Customer Reviews

What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should): Timeless Secrets to Get Everything you Want in Love, Life, and Work

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This book is a true representation of Southern women of the past, present, and future. The lessons in this book are re-enforced through delightful as well as painful stories about life. I have always appreciated the positive AND strong spirit that Southern women are taught to have. This book is an explanation to all those who weren't born in the South of why Southerners hold fast to their roots and traditions. I felt that Ms. Rich was sincere and enlightening in her guidance on how and why Southern women are so captivating. I love the comparing of Southern women to the strong, thriving kudzu of the South. This book was not only entertaining but inspirational as well.

I signed on to buy a few more copies for gifts and just had to write a few words about the book that has become my absolute favorite. I know I have bought at least two dozen copies of What Southern Women Know as gifts for both my southern friends and four or five of my Yankee friends. They all think this book is absolutely adorable, funny and a warm invitation to a way of life that is gracious, thoughtful and kind. Readers with a harsh or bitter look at life will not like this book. Trust me. Don't even consider buying it, if you're cynical and always looking "for a gimmick." It's too uplifting, positive and funny (often in a tongue-in-cheek manner). My first copy is dog-earred and marked in highlighter with passages that have seen me through some rough times.

You don't have to be southern to adore this book but you do have to be a feminine, frilly kind of woman who loves family, nesting and/or creating a career. If you finish the book and have learned one piece of advice that puts a upswing on things, you're in good shape.

But if you're willing to learn and are open-minded, my guess is that you'll walk away with several wisdoms that will be unforgettable. I buy this book for young women graduating from college, setting out into the business world or getting married. It's the perfect catch-all book. I not only recommend it highly, I have put my money where my review is, having bought at least two dozen copies. I like to enclose a piece of lingerie, china or perfume along with the book.

Ronda Rich speaks the gospel in this book and I, for one, am a devotee of the words she writes.

As a dyed-in-the-wool Yankee, I've always been fascinated by Southern women, with their charm, conversational ability and (usually) great style sense, and wish I could learn some of their secrets. Yet at the same time, I don't entirely trust them to be sincere. Anyway, I thought for sure this book would be full of hints and tricks I could use, but it wasn't. A lot of what Ronda Rich says is plain ol' common sense that even we crude Yankee girls know (like, don't be a (...) to your co-workers -- duh) -- and the rest of it is all nauseating, honey-dripping insincerity. If there were a little more humor and self-deprecation in the book, it might be a fun read, but she comes across as SO smug and so "Our way is the ONLY way to do everything, and we have all the answers."
(...)
As some other reviewers said, I had no desire to keep this or to pass it on to anyone else!

Okay now, don't get all uppity. I know, I'm not supposed to be reading this, but heck, my wife had a copy and there was nothing on the TV, it not being Monday night and all, and so I picked this little book up and started in, thinking to myself, "Okayyyy, let's just see what the ladies are up to." Two hours later I had finished it (yes, contrary to popular belief, ladies, we CAN read--just don't tell our golfing buddies we do this). Anyhoooo, I now find myself skimming Cosmo, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya thing, and a host of others, trying to figure out exactly how y'all think. To be honest, I find it fascinating and a great education. So I'm giving this one five stars. Two other great books the little woman, uh, I mean WIFE brought home were also great. One was something called The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and the other was The Bark of the Dogwood--A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens. She does have good taste--what can I say?

I found this book to be amusing, but something surely to be taken lightheartedly. I was born and raised in the South and still live in Louisiana. I am very pleased and proud to be a "Southern woman". I have traveled extensively and have met some of the "characters" from this book. It is accurate (to my knowledge and experience)in its description of them. There are certain truisms in this book about Southern women. I actually found some of myself in them, but there are also some that do not apply. This is an entertaining read for a day of sipping iced tea (or mimosas), but do not buy it if you are expecting to really learn something. Just have fun with it! A good weekend combination with "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood", one of my favorites for years before the movie! Enjoy!

This was a fun book to read, and had a lot of advice that was surprizingly right on target. The writing style is like listening to a friend tell you stories and give advice, so it is a very enjoyable book to read, and it is also funny!

You will get something great out of this book, and you may even learn a thing or two about how to get what you want out of life. If anything, you will spend an enjoyable afternoon reading.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Here you have a woman telling us about how women are raised in the south. There is no preaching going on here, just good guidelines on how to be a Lady in todays world.
My favorite part about the book is that she gently reminds you that it is alright to be a lady, look like a lady, and act like one. That does not mean be a door mat for everyone that walks by or be sub-serviant to males. It just means being the best person you can be and doing it with flair!
Even a tom-boy like me can see the advantages of glorifying one's self in her womanhood and not worrying about loosing your self or being a "Fluffy Bunny". I have started to follow some of the guidelines in the book and my life has become a bit more intresting and enjoyable! I hope you enjoy it too!

I feel that this book is a fun read, but that the term, "southern women" could be replaced with, "Non-dysfunctional women." I have met plenty of dysfunctional southern ladies and lots of northern women with spunk and manners. Southern women don't possess a monopoly on good manners. The book emphasises lots of truisms: be fair, don't insult a man who inappropriately makes moves on you but be firm, write thank you notes, watch what you divulge to people that you don't know because friendships (and sadly even marriages) aren't for forever all the time, you can get more bees with honey, think possitive thoughts when you are really, really mad so you don't act with a lack of class, etc.

This is the kind of a book that you need to read when you want to lash out inappropriately at someone. The author's real-life experiences make the advice practical and the biggest lesson that I learned from the book (and from life) is that people seldom regret keeping their mouths shut when they are mad. The advice isn't new, but the format is enchanting.

This book is --- as we say in the South --- an absolute hoot! It's also charming, heartwarming and fun. Get ready to meet a variety of southern women with many traits in common. The true steel magnolias who have grit mixed with glamour. In one chapter, the author and her sister are darting through a creek, holding up their skirts, to help chase down the family's cows who have escaped from the pasture then in another her mama is having her hair done before going into surgery. The best part is that they laugh at themselves and always celebrate the things that we hold dear --- family, life, tradition and good manners. Well worth the time!

I received this book for Christmas in a basket filled with tantalizing treats like bubble bath and expensive chocolates. This was my favorite gift in the basket. I laughed from beginning to end and a few times heard myself saying, "That's exactly right!" What Southern Women Know is a mixture of self help, humor and a bit of history. I didn't know until I read this book that General Sherman had once been in love with a southern woman! I read it in one sitting and plan to read it over and over again.