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Cassandra Speaks
Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes | Elizabeth Lesser
18 posts | 10 read | 22 to read
The bestselling author of Broken Open and Marrow delivers a feminist classic in the making that reveals how humanity has outgrown its origin tales, hero myths, and other stories, and empowers women to trust their instincts, find their voice, and tell new guiding stories for all people. In Cassandra Speaks, Lesser persuasively argues that if womens voices had been equally heard and respected throughout history, humankind would have followed different hero myths and guiding storiesstories that value caretaking, champion compassion, and elevate communication over vengeance and violence. For too long heroism has been defined through the lens of an outdated, imbalanced, male-dominated value-system. Brilliantly structured into three distinct parts, the book explores how history is carried forward through the stories a culture tells and values, and what, finally, we can do to balance the scales. In Part One, Lesser gives us a fresh way to consider our deeply embedded Origin stories to see how these stories perpetuate the marginalization of womens voices. Part Two looks at Women and Power and redefines what it means to be courageous, daring, and strong. And Part Three offers A Toolbox for Inner Strength. Lesser argues that change in the culture starts with inner change, and that no onewoman or manis immune to the corrupting influence of power. She provides inner tools to help us be both strong-willed and kind-hearted, to overcome the imposter syndrome, and to navigate what she calls a collective rite of passage. Cassandra Speaks is a beautifully balanced synthesis of storytelling, cultural observation, and personal narrative. With her great gift of both humor and insight, Lesser has given us an important and much-needed antidote to the either/or ideologies on both sides of the gender debate. Women, men and all people will find themselves in the pages of this book, and will come away strengthened, opened, and ready to work together to create a better world for all.
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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

This is my bookclub‘s December book. I really enjoyed most of it, as the author explores ancient stories of women such as Eve and Pandora and Cassandra. She points out similarities between them, and how each can be seen as a guide to culture to keep women from gaining power. Then she offers alternative ways of looking at the stories, turning them around to empower and give validation to a woman‘s point of view.

The end got self-help-y…⬇️

Soubhiville Which isn‘t for me. But overall a good book for me, unexpectedly enjoyable and I loved the different perspectives. Venkman says good morning 🐈‍⬛🐱🖤 12mo
catiewithac Almost stacked…but no to self-helpy 12mo
RaeLovesToRead Good morning, Venkman!!! 🥰 12mo
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vlwelser I totally skimmed (skipped) the self helpy meditation type things. 12mo
dabbe Hello there, handsome Venkman! 🖤🐾🖤 12mo
Soubhiville @catiewithac the first 3/4 are worth stacking, just skip the last bit. I would have if not for bookclub. 12mo
76 likes1 stack add6 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

I bought this because of the cover. I might be a bit of a magpie. I enjoyed it. It's well written and readable.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 12mo
44 likes1 comment
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vlwelser
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I may have somehow acquired a book in Chelsea Market.

BennettBookworm Love Little Island! 1y
SpeculativeFemale I love the “somehow acquired“ wording. I've been know to say a book “followed me home“ so I had to “take responsibility for it. “ 😁 1y
55 likes2 comments
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Sharpeipup
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*replace chapstick with book in my case

📸momoftweensandteens IG

CarolynM Either works for me 🤣 3y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
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Mehso-so

This started strong with discussion of origin stories and myths that both silence and demonize women but fizzled out halfway through when it became self-helpy. I'm off to look for more books that examine those myths more thoroughly.

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Emily92Bibliophile
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Pickpick

What an inspiration! I struggle with imposter syndrome in a variety of ways, & confidence in my abilities. This book was a good reminder of the truths of when my inner critic arrives, and when I don‘t hold space for myself. I will be adding this book to the High school collection and my students are excited for this one-I have had some great conversations with students! For the rest of my review !⬇️
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4061608368

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

What if women were storytellers historically? How would ancient myths be different? Creation stories? What if women had an equal say in government/leadership around the modern world?

Lesser examines what would be different if women told the world‘s stories. She questions things from using battle metaphors in medicine to putting statues of warriors up. She really asked a lot of interesting questions and made me look at how I tell my own story.

KathyWheeler This sounds really interesting. 3y
Well-ReadNeck Stacked!! 3y
Branwen WOW! This sounds amazing! 3y
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Megabooks @KathyWheeler @Well-ReadNeck @Branwen it really made me think about history I‘ve learned and how I think and frame myself. Fascinating book!! 3y
Cinfhen I recently bought this on Audible!! Fabulous review 😘 Need to bump it up my TBR 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen that‘s where/when I got this too! I think it was a daily deal and a good one! 3y
Nute This is intriguing. I want to read this NOW! Stacking! 3y
Megabooks @Nute enjoy!! 😁😁 3y
britt_brooke Ooh, I bought this during a recent audible sale! Sounds good. 3y
Megabooks @britt_brooke it was a great sale find! 3y
91 likes8 stack adds10 comments
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Becker
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Pickpick

This book was a roller coaster for me. One sentence would jump off the page and speak directly to my mind or heart. The next sentence would make me feel defensive or argumentative. I think the important thing here is that every sentence engaged me on some level. I can't remember the last time I was so thoroughly connected to a text and I binged my way through this book. That justifies 5 stars for me. I would love to have coffee with the author.

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BookInMyHands
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Pickpick

This was an excellent feminist read.

I think the subtitle of the book really says it all:
“When women are the storytellers the human story changes.”

I‘m so ready for a full picture, one that includes all of our voices, including women, but also the full spectrum of this construct of gender. I wish that piece had been address too. Still worth a listen.

GondorGirl I just bought the ebook on sale and now I'm extra excited to read it! 3y
38 likes1 stack add1 comment
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jenniferw88
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Eggs So pretty 🌸📚🌺 3y
Tera66 Amazing cover😍 3y
48 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Jgotham
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“This age old dualism-the worship of the divine feminine yet mistrust of flesh and blood women.”

“Our culture still-either overtly or subtly-presents women with a choice: you can be a good girl (gentle, submissive pure) or you can be a bad girl (empowered, embodied, sexual)”

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Jgotham
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Remarking on the story Adam and Eve.

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Augustdana
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Told myself I was gonna go for a walk (It‘s like 15 degrees here and sunny🎉🎉) cause it SNOWED YESTERDAY, but instead I went for a drive got some onion rings and root beer and now we‘re here. Happy Friday friends.

staci.reads I miss A&W! 4y
Tamra Brought back kid memories of the little kid size glass mugs at AW! 4y
Augustdana @staci.reads THE BEST!! 4y
Augustdana @Tamra it always felt like something so special! 4y
20 likes4 comments
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Augustdana
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Seems right up my alley. Liking it so far.

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Storied
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This is a book about stories—the stories a culture tells, and how those stories become the culture.

#CassandraSpeaks #ElizabethLesser #Nonfiction #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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I won this book! Thank you to @HarperCollins !

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Congratulations!!! 4y
Jas16 🙌🏽 4y
42 likes3 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Today‘s #BookMail courtesy of #BookConline and @HarperCollins 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

RowReads1 Oooh! Sounds great! 4y
mariaku21 This sounds interesting 4y
90 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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