Hmm why aren't we reading your stuff?

I was on the NY Times Bestseller's List today, looking for a book to suggest for our new book club, when I came across a very interesting commentary. You see, there is this new book out by Leslie Bennetts called The Feminine Mistake, "which argues that mothers who stay at home with their children are financially, emotionally and medically at risk." Although having made her rounds on the Today Show, Glamour, Parade and People magazine, along with her piece on www.HuffingtonPost.com, Ms. Bennetts (who is married and has two teenagers) doesn't seem to be making any money of the sale of her book. Mommies are giving her plenty of "blogshere buzz" but they are just not interested in shelling out $24.95 to hear why they have "failed" their sex. Gee I wonder why? Must be really busy cleaning up honey and peanut butter cheeked children!

Former actress and now stay at home mother, Monique Moen, from Los Angeles, was so outraged that after reading the article in the HuffingtonPost.com, she wrote a 12oo word blog response.

(April 25, 2007, NYT article "Mommy Books: More Buzz then Buyers" by Motoko Rich)
“There is a lot of discussion out there about this issue and that’s why we’re having these books,” said Nancy Sheppard, vice president of marketing at Viking, which last year published “Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World” by Linda R. Hirshman. “But it’s mostly just a discussion.” Ms. Hirshman, who also argued that women should work outside the home to fulfill their human capacities and avoid economic dependency, appeared on “Good Morning America” and “The Colbert Report” after the book’s release in June, and the blogosphere went wild. But her book sold only 4,000 copies, according to Nielsen BookScan, which accounts for about 70 percent of sales in stores and online.

I read Ms. Hirshman's op ed piece in today's NY Times. I was flat out offended. Here is the link. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/opinion/25hirshman.html?em&ex=1177732800&en=4d6bc3b74b646823&ei=5087%0A.

She writes, "Should we care if women leave the work force? Yes, because participation in public life allows women to use their talents and to powerfully affect society."

What and we aren't doing that at home? Affecting society? Raising the next generation of leaders who are productive, creative, just, merciful and responsible citizens is not 'affecting society'? Don't even get me started lady.

I know why these books aren't selling: its insulting to our intelligence to read the fluff. Enough said. This mama is over and out.