The Wisdom of Menopause (Revised Edition): Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change

I had to quit reading at chapter 5. She’s discussing thyroid issues and the thyroid is located in the fifth chakra. She references astrology as fact. She has a shaman praying for her, a vibration specialist is telling her why she is experiencing things. She said she told a patient to pick a number from 1-10 and whatever number she chose that was the age this patient had unresolved issues and why this patient was experiencing ptsd. There might be SOME true science in the book, but it was so filled with her opinion filtered through her eastern spiritual beliefs but stated as fact that it was hard to tease out any useful science. Another lesson in just because someone has MD beside their name is not a reason to trust blindly. I WAS warned. There were other reviews of one star that stated much of what I’m saying, but I chose to believe tarot cards, etc. would only be a small portion of the book. But these things are her deep beliefs spoken of as facts mixed with science all throughout, at least through chapter 5 where I gave up.

The only good piece of information I got from this book was learning of the the existence of the North American Menopause Society. From their website I found that one of their members had a practice not far from me. I made an appointment and my new doctor spoke to me for about 45 minutes like I was an intelligent woman who could grasp the concept of hormones and their effects on the female body. I don’t have any female family members or friends to speak to who have gone through menopause, so the fact that my doctor spent this long explaining to me what was going on in my body was a god send.I couldn’t relate to anything the author was referencing; my only child left home when I was 42 (I was 22 when I had him) I have a loving and supportive husband, I am debt free, I have always given in to my creative self, and I have a successful career. Therefore, any of the hooey the author claims causes issues in women’s lives was worthless. She may wish to take a closer look at why her marriage failed and give in to the possibility it may have been because of her. Marriages, *good* marriages take work, and if she was only caring about herself, then she wasn’t putting any work into that relationship.This book really needs to have a warning that it delves into the New Age stuff, because there are women in serious need out there and much of what the author writes about seems like it’s blaming us for our normal peri menopausal problems.

The writer includes too much personal information, as though her menopausal journey is universal. Not enough clear direct common answers to questions. I threw the book in the trash.

My therapist noticed I have been more weepy, cranky, tired, and fatter than usual. I mentioned that I'm very much nose-diving into Menopause and I am out of control. She recommended this book. Before I was out of the parking lot of her office, ordered it from my mobile device. The next day, This BIBLE shows up at my door! I spent about a week flipping through it, completely overwhelmed and unable to process that there is THIS MUCH information about the undoing of my hormones. I mostly just showed it to people in horror. "This is what's happening to me! I need a manual?!" Honestly, the tome really scared the crap out of me. When I was entering puberty, I got a little pink booklet, no more than 10 pages, and it was mostly illustration.After a week of griping, I settled in and decided to read some of it. I was hooked. Dr. Northrup has done a ton of research and she covers every possible angle of this transition. Now I'm not as overwhelmed. I am more prepared and this Meno-thing is not going to be the end of me.I have already dog- eared pages that I return to over and over. Dr. Northrup not only gives you the science, she brings a great deal of humanity and personal enlightenment. (I recently picked up a smaller book, written by a male doctor. The tone was harsh compared to Dr. Northrup's approach.)Don't expect to read it cover-to- cover. Read the first part, definitely, then review the Table of Contents and take what applies to your situation. This is the most complete and empathetic information I've seen so far. It is a big book. It has to be, she has a lot to teach. She shares the good news that (SPOILERS) we'll come through the other side more bad-ass and self assured than we imagined.So, yes, I need this manual and I'll recommend it to all my sisters beginning this journey.

oh my goodness, this book saved my sanity! My OBGYN prescribed pemarin for my vaginal dryness, rawness, discharge and painful Intercouse. It did not help at all... I kept calling back to the office , they kept upping my usage of Premarin. I was miserable! Finally after 4 months of misery, I remembered reading this book years ago. I lost the book after several moves, So purchased the revised addition! I read it like a bible and picked the natural products that spoke to me. In '1' days time, I started to get relief! I am just in my 3rd week. My body is almost back to my pre peri menopausal self. I am so very thankful to have found this book. When I go back to my OBGYN in 2 weeks, I am taking this book and the products I am using, to educate her. Not all women can use the one size fits all Premarin.

I bought this book on a recommendation and what I found is that I read it everyday. it is simply timely if you are over 35. I wish I had it YEARS ago, but it currently helping me navigate through that next phase in my life, which happens to include menopause, but the reality is much larger and whole. Please please if you are a woamn over 35, and espcially over 40... do yourselves a favor and buy this book. Fundamentally my entire mindset has shifted to being excited about this next chapter of womanhood and experince persoanlly, professionally, as a mother, wife and professional. It leaves no aspect of your life un-addressed.

Firstly, I'm only interested in my friends' struggles through divorce, not those of an author whose book is supposed to be about the menopause!Secondly, FOCUS! We buy the book to read about the menopause, not your opinions on every subject under the sun! She rattles on and on....and ON!Over 700 pages yet most of it is irrelevent, self-indulgent, and boring! It's almost a stream of thoughts, rather than a well-considered educational book. 13% in on my kindle, I'd learnt nothing!Well, ok, I'd learnt about her marriage, her divorce, her parents, her friends - funnily enough, i didn't buy this book cos I wanted a biography! Further, she says some pretty hurtful things about people in her life, in my view - including her own father - and they appear to have no redress, which makes me like her even less.I tried skim-reading once I got to 13% but was still unable to find much of use - certainly what is useful could have been edited into a much smaller, more useful, and far more interesting book!The author also assumes all menopausal women are in their middle age, and all have kids. She ignores those of us who couldn't or chose not to have children. She also assumes that all those who have children are either unhappily married or already divorced! She excludes the many women who are menopausal at a young age, or who are still suffering into old age.I didn't warm to her or her book and no, I do not recommend it!

Not at all what I wanted. This book encourages you to divorce and start again with a new life. What I wanted was medical info about the menopause!

I found this unscientific and not that helpful. I didn’t much like the fact that assumes women are married or partnered and had children in their 20s/early 30s since it approaches the menopause largely through the author's own experience and marriage break-up. All very self help positive-speak, but no facts or stats to speak of. If you want a book that really tells you about the menopause or perimenopause, this isn't it.

Christiane Northrup writes so well and covers so many issues for women at the time of menopause - physically, mentally and emotionally. All women should read this book by the age of 40, so they can start taking the supplements they need to support their body as the changes start but also to help them think about what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Positive book with so much useful information. A must have.

I bought the book to give me some insight about what was happening to me at this time in my life. I found it very knowledgeable and a great help.