddess' in the different cultures, if you choose to(which I do!). The myths are fascinating, the secrets make a kind of sense that you maybe suprised by how accurate it is applicable for day to day lives nowadays!! It is about understanding the feminine self that is inside you - this is a book that I recommend to both male and female readers, if they are interested!
P.S. It goes really well with the encyclopaedia about Sacred objects and symbols, too.