What is the meantime? According to author and inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant, being in the "meantime" means being in a state of limbo. "When you are not happy where you are and you are not quite sure if you want to leave or how to leave, you are in the meantime", she explains. Rather than wallow in confusion, Vanzant encourages you to use the meantime as an opportunity to prepare yourself for true love. The first order of business is to clean house, starting with the basement--the place in the psyche where you store your most destructive thoughts. Room by room, Vanzant takes you through a metaphorical cleaning of the soul. This way, when your meantime days are over and love finally comes knocking on the front door, you'll have a clean house to welcome love into. --Christine Buttery

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

closer to the Goddess, 26 Jul 2006
my literature teacher recommended me this, knowing my inquisitiveness toward anything pagan, pro feminist and historical. i found that this book has helped me on the path of Goddess worship and has left a bitter taste in my mouth toward the Roman Church. i recommend this for ALL woman of any religion because this encyclopedia brings to light the truths that were never included in his-story and that which should be included in her-story! I simply cannot express how essential this book is for anybody who is interested in the Goddess or is already on the path of worship.

the best book I have ever bought, 29 Apr 2005
Given that I am the daughter of a librarian (and hence love books and buy far too many) my title may communicate the love I feel for this book. I also work as a tour guide in Rome and so have read countless books on paganism, christianity and both ancient and Renaissance history, but none have touched me in the way that this book has.

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, 29 Aug 2004
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, 15 Aug 2003
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.

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

closer to the Goddess, 26 Jul 2006
my literature teacher recommended me this, knowing my inquisitiveness toward anything pagan, pro feminist and historical. i found that this book has helped me on the path of Goddess worship and has left a bitter taste in my mouth toward the Roman Church. i recommend this for ALL woman of any religion because this encyclopedia brings to light the truths that were never included in his-story and that which should be included in her-story! I simply cannot express how essential this book is for anybody who is interested in the Goddess or is already on the path of worship.

the best book I have ever bought, 29 Apr 2005
Given that I am the daughter of a librarian (and hence love books and buy far too many) my title may communicate the love I feel for this book. I also work as a tour guide in Rome and so have read countless books on paganism, christianity and both ancient and Renaissance history, but none have touched me in the way that this book has.

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, 29 Aug 2004
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, 15 Aug 2003
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.

This is a very important book against Religious dogmatism and Male Chauvinism., 09 Sep 2006
I bought one for my self, and promptly ordered one for my daughter.
All women should read it as a boost against the Male God presiding over us all in both Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the exclusion of any Goddess Female influence what so ever.

This is not a work of great sophistication, but it is an honest book written by a female who was clearly shocked about what most of the world seems to have missed, namely the fact that God was not alwas a Man, "God" was once a woman.

The primary religions of the West have supressed the Goddess idea and dominated our traditions with the Male God concept.

What is worse - The teatching in our schools has hidden the fact that religions have not always been dominated by a Male God - The earliest religions have clearly been domintated by a Female, Birthgiving Goddess.

Females were equal or superior to the Male in most of the earlier religions. A religious war against the female sex as a dominating force in early Judaism, corrupted Judaism and their ancient scriptures and Christianity and Islam quickly followed that particular idear that the force dominating us from above was and is Male.

The Keltic idear of Male and Female equality in Europe, was supressed and sexicide of the cruellest order ever - took place during the time of the inquisiton in Spain which spread like a malign mass psycosis over Europe and USA, and even into Africa and Arabia. Only India kept their female goddesses and goddess worship although their supremacy were deminished and the Male godds grew in importance.

We should know that the Male God idear has demished the worth of the female sex. It is time that we took up the struggle for equality also on the religious level and rejected the idea that a Male God presides over us all and no Female sits beside him and shares the status he has claimed for himself through the Male oriented religons, and male priests, all over the world.

The devine energies clearly demonstrates itself in both female and male energies. The old fashioned idea of a Male God above us and his male profets or sons or whatever religious dogma tries to state that God is male and his profet or Son is also a male - Must give way to sound thinking some time in the future and the time should be now.

This very important book clearly challenges the old concept of a Male with lots of good research into our Goddess dominated religions and also hints at how the concept of Eve and the snake was fabricated aginst the Snake/Fertility Goddesses of ancient times.

It is written for everybody who can read, and it will contain news for most of us, what ever level of sophistication we think we belong to.

It's about time we heard the 'Rest of the Story', 03 Jun 2003
My wife and I were raised in a strict bible upbringing, and it was my wife who kept insisting life was not fair as a woman. I had no problem of course, as men enjoy automatic supremecy in church with the bible backing you up to silence and supress women. I am what they call a backslider now, and this book affirms what my wife has suspected for a long time. Other religions share the man is central theme, and I loved reading what was always there but not completely destroyed by invaders. I look forward to learning more truth about what really happened

There was history before the Bible?, 27 Aug 1999
In light of the recent decision by the board of education in Kansas, I now know that we truly live in a society of ignorance. The historical evidence presented in this book is well-researched and I don't feel as though any is taken out of context. I can see why Christians and Jews would take offense to this book because it threatens their supposed one true god. Stone goes point by point taking apart the origin of their religion through the destruction of what had existed as a belief system for eons. Could something had existed before Adam & Eve? Perish the thought! I feel closer to the Goddess now and how things used to be thousands of years ago than I ever did in 10 years of Luthern Sunday School and confirmation class. As for the state of Kansas, I pity the students for they will make ignorant adults when evolution ceases to be taught. Its just another example of "accidental or intentional censorship" of ideas outside of Christian thought. I am truly disgusted with those who are in positions of power nowadays. It is so reminiscent of those long ago patriarchal invaders who propagate their own opinions by making people think its how "its always been."

