I think this anthology is a very important one to have an idea behind the #MeToo movement that happened back in November. The stories all shared different point of views, some of them want us to fight while others just want to understand it.

I've read a lot of written works that surround the #MeToo movement as well as assault, rape, and harassment. That said, I very much appreciated where this was coming from, and it's intent, as well as the fact that anyone can download it for free (amazing!!) as an ebook, but I felt that some of the essays were lacking. The books purpose was raw, gritty and necessary and I didn't feel like the essays included were accurately representing the tone of the movement. Some of the men that contributed to this book came off sounding ignorant and supportive only because of the current #MeToo movement. Regardless, I think it's important for women of all ages to read and educate themselves and those around them by reading works similar to these.

This is an important book about an important movement. I appreciate Perkins' immediate reaction. Why haven't I rated this higher then? Well, it's a collection of essays - and some of them just weren't good.

I had the chance to take a look the this book today. Amazing and empowering! This is the book the kind of book that you give as a gift to family and friends. The movement started long time ago and the author gives you a good scope of the the beginning of Hollywood stories to today's women experiences.

The goal of this book was to inform and make this movement more than a hashtag online by sharing real stories and how to get involved in the movement. I was a spectator and still am a spectator of the movement but the essays do have valid points of concern that much change. I recommend this book to every man and woman who wants more on why this movement is so popular and has sparked the Times up movement!

Mini Review: #MeToo by Lori Perkins @LoriPerkinsRAB @riverdaleavenue
January 25, 2018 ~ Betty ~ Edit "Mini Review: #MeToo by Lori Perkins @LoriPerkinsRAB @riverdaleavenue"

#MeToo cover

#MeToo Essays About How and Why This Happened, What It Means and How to Make Sure it Never Happens Again is a collection of twenty-six essays—written mostly by women, but also a few men—with many sharing their personal stories about sexual harassment, assault, or rape.

#MeToo isn’t a fun read, but it’s an important one. In November 2017, millions of women from around the world shared their stories on social media (or simply #metoo if they were unable to tell their story). If you followed the movement and read even a tiny portion of these heartbreaking stories, you couldn’t help but be both saddened and enraged at how pervasive this problem is. Rape culture and misogyny have enabled this pernicious abuse of women and young girls. All too often, there is no justice for the victim, leaving women unwilling to report sexual crimes, fearing they won’t be believed.

(NB: I’m aware that there are men and young boys who have also been victimized and are survivors of sexual harassment, assault, and rape. Their stories are just as important to be acknowledged; their trauma just as real.)

We need a society in which those who have been hurt are no longer afraid to speak up. Rather than doubt those brave enough to come forward with their stories, we should allow them the dignity to be heard, help them heal, and seek justice for them. We can only do better as a society when we shine the harsh light of truth on the evils of the world, and make a commitment to change things for the better… and that’s what this book is about.

The essays in this book give women a voice that has not been seen or heard before.

Ultimately... This book was not what I expected it to be. Springing out of such an amazing movement made me think that this would be a letdown, simply because I couldn't see it living up to the stories women have told. I was mistaken. Although not perfect, this book was an amazing read. Some essays were better than others, which I suppose is to be expected, but overall, I really loved this, and would definitely come back to this a second time after some more research.

This book cuts to the chase. You feel the stories as you read them. This book is a group of essays written by various women. Some of the stories are heart-breaking and some will definitely give you something to think about. Yes, some of the essays are stronger than others, but overall, a good read. Thanks to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for the ARC of this timely book.

There are possible sexual assault triggers in this book. It is a very powerful read and one I would recommend for everyone who wants to know what the whole #MeToo movement is really about, how you can be a part of it, and how you can DO something about the situation.

This is a collection of personal essays--most written by women, but also some by men. While it doesn't seem appropriate to say I enjoyed this book, it was definitely an educational read. Some are politically slanted, and others are personal experience stories. I was touched by many of them, and even found myself in tears at a few.

The ebook version of this book is available free on all platforms, and the print version is available at cost.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers, with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

A truly important book helping to put a spotlight on one of the most important movements of our time. The #MeToo posts mark a crucial tipping point in modern culture, where women will no longer stay silent in the fave of male transgression, and the thoughtful and heartfelt essays here help articulate the severity of this problem and how we can all take action, men and women alike. Please give it a read and share widely with anyone you know who believes in helping women fight male sexual aggression in today's world.

I wanted to love this and it was just… eh. It was fine. Some of the essays hit home but the majority felt rushed and not as authentic as they should be, given the subject matter. I would’ve loved to see more variety in the pieces. And honestly? I don’t need to hear anything from a man on the #MeToo movement and how it affects women. If a man has his own #metoo story then by all means, include it. Essays from dudes about their thoughts on #metoo felt out of place here – typical male “give me a cookie for not being a schmuck” type of thing.

This left me with the feeling that the editors wanted to rush a book out to beat the crowd on this subject matter and took whatever they could get from fellow writers, threw it together, and put it out into the world before it was ready.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy in exchange for a review. This holds no sway over my opinion or review of the book.

