Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing

Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson

8 reviews

tinytrashqueen's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

Didn't condemn MLMs as much as I feel like was warranted based on the facts and her own experiences. Also didn't dive into the issues of racism and lack of diversity as I would've expected given that white supremacy is referenced in the title.

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mcsarah01's review against another edition

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sad fast-paced

2.0

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mondovertigo's review against another edition

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emotional informative lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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popsicleplease's review

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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joeyleigh14's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

I consume a lot of anti-MLM content on Youtube, and I still felt like this book had a lot to bring to the table. I think a lot of anti-MLM creators don't talk enough about the larger systemic issues that allow MLMs to succeed the way they do, and Paulson very clearly outlines what these systems are. She talks mostly about the ones that impacted her the most, such as the isolation of motherhood and desire for community, as well as being in a very comfortable financial place that allowed her to take risks financially. And how her wealthy community was an easy place to recruit, and not everyone has that. I really appreciated her connecting dots that some creators don't. That being said, some of the wider lens analysis does fall flat. But I was just thankful someone was finally saying it. It is definitely about white, middle to upper class women who join. I would love to see more things like this from different perspectives.

For how dark this topic could potentially be, I thought this was a pretty lighthearted memoir that was very enjoyable and funny to read. She's a good writer and her personality shines through.

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tinyoceankingdoms's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

I think this book would have benefited from more careful editing. It felt about 100 pages too long to me, there’s a lot of rinse and repeat (naturally), and it all becomes a bit convoluted.

What is most frustrating is where Paulson alludes to how MLMs are a symptom of larger destructive structures, but never really articulates her arguments clearly. I feel these could have been separated out into more defined sections to allow for more concise analysis, as opposed to yet another description of some gathering and coveting of studded heels mixed in with passing reference to supporting studies and research.

It also takes almost 300 pages to tackle the intersection of low information literacy and MLMs. Perhaps others have thoroughly covered this aspect, but I feel this is an enormously important issue in tackling MLMs. It seems a bit disingenuous to believe that this only becomes apparent to Paulson during the infodemic, but there is a lot of wilful dissonance throughout the book.

A lot of what attempts to be critical analysis is reminiscent of Elle Woods’ “due to… uh… habeas corpus…” moment. Just words being thrown around in attempt to confound a less informed audience (presumably her former peers).

In short, she’s strongest when she’s recounting the grift because that’s what she understands best. I would recommend it for that reason.

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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Row House Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

“This is the pretty much true, absolutely ridiculous, definitely catty story of my life in an MLM, but it's more than that. It's also about how MLMs operate, their role in the lives of suburban women across the United States, and the belief systems,

systemic racism, and white supremacy that course through their trainings, marketing, and one-on-one interactions.”

Author combines both her personal experience as a former MLM member and research/informational background on MLMs!

I was pulled in right away, I love learning about cults and MLMs (which are culty) so this was right up my alley. I enjoyed the interesting discussions on the faux feminism that MLMs typically display, the subliminal religious messaging, and their use of white feminism in upholding white supremacy and the patriarchy.

Paulson’s raw honesty in telling her story was well done and difficult to read at times. She discusses how she was part of the problem when recruiting others, her issues dealing with alcoholism, and reflecting back on her experience. I think she did a great job also discussing her place of privilege and the privilege in general of women in MLMs as they’re typically made up of white, upper-middle class, thin, and able bodied women. I was also glad to see that Paulson remains neutral when discussing MLMs because as she shows, it’s easy for anyone to be manipulated into joining and it’s not helpful to blame people that join.

Clearly well researched as well as personal which made for a fantastic balance of being informative, well-paced, and emotional! I highly recommend for anyone who’s interested in cults or learning about MLMs; any fans of the Lularich documentary will enjoy!

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enthusiasticsamantha's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative fast-paced

5.0

I was able to read early because i have an ARC of the book from being on Patreon with the publisher. Started it in the afternoon and stayed up late to finish it. So well written and insightful. So much of it was surprising to me and made me think about not only MLMs but so much of our current economic system generally.

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