Ladies & Gentlemen, Here are the facts on the ground!, 19 Aug 1999
For years I have read the Bible and wondered, "Yes, but what does the archeological evidence say? What did the neighbors say in their writings? Where's the corroborating evidence? After all, these are real places and real people. They had to leave real traces behind." Well, it turns out they did. And what those traces say doesn't not agree with what fundamentalists teach about the Bible, but it does agree with common sense and basic human psychology. A first-rate book, and a gift to our understanding of the Old Testament.

important foundation for women's spirituality, 18 May 1999
So many scholarly types chalk this book up to feminism which is unfair. This book set the tone for many to come, and the reason this particular book is important is that it is based in actual archaeology. Granted, some of the authors who come after Merlin Stone take this book way too far (e.g. Starhawk), but this should be required reading for prehistory students at the college level, along with all the Marxist interpretations of various prehistorical sites known to exist. Very readable and scrupulously researched.

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

closer to the Goddess, 26 Jul 2006
my literature teacher recommended me this, knowing my inquisitiveness toward anything pagan, pro feminist and historical. i found that this book has helped me on the path of Goddess worship and has left a bitter taste in my mouth toward the Roman Church. i recommend this for ALL woman of any religion because this encyclopedia brings to light the truths that were never included in his-story and that which should be included in her-story! I simply cannot express how essential this book is for anybody who is interested in the Goddess or is already on the path of worship.

the best book I have ever bought, 29 Apr 2005
Given that I am the daughter of a librarian (and hence love books and buy far too many) my title may communicate the love I feel for this book. I also work as a tour guide in Rome and so have read countless books on paganism, christianity and both ancient and Renaissance history, but none have touched me in the way that this book has.

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, 29 Aug 2004
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, 15 Aug 2003
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.

This is a very important book against Religious dogmatism and Male Chauvinism., 09 Sep 2006
I bought one for my self, and promptly ordered one for my daughter.
All women should read it as a boost against the Male God presiding over us all in both Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the exclusion of any Goddess Female influence what so ever.

This is not a work of great sophistication, but it is an honest book written by a female who was clearly shocked about what most of the world seems to have missed, namely the fact that God was not alwas a Man, "God" was once a woman.

The primary religions of the West have supressed the Goddess idea and dominated our traditions with the Male God concept.

What is worse - The teatching in our schools has hidden the fact that religions have not always been dominated by a Male God - The earliest religions have clearly been domintated by a Female, Birthgiving Goddess.

Females were equal or superior to the Male in most of the earlier religions. A religious war against the female sex as a dominating force in early Judaism, corrupted Judaism and their ancient scriptures and Christianity and Islam quickly followed that particular idear that the force dominating us from above was and is Male.

The Keltic idear of Male and Female equality in Europe, was supressed and sexicide of the cruellest order ever - took place during the time of the inquisiton in Spain which spread like a malign mass psycosis over Europe and USA, and even into Africa and Arabia. Only India kept their female goddesses and goddess worship although their supremacy were deminished and the Male godds grew in importance.

We should know that the Male God idear has demished the worth of the female sex. It is time that we took up the struggle for equality also on the religious level and rejected the idea that a Male God presides over us all and no Female sits beside him and shares the status he has claimed for himself through the Male oriented religons, and male priests, all over the world.

The devine energies clearly demonstrates itself in both female and male energies. The old fashioned idea of a Male God above us and his male profets or sons or whatever religious dogma tries to state that God is male and his profet or Son is also a male - Must give way to sound thinking some time in the future and the time should be now.

This very important book clearly challenges the old concept of a Male with lots of good research into our Goddess dominated religions and also hints at how the concept of Eve and the snake was fabricated aginst the Snake/Fertility Goddesses of ancient times.

It is written for everybody who can read, and it will contain news for most of us, what ever level of sophistication we think we belong to.

It's about time we heard the 'Rest of the Story', 03 Jun 2003
My wife and I were raised in a strict bible upbringing, and it was my wife who kept insisting life was not fair as a woman. I had no problem of course, as men enjoy automatic supremecy in church with the bible backing you up to silence and supress women. I am what they call a backslider now, and this book affirms what my wife has suspected for a long time. Other religions share the man is central theme, and I loved reading what was always there but not completely destroyed by invaders. I look forward to learning more truth about what really happened

There was history before the Bible?, 27 Aug 1999
In light of the recent decision by the board of education in Kansas, I now know that we truly live in a society of ignorance. The historical evidence presented in this book is well-researched and I don't feel as though any is taken out of context. I can see why Christians and Jews would take offense to this book because it threatens their supposed one true god. Stone goes point by point taking apart the origin of their religion through the destruction of what had existed as a belief system for eons. Could something had existed before Adam & Eve? Perish the thought! I feel closer to the Goddess now and how things used to be thousands of years ago than I ever did in 10 years of Luthern Sunday School and confirmation class. As for the state of Kansas, I pity the students for they will make ignorant adults when evolution ceases to be taught. Its just another example of "accidental or intentional censorship" of ideas outside of Christian thought. I am truly disgusted with those who are in positions of power nowadays. It is so reminiscent of those long ago patriarchal invaders who propagate their own opinions by making people think its how "its always been."

