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The Optimized Woman: Using Your Menstrual Cycle to Achieve Success and Fulfillment by Miranda Gray
sammcdougall's review against another edition
3.0
Great context to better understand how our motivation, physical energy, emotional energy and productivity changes throughout our menstrual cycle and how we can utilise this information.
I particularly liked the section “what men need to know” which summarises all the main points in one place. If you’ve got a willing partner to read it, it gives helpful tips for how they can get the most out of the relationship depending on what optimum time they are in.
I particularly liked the section “what men need to know” which summarises all the main points in one place. If you’ve got a willing partner to read it, it gives helpful tips for how they can get the most out of the relationship depending on what optimum time they are in.
jess_the_bookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
If you have a period, or know anyone that has a period, you should probably read this
bookfairy99's review against another edition
3.0
I'm very much a "Type A" personality. I like charts and lists, and nothing makes me happier than getting to put a checkmark in a box. Therefore, my favourite part of this book was definitely the daily plan; the day-by-day breakdown of how best to utilize the hormonal energy of a particular cycle day to get the most out of productivity, goal achievement, and personal growth. I also really liked the description of creating a Cycle Dial. Again, I appreciated the cohesive look at a month's worth of insight in one place.
What I thought less successful was the explanation of each phase. I found those chapters dry and difficult to follow. I've read other books on the subject that were much better organized, more insightful and offered a more accessible look into why the cycle is so impactful. (4 Seasons in 4 Weeks is my favorite to date.) It could be that I already knew enough on the topic of working with my cycle to glaze over the explanations and impatiently want to get to the good stuff - which, for me, was the plan itself.
What I thought less successful was the explanation of each phase. I found those chapters dry and difficult to follow. I've read other books on the subject that were much better organized, more insightful and offered a more accessible look into why the cycle is so impactful. (4 Seasons in 4 Weeks is my favorite to date.) It could be that I already knew enough on the topic of working with my cycle to glaze over the explanations and impatiently want to get to the good stuff - which, for me, was the plan itself.
rika_5599's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
millamoi's review against another edition
4.0
This book is my new best friend. It has the best advice and words of encouragement to give, no matter what time of month it is.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
3.0
This book gave me some great ideas about how to deal with my cycle, allowing myself the rest I need sometimes, and taking advantage of the energy I feel at other times. I loved how there are many specific things to look for, and specific ideas to try.
I wish that there had been more of a biological explanation though, showing how the change of each hormone triggers changes in our organs, appetites, and physical attributes. It would have been nice to see how the body chemistry is changing through the cycle, and how that affects different areas of mood, energy, ability, and concentration. I felt like an entire side of the subject was left blank.
I love how positive this book is! It really encouraged me to think differently about my cycle, and to celebrate and embrace the changes my cycle brings.
I love that there are charts to fill out and lists of things to look for. This will definitely help in planning out the months to fit my abilities during each phase.
I wish that there had been more of a biological explanation though, showing how the change of each hormone triggers changes in our organs, appetites, and physical attributes. It would have been nice to see how the body chemistry is changing through the cycle, and how that affects different areas of mood, energy, ability, and concentration. I felt like an entire side of the subject was left blank.
I love how positive this book is! It really encouraged me to think differently about my cycle, and to celebrate and embrace the changes my cycle brings.
I love that there are charts to fill out and lists of things to look for. This will definitely help in planning out the months to fit my abilities during each phase.
christik's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
4.5
A must-read for every woman! And there’s even a handy last chapter with a quick summary for the men that want to understand us better :) It might even be enough to read just that or at least if you’re not sure, try it as a sample and see if you wanna know more..
It has it's flaws, there is a lot of repetition which can be helpful to remember and the introduction could have been cut shorter... Maybe my rating is too generous but I will stand by it as to me it represents how important the topic is and I wish more people would know!
It has it's flaws, there is a lot of repetition which can be helpful to remember and the introduction could have been cut shorter... Maybe my rating is too generous but I will stand by it as to me it represents how important the topic is and I wish more people would know!
natalia64's review against another edition
3.0
Creo que es un buen libro para empezar y conocer las bases espirituales (como arquetipos, fases, diagramas lugares). Me parece que aporta buenas cosas en ese sentido, pero en algunos momentos tiene un discurso muy de autoayuda/consejo que no me termina de cerrar. A lo largo de la lectura, la autora ofrece una serie de visualizaciones/ meditaciones, hay que tener cuidado con esto porque algunas son muy new age(se re van de mambo). Miranda incurre en algunas contradicciones, tal vez propias de su contexto histórico, pero si bien reivindica una visión feminista, muchas veces termina cayendo en los mismos esquemas y roles patriarcales que la sociedad nos ha asignado como femineidades. Otra cosa producto también del momento en que se escribió: es binarista y súper hetero.
En conclusión, aporta una mirada espiritual interesante sobre el ciclo menstrual y da unas puntas copadas para pensar, pero hay que tomarlo con pinzas y examinar. Estaría bueno que haya una reversión de esto ayornado a la actualidad, tomando algunos de los conocimientos espirituales pero con una mirada más amplia y mucho más integral de la salud/conciencia menstrual.
En conclusión, aporta una mirada espiritual interesante sobre el ciclo menstrual y da unas puntas copadas para pensar, pero hay que tomarlo con pinzas y examinar. Estaría bueno que haya una reversión de esto ayornado a la actualidad, tomando algunos de los conocimientos espirituales pero con una mirada más amplia y mucho más integral de la salud/conciencia menstrual.
ecooper99's review against another edition
3.0
I'm very much a "Type A" personality. I like charts and lists, and nothing makes me happier than getting to put a checkmark in a box. Therefore, my favourite part of this book was definitely the daily plan; the day-by-day breakdown of how best to utilize the hormonal energy of a particular cycle day to get the most out of productivity, goal achievement, and personal growth. I also really liked the description of creating a Cycle Dial. Again, I appreciated the cohesive look at a month's worth of insight in one place.
What I thought less successful was the explanation of each phase. I found those chapters dry and difficult to follow. I've read other books on the subject that were much better organized, more insightful and offered a more accessible look into why the cycle is so impactful. (4 Seasons in 4 Weeks is my favorite to date.) It could be that I already knew enough on the topic of working with my cycle to glaze over the explanations and impatiently want to get to the good stuff - which, for me, was the plan itself.
What I thought less successful was the explanation of each phase. I found those chapters dry and difficult to follow. I've read other books on the subject that were much better organized, more insightful and offered a more accessible look into why the cycle is so impactful. (4 Seasons in 4 Weeks is my favorite to date.) It could be that I already knew enough on the topic of working with my cycle to glaze over the explanations and impatiently want to get to the good stuff - which, for me, was the plan itself.
bookdragona's review against another edition
4.0
Me gustó mucho. Te da que pensar, y mucho que explorar e investigar. Es una forma muy bonita de abrirte las puertas para amigarte más con tu naturaleza interior y es un buen inicio para familiarizarte con todo el tema espiritual.
Hay que admitir que es muy occidental y reiterativo, pero lo último no me pareció molesto en absoluto. En especial me gustó el análisis de los cuentos y leyendas antiguas en relación con las cuatro fases de la luna y la menstruación.
Hay que admitir que es muy occidental y reiterativo, pero lo último no me pareció molesto en absoluto. En especial me gustó el análisis de los cuentos y leyendas antiguas en relación con las cuatro fases de la luna y la menstruación.