Review of Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives by Dr. Laura Schlessinger 

Part I

Dr. Laura (2002) discusses stupid behaviors that women engage in when it comes to relationships in Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives. The underlying theme of the book is that women need to develop a better sense of self, have more self-esteem and self-confidence, and should not feel so much fear and dependency when it comes to relationships. The biggest mistake that women make, according to Dr. Laura, is that they always find a reason to justify why they are staying in a bad relationship. The book essentially covers ten different ways that women justify their bad relationships by using examples of women who call in to Dr. Laura’s radio show to discuss their issues. Dr. Laura breaks down the calls, the problems the women are facing, and where the women are going wrong in making their decisions. The problems range from attachment to passion to cohabitation and conception. These things in and of themselves can all be good—but when they are employed stupidly, as in the case of many... Dr. Laura clearly explains her topic throughout, making points in a very clear and even blunt manner. She does not pull any punches but is direct and can seem harsh at times—but what she is trying to do is be honest throughout.
Part II

What grabbed my attention about this book was that it was written by Dr. Laura Schlessinger whom I have heard on the radio many times. I always enjoyed her perspective and thought this book would be a good read. My only exposure to her had been over the radio, so engaging with her in print was a new experience for me and one I enjoyed.

Lessons I learned as a result of reading the book were that women need to be patient with themselves and not feel rushed into making bad choices by staying in a bad relationship. A relationship should exist for a reason, and that reason is not so that one person can feed or sponge off the other. A relationship is not all about one half doing all the heavy lifting while the other does nothing to help. It is not all about forgiving and turning a blind eye to faults and failings. As Dr. Laura…