Ladies & Gentlemen, Here are the facts on the ground!, 19 Aug 1999
For years I have read the Bible and wondered, "Yes, but what does the archeological evidence say? What did the neighbors say in their writings? Where's the corroborating evidence? After all, these are real places and real people. They had to leave real traces behind." Well, it turns out they did. And what those traces say doesn't not agree with what fundamentalists teach about the Bible, but it does agree with common sense and basic human psychology. A first-rate book, and a gift to our understanding of the Old Testament.

important foundation for women's spirituality, 18 May 1999
So many scholarly types chalk this book up to feminism which is unfair. This book set the tone for many to come, and the reason this particular book is important is that it is based in actual archaeology. Granted, some of the authors who come after Merlin Stone take this book way too far (e.g. Starhawk), but this should be required reading for prehistory students at the college level, along with all the Marxist interpretations of various prehistorical sites known to exist. Very readable and scrupulously researched.

Brilliant Work, Making Bible Study so Interesting to Do, 07 Feb 2004
I have read the Indonesian translated version of this book. Liz is really a brilliant writer. The way she describes and translates the situations in Bible time into our today’s world is really brilliant. You can imagine and feel what the women in the Bible time experience, understand their feelings, their thoughts, the background of their decisions, and you can see that these women real life experiences are still related in women lives today. We enter every chapter with fictionlike story, to have clearer picture of what happened with these women in the Bible. The fictions are also very interesting and well written, that you will hardly put this book down before you finish reading it.
This book is a refreshing new way to learn from the Bible. The teachings and studies are deep, Liz is really mastering the topic of Bible study that she wrote. We will also find out sides and facts that we did not know or think of before. It is so interesting to find out that we all have these dark sides of our character, just like these bad girls from the Bible. Sometimes as newborn Christians we thought that we are growing well spiritually that we miss the facts that we still have certain points in our character that need to improved to become more Christlike. But this book is not aim to condemn you, or pointing your lack or mistakes, this book is aim to encouraged you to go on and become woman or man that God has designed you to be. As Liz named herself an Encourager, this book is an encouragement for us, that eventhough we are not perfect we could still be used by God, if we repent and let Him work through us. One of the example is the story of Rahab, a prostitute who God’s use to help Isralites to conquere Jerikho.
This book is so interesting to read, even for ones who was new to Christianity or to Bible study, it is so well written that you will find yourself captured to read the book until the end.

A book for Everywoman to take to heart!, 28 Jul 1999
Bad Girls certainly can teach us much! This book is a wonderful vehicle for bible study groups and the depth of Liz's research is astounding! The contemporary stories are a magnetic pull, putting the reader right into the situation. How could a serious student of the Bible not be intrigued? Liz's excellent questions at the ends of the chapters really make you think, too.

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

closer to the Goddess, 26 Jul 2006
my literature teacher recommended me this, knowing my inquisitiveness toward anything pagan, pro feminist and historical. i found that this book has helped me on the path of Goddess worship and has left a bitter taste in my mouth toward the Roman Church. i recommend this for ALL woman of any religion because this encyclopedia brings to light the truths that were never included in his-story and that which should be included in her-story! I simply cannot express how essential this book is for anybody who is interested in the Goddess or is already on the path of worship.

the best book I have ever bought, 29 Apr 2005
Given that I am the daughter of a librarian (and hence love books and buy far too many) my title may communicate the love I feel for this book. I also work as a tour guide in Rome and so have read countless books on paganism, christianity and both ancient and Renaissance history, but none have touched me in the way that this book has.

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, 29 Aug 2004
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, 15 Aug 2003
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.

This is a very important book against Religious dogmatism and Male Chauvinism., 09 Sep 2006
I bought one for my self, and promptly ordered one for my daughter.
All women should read it as a boost against the Male God presiding over us all in both Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the exclusion of any Goddess Female influence what so ever.

This is not a work of great sophistication, but it is an honest book written by a female who was clearly shocked about what most of the world seems to have missed, namely the fact that God was not alwas a Man, "God" was once a woman.

The primary religions of the West have supressed the Goddess idea and dominated our traditions with the Male God concept.

What is worse - The teatching in our schools has hidden the fact that religions have not always been dominated by a Male God - The earliest religions have clearly been domintated by a Female, Birthgiving Goddess.

Females were equal or superior to the Male in most of the earlier religions. A religious war against the female sex as a dominating force in early Judaism, corrupted Judaism and their ancient scriptures and Christianity and Islam quickly followed that particular idear that the force dominating us from above was and is Male.

The Keltic idear of Male and Female equality in Europe, was supressed and sexicide of the cruellest order ever - took place during the time of the inquisiton in Spain which spread like a malign mass psycosis over Europe and USA, and even into Africa and Arabia. Only India kept their female goddesses and goddess worship although their supremacy were deminished and the Male godds grew in importance.

We should know that the Male God idear has demished the worth of the female sex. It is time that we took up the struggle for equality also on the religious level and rejected the idea that a Male God presides over us all and no Female sits beside him and shares the status he has claimed for himself through the Male oriented religons, and male priests, all over the world.

The devine energies clearly demonstrates itself in both female and male energies. The old fashioned idea of a Male God above us and his male profets or sons or whatever religious dogma tries to state that God is male and his profet or Son is also a male - Must give way to sound thinking some time in the future and the time should be now.