This book was a collection of 26 essays/testimonies around #MeToo.
Most essays were very heartfelt and incredible but some of them felt flat for me and some even annoyed me.
As Minnie Driver said :
"Let women do the speaking up right now. The time right now is for men just to listen and not have an opinion about it for once."
Still, this was mostly great.

This book made me uncomfortable at times and I found some of the essays difficult to process emotionally due to the subject matter but I do think that talking about sexual harassment and abuse is important, especially in a society where people who experience such actions often stay quiet about it. It was interesting to see different points of view from both male and female authors and to read about their personal experiences. I would like to see more of what happens after #metoo.

I believe that gathering powerful people together can be very beneficial. The #MeToo movement has changed my point of view in many situations. It is vital for us to share a message like this, and this book is suitable for the ones that feel the need to listen to others for once. Many of us misunderstood the meaning behind creating this hashtag, and it is still unclear for many of us why so many people are able to tell their stories only now. I truly recommend this book, and I hope that together we can fight for a better place to live in.

This is such an eye opener. Despite already knowing the struggles and issues of being a female and having to deal with a lot day-day, it was comforting reading first-hand accounts and reading how courageous and strong the writers were knowing they came out of the other side, and decided to share their experiences to help others. It was also refreshing to read essays from men who have dealt with similar issues and shedding light and speaking out on something that is more taboo in today's society. I feel this is an extremely relevant book for everyone to read and digest, especially with the current news.

This was such an eye opening read. With what is going on in the world and it is so wonderful to read all of these essays. What a wonderful way to bring everyone’s story out and let people know that we believe them. I would say that everyone should read this, man or woman, young or old.

The hashtag #metoo was started by social activist Tarana Burke in 2006 to raise awareness of sexual abuse among women of color. Actress Alyssa Milano borrowed the hashtag in October of 2017 to encourage all women who have experienced sexual abuse, assault, or harassment to post about it on social media in order to show the magnitude of the problem. According to a CNN story, the hashtag was used on Facebook more than 12 million times in the first 24 hours.

Lori Perkins states the purpose of these essays is to show “the beginning of this particular phase of the movement” and I very much like the premise but ultimately I think this collection falls short. I was hoping for a collective, cohesive, voice but I found the essays to be disjointed. I was disappointed that male authors were included in these essays when barely a dent has been made in documenting women’s stories. Just as with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, when someone responded with #AllLivesMatter, they missed the point. This is about a historical, institutional, systemic, global crisis of sexual harassment, assault and degradation of women.

I was especially taken aback by Jude M Lucien’s words in her essay "Men, Women and #MeToo": "Likewise, women sexually assault people. They don’t do it nearly as often as men do, and I attribute that to patriarchy (in other words, if women ruled the world, I think they might perpetrate many more sexual assaults, but they are subordinate in this world, so they don’t do it nearly as much)..." I understand this is a personal essay but I think that is a false and disappointing statement.

Overall these essays are worth the read in the spirit of documenting the start of this movement but many more voices need to be added and heard.

“It’s how, as a society we view the female. How society takes our words, clothes, past sexual histories and scrutinizes them. This isn’t about how many people a woman has slept with. Or how short her skirt was on the day her boss decided to touch her without consent” - Gen Ryan Until When? #MeToo

“A world this riddled with sexual harassment and abuse will never be healed by a hashtag, that’s for sure. Yet this moment could be the first one in which you choose to do something different, to lay the first brick in a world that is built differently, a world safe for women’s bodies and men’s feelings, a world worthy of everyone’s wholeness.” - Courtney E Martin For Guys Reading #MeToo Testimonies

“The problem is not how many stories there are, but the fact that no one is paying attention. No one is giving them proper credence…” - Liz Debetta Our Bodies are Not the Problem

It is hard to ignore the #MeToo campaign that is circulating with more fervency in light of the recent Harvey Weinstein sexual allegation and if I am honest when I saw that there was a #MeToo book I was sceptical. I initially thought that a writer had jumped on the bandwagon to make a pretty penny but when I looked into it and saw that it was a non-profit release I realised that I was wrong and that this is a book to take seriously.

Editor, Lori Perkins has compiled a series of writing from men and women about the #MeToo cause. Some of the essays are personal accounts and others reactionary. At times it can be quite hard to read as some writers don’t hold back when it comes to their own experiences of sexual assault. What is clear is that #MeToo is an important book and the campaign is not one to be forgotten in a hurry.

#MeToo – Essays About How and Why this Happened, What it Means and How to Make Sure it Never Happens Again by Lori Perkins is available now

For more information regarding Lori Perkins and Riverdale Avenue Books (@LoriPerkinsRAB) please visit www.riverdaleavebooks.com.

This was a fantastic read and important. This book made me cry but as it said there is strength in numbers so I posted my review and story @ http://touchmyspinebookreviews.com/2017/12/02/book-review-and-my-story-me-too-essays-about-how-and-why-this-happened/