I tried to start reading this one, but couldn't get into it. I thought the concept sounded interesting, but it didn't end up being what I thought it would.

I really wish I had had this book fifteen years ago when I started working in the tech industry. Fantastic advice, and I loved the pop culture examples and references. I will be gifting copies to my nieces.

Rude: Stop Being Nice and Start Being Bold by Rebecca Reid is an interesting self-help book for woman about valuing yourself.

Reid defines rude as doing what is best for yourself and not putting others first. Reid describes many different topics including family, friends, and dating. There are personal stories from Reid and others’ lives. Rude also contains many pop culture references like how Taylor Swift personifies Rude.

I found Rude to be very helpful and an interesting perspective. Reid describes ways that avoiding what someone perceives as Rude can really hurt everyone involved. This was a way of looking at things I never would’ve come up with on my own. There were so many situations Reid described that were so relatable and showed I could’ve handled things better by being rude. I thought Reid did a great job explaining how important it is for woman to be “rude” and give advice on how to be. This book was the perfect mix of real life examples, pop culture references, and descriptions.

I recommend Rude to anyone looking for a self-help book to be more assertive or just looking for an interesting perspective on putting yourself first.

Thank you Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and Edelweiss for Rude.

I wasn’t sure what I would think abut this book, as I see most of society’s problems are that people are too rude. I feel we do need more nice-ness in life. However, this book wasn’t really teaching about rudeness in the way I see much of society. It’s a confident boldness, where you can be yourself and not be afraid to say what you need at work (even if it is just a bathroom break) or how to teach others how to treat you and how not to treat you. She teaches a non- passive-aggressive way to find the confident boldness many women need, and to not feel rude about doing so. She also shares stories of her own struggles in the process.

Rude: Stop Being Nice and Start Being Bold by Rebecca Reid
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Self-Help
Release Date: December 1, 2020

Rude by Rebecca Reid is the book to give you the nudge to ensure you are heard at the table.

I found this book to be fascinating. It really made me look back over moments in my life, especially those were I was timid or afraid to speak up, and when I was bold. I have to say those bold moments were the ones that made me proud and definitely happier compared to the timid moments.

Until very recently, I've had more male friends in my circle, probably because I didn't enjoy dealing with the dynamics of a friendship with women...I don't like tiptoeing around things. I've started growing more friendships with women lately and I found this book to be very helpful to understand some things and to help me navigate any difficulties in the future.

I understand why the author titled this book "Rude"...because society judges a woman as rude when she stands up for herself. I don't think the behaviors she describes are rude, I think they are how a strong women carries herself. "I'm speaking - Vice President Elect Kamala Harris!

I'm so grateful to Rebecca Reid, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Rudeness might not seem to be a source of sexism, but it is often used as a tool to police women's behavior that is deemed to be unfeminine. Women who are deemed to be too loud, outspoken, or dare to advocate for themselves are often labeled as rude when this type of behavior is tolerated when men do it.

Reid shares how her personal story of being labeled with the moniker "Rebecca Rude" for standing up to a man who was constantly talking over her in an interview led her to realize the power that being audacious and daring can have for women.

I really enjoyed the analysis of the gender connotations the social construct of rudeness holds and how we uphold double standards through using this label. A thought-provoking read.

Rude: Stop Being Nice and Start Being Bold looks at how women are conditioned to always act “nice,” and how when they act assertive, they are labeled “rude,” among other harsh titles such as “diva,” “high maintenance,” and “pushy.” Reid shows the places and situations in one’s life when it is better to act in a “positive rude” way rather than adopting a self-sacrificing “nice” persona. The book covers the areas of friends, family, dating, sex, weddings, consumer, work, money, and health. The consumer section takes a close look at working with hairstylists, the service industry, and the best practice for how to complain when services and products fall short of expectations. The health section provides specific guidance on “lady problems,” fat shaming, miscarriages, and giving birth. Each of the nine main section is followed tips on being the right kind of rude and include a nod to a famous person role model e.g. Taylor Swift, Anne Boleyn, Rosa Parks, and Meghan Markle.

The book contains lots of interesting and actionable information and is written in a straightforward and accessible manner. I like the focus on “positive” rudeness, which is based on the concept that a woman’s needs are as valid and equally important as those of others. The dating section talks about how women are conditioned to deliver “nice” rejections, often lying about having a significant other rather than admitting to a lack of interest, and how not letting people, men in particular, experience honest rejection can create a culture of entitlement. This, in an extreme case, can contribute to violence against women due to that entitlement.

In the section on work, the author shares a concept called “hepeating” where a man repeats something a woman has said in a meeting and gets credit for her idea, because it becomes somehow more palatable coming from a man. Also, this section addresses the ways women have learned to soften their email communications and have been conditioned to apologize.

I enjoyed not only the content, but the way the book is organized, the end of chapter summaries, and the famous person role models. In my opinion, some of the sections could have been expanded, but nevertheless Rude is an empowering read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

How frustrating is it to be told by all the different sources the things you must do to be successful in life? This book definitely does NOT do that. It instead takes an empathetic approach and gives bite size approaches and allows you to have kindness and patience with yourself when dealing with life. This is so necessary for everyone to read in life. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.