This very important book clearly challenges the old concept of a Male with lots of good research into our Goddess dominated religions and also hints at how the concept of Eve and the snake was fabricated aginst the Snake/Fertility Goddesses of ancient times.

It is written for everybody who can read, and it will contain news for most of us, what ever level of sophistication we think we belong to.

It's about time we heard the 'Rest of the Story', 03 Jun 2003
My wife and I were raised in a strict bible upbringing, and it was my wife who kept insisting life was not fair as a woman. I had no problem of course, as men enjoy automatic supremecy in church with the bible backing you up to silence and supress women. I am what they call a backslider now, and this book affirms what my wife has suspected for a long time. Other religions share the man is central theme, and I loved reading what was always there but not completely destroyed by invaders. I look forward to learning more truth about what really happened

There was history before the Bible?, 27 Aug 1999
In light of the recent decision by the board of education in Kansas, I now know that we truly live in a society of ignorance. The historical evidence presented in this book is well-researched and I don't feel as though any is taken out of context. I can see why Christians and Jews would take offense to this book because it threatens their supposed one true god. Stone goes point by point taking apart the origin of their religion through the destruction of what had existed as a belief system for eons. Could something had existed before Adam & Eve? Perish the thought! I feel closer to the Goddess now and how things used to be thousands of years ago than I ever did in 10 years of Luthern Sunday School and confirmation class. As for the state of Kansas, I pity the students for they will make ignorant adults when evolution ceases to be taught. Its just another example of "accidental or intentional censorship" of ideas outside of Christian thought. I am truly disgusted with those who are in positions of power nowadays. It is so reminiscent of those long ago patriarchal invaders who propagate their own opinions by making people think its how "its always been."

Ladies & Gentlemen, Here are the facts on the ground!, 19 Aug 1999
For years I have read the Bible and wondered, "Yes, but what does the archeological evidence say? What did the neighbors say in their writings? Where's the corroborating evidence? After all, these are real places and real people. They had to leave real traces behind." Well, it turns out they did. And what those traces say doesn't not agree with what fundamentalists teach about the Bible, but it does agree with common sense and basic human psychology. A first-rate book, and a gift to our understanding of the Old Testament.

important foundation for women's spirituality, 18 May 1999
So many scholarly types chalk this book up to feminism which is unfair. This book set the tone for many to come, and the reason this particular book is important is that it is based in actual archaeology. Granted, some of the authors who come after Merlin Stone take this book way too far (e.g. Starhawk), but this should be required reading for prehistory students at the college level, along with all the Marxist interpretations of various prehistorical sites known to exist. Very readable and scrupulously researched.

Brilliant Work, Making Bible Study so Interesting to Do, 07 Feb 2004
I have read the Indonesian translated version of this book. Liz is really a brilliant writer. The way she describes and translates the situations in Bible time into our today’s world is really brilliant. You can imagine and feel what the women in the Bible time experience, understand their feelings, their thoughts, the background of their decisions, and you can see that these women real life experiences are still related in women lives today. We enter every chapter with fictionlike story, to have clearer picture of what happened with these women in the Bible. The fictions are also very interesting and well written, that you will hardly put this book down before you finish reading it.
This book is a refreshing new way to learn from the Bible. The teachings and studies are deep, Liz is really mastering the topic of Bible study that she wrote. We will also find out sides and facts that we did not know or think of before. It is so interesting to find out that we all have these dark sides of our character, just like these bad girls from the Bible. Sometimes as newborn Christians we thought that we are growing well spiritually that we miss the facts that we still have certain points in our character that need to improved to become more Christlike. But this book is not aim to condemn you, or pointing your lack or mistakes, this book is aim to encouraged you to go on and become woman or man that God has designed you to be. As Liz named herself an Encourager, this book is an encouragement for us, that eventhough we are not perfect we could still be used by God, if we repent and let Him work through us. One of the example is the story of Rahab, a prostitute who God’s use to help Isralites to conquere Jerikho.
This book is so interesting to read, even for ones who was new to Christianity or to Bible study, it is so well written that you will find yourself captured to read the book until the end.

A book for Everywoman to take to heart!, 28 Jul 1999
Bad Girls certainly can teach us much! This book is a wonderful vehicle for bible study groups and the depth of Liz's research is astounding! The contemporary stories are a magnetic pull, putting the reader right into the situation. How could a serious student of the Bible not be intrigued? Liz's excellent questions at the ends of the chapters really make you think, too.

deep research/deep insight, 17 Oct 1998
Barbara G. Walker has brought her incredible fund of scholarship to our astounded attention once more. Exploring ancient writings, making connections, illuminating our ancient past and current woes, the author has created a masterful work that explains so many, many things. This is a must read for everyone, and a work that will be cherished by thinking women over 40, yet men probably need to read this book more than women do... The linguistic revelations are especially striking.

It all comes together in The Crone. But be warned, don't read this book unless you're willing to be intellectually challenged vis a vis religion, language, anthropology, and feminism.

An excellent, insightful book which spans the ages of woman, 26 Sep 1998
Don't let the title dissuade you. This wonderful book is not only about older women who have reached the age of wisdom, it is about all women, across all generational boundaries. Many books of the feminist / spiritual genre provide an adequate context for the Goddess, but Walker's book truly gave me an entirely new way to look at my mothers, my friends, and myself. But most wonderfully, Walker provided me with a context for understanding the incomprehensible -- namely the senseless malice projected by so many men, onto the women they purportedly love. This book gave me comfort, nourishment, and relit the fire in my belly. I cannot recommend it too highly.

