Preview
  • The Beauty Myth

  • How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
  • By: Naomi Wolf
  • Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
  • Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (536 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Beauty Myth

By: Naomi Wolf
Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The bestselling classic that redefined our view of the relationship between beauty and female identity.

In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the traditional image of homemaker and wife. It's the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of "the flawless beauty."

©2002, 1991 Naomi Wolf (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Featured Article: 50+ Outstanding Feminist Quotes to Inspire and Empower


From the suffragettes of the 18th and 19th centuries to the #MeToo activists and glass-ceiling breakers still fighting for equality today, the feminist movement has evolved around the world for hundreds of years. Feminism that is intersectional and inclusive is more important than ever, with activists amplifying the voices of women whose struggles are compounded further by their race, identity, and class. Learn about gender equality with these quotes.

What listeners say about The Beauty Myth

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    350
  • 4 Stars
    102
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    12
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    334
  • 4 Stars
    72
  • 3 Stars
    37
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    301
  • 4 Stars
    72
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    11

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Truth will set you free but not without pissing you off first.

This book is now a bit dated but still a great read. I am going to find an updated version now that is inclusive of all women including LGBTQIA+ Community.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

So conflicted...

The book makes salient points, but they're often overwhelmed by the over dramatic prose, lack of proper backing research, and overuse of hyperbole and anecdotes. Written with less melodrama, this book could have been great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Required Reading.

This book should be required reading for everyone. It has helped me to rethink so much negative conditioning.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

so helpful

wasn't sure about listening to this book because I don't even have social media or watch the news or anything so I thought I had the body image thing covered but as soon as I listen to it I realized that I was glad I did and it was just what I needed to hear. very reinforcing and strengthening. helped with eating disorder.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Should be required for all women!

Absolutely eye-opening, provocative, and fiery. All women need to hear this message! Paradigm changer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Powerful Book

Very Powerful book. I am glad I listened to it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone I know

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing and eye opening

Great book informing women how we are constructed and constricted by beauty norms and how it impacts us.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read this book

Insightful and inspiring to everyone that wants to understand the society we live. Why so many people is depressed without an apparent reason? Are smartphones the reason why people don't talk to each other in person? No. It is society and its ridiculous human made rules about how men and women should, since they are born, belong to different worlds, separated and prejudiced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Any Update??

I really enjoyed the perspective the author discussed, it led to a further thought process both into my own life and other women, but I would vastly enjoy an updated edition!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must Read

Love this book. Yes it’s slightly dated but so much is the same. It gave me more compassion for myself and my sisters… and my brothers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!