Courageous book about Women, 09 Apr 1998
It seems that the males who discriminate against women simply because they are older, more mature, and better able to cope with life are actually just sexist bigots. While older women have traditionially been considered sources of wisdom (including knowledge of sexuality), males have tried to usurp this traditional status with sexism, cowardice, and deceit. It is a relief to find so good a book on the subject. As feminists everywhere question, implicate, and overthrow the white male patriarchal agenda of hatred, older women will be able to regain their proper status as matriarchs.

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

closer to the Goddess, 26 Jul 2006
my literature teacher recommended me this, knowing my inquisitiveness toward anything pagan, pro feminist and historical. i found that this book has helped me on the path of Goddess worship and has left a bitter taste in my mouth toward the Roman Church. i recommend this for ALL woman of any religion because this encyclopedia brings to light the truths that were never included in his-story and that which should be included in her-story! I simply cannot express how essential this book is for anybody who is interested in the Goddess or is already on the path of worship.

the best book I have ever bought, 29 Apr 2005
Given that I am the daughter of a librarian (and hence love books and buy far too many) my title may communicate the love I feel for this book. I also work as a tour guide in Rome and so have read countless books on paganism, christianity and both ancient and Renaissance history, but none have touched me in the way that this book has.

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, 29 Aug 2004
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, 15 Aug 2003
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.

This is a very important book against Religious dogmatism and Male Chauvinism., 09 Sep 2006
I bought one for my self, and promptly ordered one for my daughter.
All women should read it as a boost against the Male God presiding over us all in both Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the exclusion of any Goddess Female influence what so ever.

This is not a work of great sophistication, but it is an honest book written by a female who was clearly shocked about what most of the world seems to have missed, namely the fact that God was not alwas a Man, "God" was once a woman.

The primary religions of the West have supressed the Goddess idea and dominated our traditions with the Male God concept.

What is worse - The teatching in our schools has hidden the fact that religions have not always been dominated by a Male God - The earliest religions have clearly been domintated by a Female, Birthgiving Goddess.

Females were equal or superior to the Male in most of the earlier religions. A religious war against the female sex as a dominating force in early Judaism, corrupted Judaism and their ancient scriptures and Christianity and Islam quickly followed that particular idear that the force dominating us from above was and is Male.

The Keltic idear of Male and Female equality in Europe, was supressed and sexicide of the cruellest order ever - took place during the time of the inquisiton in Spain which spread like a malign mass psycosis over Europe and USA, and even into Africa and Arabia. Only India kept their female goddesses and goddess worship although their supremacy were deminished and the Male godds grew in importance.

We should know that the Male God idear has demished the worth of the female sex. It is time that we took up the struggle for equality also on the religious level and rejected the idea that a Male God presides over us all and no Female sits beside him and shares the status he has claimed for himself through the Male oriented religons, and male priests, all over the world.

The devine energies clearly demonstrates itself in both female and male energies. The old fashioned idea of a Male God above us and his male profets or sons or whatever religious dogma tries to state that God is male and his profet or Son is also a male - Must give way to sound thinking some time in the future and the time should be now.

This very important book clearly challenges the old concept of a Male with lots of good research into our Goddess dominated religions and also hints at how the concept of Eve and the snake was fabricated aginst the Snake/Fertility Goddesses of ancient times.

It is written for everybody who can read, and it will contain news for most of us, what ever level of sophistication we think we belong to.

It's about time we heard the 'Rest of the Story', 03 Jun 2003
My wife and I were raised in a strict bible upbringing, and it was my wife who kept insisting life was not fair as a woman. I had no problem of course, as men enjoy automatic supremecy in church with the bible backing you up to silence and supress women. I am what they call a backslider now, and this book affirms what my wife has suspected for a long time. Other religions share the man is central theme, and I loved reading what was always there but not completely destroyed by invaders. I look forward to learning more truth about what really happened

There was history before the Bible?, 27 Aug 1999
In light of the recent decision by the board of education in Kansas, I now know that we truly live in a society of ignorance. The historical evidence presented in this book is well-researched and I don't feel as though any is taken out of context. I can see why Christians and Jews would take offense to this book because it threatens their supposed one true god. Stone goes point by point taking apart the origin of their religion through the destruction of what had existed as a belief system for eons. Could something had existed before Adam & Eve? Perish the thought! I feel closer to the Goddess now and how things used to be thousands of years ago than I ever did in 10 years of Luthern Sunday School and confirmation class. As for the state of Kansas, I pity the students for they will make ignorant adults when evolution ceases to be taught. Its just another example of "accidental or intentional censorship" of ideas outside of Christian thought. I am truly disgusted with those who are in positions of power nowadays. It is so reminiscent of those long ago patriarchal invaders who propagate their own opinions by making people think its how "its always been."

Ladies & Gentlemen, Here are the facts on the ground!, 19 Aug 1999
For years I have read the Bible and wondered, "Yes, but what does the archeological evidence say? What did the neighbors say in their writings? Where's the corroborating evidence? After all, these are real places and real people. They had to leave real traces behind." Well, it turns out they did. And what those traces say doesn't not agree with what fundamentalists teach about the Bible, but it does agree with common sense and basic human psychology. A first-rate book, and a gift to our understanding of the Old Testament.

important foundation for women's spirituality, 18 May 1999
So many scholarly types chalk this book up to feminism which is unfair. This book set the tone for many to come, and the reason this particular book is important is that it is based in actual archaeology. Granted, some of the authors who come after Merlin Stone take this book way too far (e.g. Starhawk), but this should be required reading for prehistory students at the college level, along with all the Marxist interpretations of various prehistorical sites known to exist. Very readable and scrupulously researched.

Brilliant Work, Making Bible Study so Interesting to Do, 07 Feb 2004
I have read the Indonesian translated version of this book. Liz is really a brilliant writer. The way she describes and translates the situations in Bible time into our today’s world is really brilliant. You can imagine and feel what the women in the Bible time experience, understand their feelings, their thoughts, the background of their decisions, and you can see that these women real life experiences are still related in women lives today. We enter every chapter with fictionlike story, to have clearer picture of what happened with these women in the Bible. The fictions are also very interesting and well written, that you will hardly put this book down before you finish reading it.
This book is a refreshing new way to learn from the Bible. The teachings and studies are deep, Liz is really mastering the topic of Bible study that she wrote. We will also find out sides and facts that we did not know or think of before. It is so interesting to find out that we all have these dark sides of our character, just like these bad girls from the Bible. Sometimes as newborn Christians we thought that we are growing well spiritually that we miss the facts that we still have certain points in our character that need to improved to become more Christlike. But this book is not aim to condemn you, or pointing your lack or mistakes, this book is aim to encouraged you to go on and become woman or man that God has designed you to be. As Liz named herself an Encourager, this book is an encouragement for us, that eventhough we are not perfect we could still be used by God, if we repent and let Him work through us. One of the example is the story of Rahab, a prostitute who God’s use to help Isralites to conquere Jerikho.
This book is so interesting to read, even for ones who was new to Christianity or to Bible study, it is so well written that you will find yourself captured to read the book until the end.

A book for Everywoman to take to heart!, 28 Jul 1999
Bad Girls certainly can teach us much! This book is a wonderful vehicle for bible study groups and the depth of Liz's research is astounding! The contemporary stories are a magnetic pull, putting the reader right into the situation. How could a serious student of the Bible not be intrigued? Liz's excellent questions at the ends of the chapters really make you think, too.

deep research/deep insight, 17 Oct 1998
Barbara G. Walker has brought her incredible fund of scholarship to our astounded attention once more. Exploring ancient writings, making connections, illuminating our ancient past and current woes, the author has created a masterful work that explains so many, many things. This is a must read for everyone, and a work that will be cherished by thinking women over 40, yet men probably need to read this book more than women do... The linguistic revelations are especially striking.

It all comes together in The Crone. But be warned, don't read this book unless you're willing to be intellectually challenged vis a vis religion, language, anthropology, and feminism.

An excellent, insightful book which spans the ages of woman, 26 Sep 1998
Don't let the title dissuade you. This wonderful book is not only about older women who have reached the age of wisdom, it is about all women, across all generational boundaries. Many books of the feminist / spiritual genre provide an adequate context for the Goddess, but Walker's book truly gave me an entirely new way to look at my mothers, my friends, and myself. But most wonderfully, Walker provided me with a context for understanding the incomprehensible -- namely the senseless malice projected by so many men, onto the women they purportedly love. This book gave me comfort, nourishment, and relit the fire in my belly. I cannot recommend it too highly.

Courageous book about Women, 09 Apr 1998
It seems that the males who discriminate against women simply because they are older, more mature, and better able to cope with life are actually just sexist bigots. While older women have traditionially been considered sources of wisdom (including knowledge of sexuality), males have tried to usurp this traditional status with sexism, cowardice, and deceit. It is a relief to find so good a book on the subject. As feminists everywhere question, implicate, and overthrow the white male patriarchal agenda of hatred, older women will be able to regain their proper status as matriarchs.

Stunning. Buy it today!, 04 Oct 2000
Starhawk once again demonstrates clarity of thinking, poetry of soul and depth of practical experience in this book. She lays out a detailed analysis of power, both its abuses and its positive uses, using the story of Inanna's journey to the underworld as a mythopoetic framework. She also includes lots of practical exercises to ensure healthy group dynamics and sharing of power in all kinds of groups.

This book will be of value to academics, psychotherapists, co-operative groups, activists and all people seeking a spirituality engaged with everyday life and its struggles.

Life changing!, 17 May 2008
I'm not sure if I found this book or it found me!! I came across it when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I'm a fairly prolific reader but this is the first book that I have EVER read from cover to cover then went straight back to page one and started reading again. It completely changed my way of thinking about life and how we treat relationships of every kind. Life gets better every day. A must read for everyone.

Brilliant, 07 May 2008
I thought this book was simply brilliant. I definitely felt I had shifted into a new place after reading it. I was able to let past hurts and people go, in the knowledge that everything is simply just as it is supposed to be, and I'm in exactly the right place. I have also now bought the workbook. There are many interesting exercises in it, which help you appreciate and understand who you are. I highly recommend both.

Best book I ever read, 03 Feb 2007
I picked this book up in the hope that it would keep me occupied on holiday. It changed my life - don't be put off by the God stuff - this book will show you exactly who you are - it marks the beginning of the most exciting journey you have ventured to take.

You're doing it right!, 16 Jul 2001
If you've ever wondered how you got into the mess you're in - or more importantly why you're there, read this book. From a state of despair, it lifted me up, it told me I was okay and doing everything perfectly for my own divine search and path. I picked up the book by "accident" and now will never be without it - God is helping me every step of the way, he gave me this book. If you are lost, read this book. If you feel alone, read this book. If you feel like you've messed it up again, read this book. Iyanla Vanzant has a trully amazing gift, it's the gift of truth and we all have it.

Good, but not Great!, 28 Mar 2001
I feel like a traitor amongst all the people who LOVE this book, but I'm sorry I was not really one of them. It wasn't the message of the book I disliked - teaching you to learn from every relationship, to be honest with yourself and others, to learn to love yourself before you love anyone else - these are all brilliant lessons to learn, but it was the style the book was written in that I couldn't get to grips with. The whole premise of the book is that our spirtual path or evolution is like a house - a basement level, first floor, second floor etc, OK fine, but the whole home metaphor gets a bit much after a while and the telling of stories as examples of lessons she is trying to teach are a good idea, but they never really seem realistic and sometimes the story is just left without you feeling you have really come to any conclusions about it. Maybe I missed the whole point, but this book would have been so much better if its message about growth was expanded more instead of all the confusion of floors, attics, garbage, fridges etc as overused and heavy metaphors. I love Iyanla Vanzant on the Oprah show, and in fact liked the show about this very book, but somehow on the page it gets tiresome. Sorry :)

closer to the Goddess, 26 Jul 2006
my literature teacher recommended me this, knowing my inquisitiveness toward anything pagan, pro feminist and historical. i found that this book has helped me on the path of Goddess worship and has left a bitter taste in my mouth toward the Roman Church. i recommend this for ALL woman of any religion because this encyclopedia brings to light the truths that were never included in his-story and that which should be included in her-story! I simply cannot express how essential this book is for anybody who is interested in the Goddess or is already on the path of worship.

the best book I have ever bought, 29 Apr 2005
Given that I am the daughter of a librarian (and hence love books and buy far too many) my title may communicate the love I feel for this book. I also work as a tour guide in Rome and so have read countless books on paganism, christianity and both ancient and Renaissance history, but none have touched me in the way that this book has.

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, 29 Aug 2004
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, 15 Aug 2003
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.

This is a very important book against Religious dogmatism and Male Chauvinism., 09 Sep 2006
I bought one for my self, and promptly ordered one for my daughter.
All women should read it as a boost against the Male God presiding over us all in both Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the exclusion of any Goddess Female influence what so ever.

This is not a work of great sophistication, but it is an honest book written by a female who was clearly shocked about what most of the world seems to have missed, namely the fact that God was not alwas a Man, "God" was once a woman.

The primary religions of the West have supressed the Goddess idea and dominated our traditions with the Male God concept.

What is worse - The teatching in our schools has hidden the fact that religions have not always been dominated by a Male God - The earliest religions have clearly been domintated by a Female, Birthgiving Goddess.

Females were equal or superior to the Male in most of the earlier religions. A religious war against the female sex as a dominating force in early Judaism, corrupted Judaism and their ancient scriptures and Christianity and Islam quickly followed that particular idear that the force dominating us from above was and is Male.

The Keltic idear of Male and Female equality in Europe, was supressed and sexicide of the cruellest order ever - took place during the time of the inquisiton in Spain which spread like a malign mass psycosis over Europe and USA, and even into Africa and Arabia. Only India kept their female goddesses and goddess worship although their supremacy were deminished and the Male godds grew in importance.

We should know that the Male God idear has demished the worth of the female sex. It is time that we took up the struggle for equality also on the religious level and rejected the idea that a Male God presides over us all and no Female sits beside him and shares the status he has claimed for himself through the Male oriented religons, and male priests, all over the world.

The devine energies clearly demonstrates itself in both female and male energies. The old fashioned idea of a Male God above us and his male profets or sons or whatever religious dogma tries to state that God is male and his profet or Son is also a male - Must give way to sound thinking some time in the future and the time should be now.

This very important book clearly challenges the old concept of a Male with lots of good research into our Goddess dominated religions and also hints at how the concept of Eve and the snake was fabricated aginst the Snake/Fertility Goddesses of ancient times.

It is written for everybody who can read, and it will contain news for most of us, what ever level of sophistication we think we belong to.

It's about time we heard the 'Rest of the Story', 03 Jun 2003
My wife and I were raised in a strict bible upbringing, and it was my wife who kept insisting life was not fair as a woman. I had no problem of course, as men enjoy automatic supremecy in church with the bible backing you up to silence and supress women. I am what they call a backslider now, and this book affirms what my wife has suspected for a long time. Other religions share the man is central theme, and I loved reading what was always there but not completely destroyed by invaders. I look forward to learning more truth about what really happened

There was history before the Bible?, 27 Aug 1999
In light of the recent decision by the board of education in Kansas, I now know that we truly live in a society of ignorance. The historical evidence presented in this book is well-researched and I don't feel as though any is taken out of context. I can see why Christians and Jews would take offense to this book because it threatens their supposed one true god. Stone goes point by point taking apart the origin of their religion through the destruction of what had existed as a belief system for eons. Could something had existed before Adam & Eve? Perish the thought! I feel closer to the Goddess now and how things used to be thousands of years ago than I ever did in 10 years of Luthern Sunday School and confirmation class. As for the state of Kansas, I pity the students for they will make ignorant adults when evolution ceases to be taught. Its just another example of "accidental or intentional censorship" of ideas outside of Christian thought. I am truly disgusted with those who are in positions of power nowadays. It is so reminiscent of those long ago patriarchal invaders who propagate their own opinions by making people think its how "its always been."

Ladies & Gentlemen, Here are the facts on the ground!, 19 Aug 1999
For years I have read the Bible and wondered, "Yes, but what does the archeological evidence say? What did the neighbors say in their writings? Where's the corroborating evidence? After all, these are real places and real people. They had to leave real traces behind." Well, it turns out they did. And what those traces say doesn't not agree with what fundamentalists teach about the Bible, but it does agree with common sense and basic human psychology. A first-rate book, and a gift to our understanding of the Old Testament.

important foundation for women's spirituality, 18 May 1999
So many scholarly types chalk this book up to feminism which is unfair. This book set the tone for many to come, and the reason this particular book is important is that it is based in actual archaeology. Granted, some of the authors who come after Merlin Stone take this book way too far (e.g. Starhawk), but this should be required reading for prehistory students at the college level, along with all the Marxist interpretations of various prehistorical sites known to exist. Very readable and scrupulously researched.

Brilliant Work, Making Bible Study so Interesting to Do, 07 Feb 2004
I have read the Indonesian translated version of this book. Liz is really a brilliant writer. The way she describes and translates the situations in Bible time into our today’s world is really brilliant. You can imagine and feel what the women in the Bible time experience, understand their feelings, their thoughts, the background of their decisions, and you can see that these women real life experiences are still related in women lives today. We enter every chapter with fictionlike story, to have clearer picture of what happened with these women in the Bible. The fictions are also very interesting and well written, that you will hardly put this book down before you finish reading it.
This book is a refreshing new way to learn from the Bible. The teachings and studies are deep, Liz is really mastering the topic of Bible study that she wrote. We will also find out sides and facts that we did not know or think of before. It is so interesting to find out that we all have these dark sides of our character, just like these bad girls from the Bible. Sometimes as newborn Christians we thought that we are growing well spiritually that we miss the facts that we still have certain points in our character that need to improved to become more Christlike. But this book is not aim to condemn you, or pointing your lack or mistakes, this book is aim to encouraged you to go on and become woman or man that God has designed you to be. As Liz named herself an Encourager, this book is an encouragement for us, that eventhough we are not perfect we could still be used by God, if we repent and let Him work through us. One of the example is the story of Rahab, a prostitute who God’s use to help Isralites to conquere Jerikho.
This book is so interesting to read, even for ones who was new to Christianity or to Bible study, it is so well written that you will find yourself captured to read the book until the end.

A book for Everywoman to take to heart!, 28 Jul 1999
Bad Girls certainly can teach us much! This book is a wonderful vehicle for bible study groups and the depth of Liz's research is astounding! The contemporary stories are a magnetic pull, putting the reader right into the situation. How could a serious student of the Bible not be intrigued? Liz's excellent questions at the ends of the chapters really make you think, too.

deep research/deep insight, 17 Oct 1998
Barbara G. Walker has brought her incredible fund of scholarship to our astounded attention once more. Exploring ancient writings, making connections, illuminating our ancient past and current woes, the author has created a masterful work that explains so many, many things. This is a must read for everyone, and a work that will be cherished by thinking women over 40, yet men probably need to read this book more than women do... The linguistic revelations are especially striking.

It all comes together in The Crone. But be warned, don't read this book unless you're willing to be intellectually challenged vis a vis religion, language, anthropology, and feminism.

An excellent, insightful book which spans the ages of woman, 26 Sep 1998
Don't let the title dissuade you. This wonderful book is not only about older women who have reached the age of wisdom, it is about all women, across all generational boundaries. Many books of the feminist / spiritual genre provide an adequate context for the Goddess, but Walker's book truly gave me an entirely new way to look at my mothers, my friends, and myself. But most wonderfully, Walker provided me with a context for understanding the incomprehensible -- namely the senseless malice projected by so many men, onto the women they purportedly love. This book gave me comfort, nourishment, and relit the fire in my belly. I cannot recommend it too highly.

Courageous book about Women, 09 Apr 1998
It seems that the males who discriminate against women simply because they are older, more mature, and better able to cope with life are actually just sexist bigots. While older women have traditionially been considered sources of wisdom (including knowledge of sexuality), males have tried to usurp this traditional status with sexism, cowardice, and deceit. It is a relief to find so good a book on the subject. As feminists everywhere question, implicate, and overthrow the white male patriarchal agenda of hatred, older women will be able to regain their proper status as matriarchs.

Stunning. Buy it today!, 04 Oct 2000
Starhawk once again demonstrates clarity of thinking, poetry of soul and depth of practical experience in this book. She lays out a detailed analysis of power, both its abuses and its positive uses, using the story of Inanna's journey to the underworld as a mythopoetic framework. She also includes lots of practical exercises to ensure healthy group dynamics and sharing of power in all kinds of groups.

This book will be of value to academics, psychotherapists, co-operative groups, activists and all people seeking a spirituality engaged with everyday life and its struggles.

Insightful and fascinating reading, 23 Aug 2007
What an absolutely thrilling reading. Once I picked it up to read I couldn't pit it down again. I loved