Cassandra Speaks

When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes

By: Elizabeth Lesser

Narrated by: Xe Sands

What story would Eve have told about picking the apple? Why is Pandora blamed for opening the box? And what about the fate of Cassandra who was blessed with knowing the future but cursed so that no one believed her? What if women had been the storytellers?

Elizabeth Lesser believes that if women’s voices had been equally heard and respected throughout history, humankind would have followed different hero myths and guiding stories—stories that value caretaking, champion compassion, and elevate communication over vengeance and violence.

Cassandra Speaks is about the stories we tell and how those stories become the culture. It’s about the stories we still blindly cling to, and the ones that cling to us: the origin tales, the guiding myths, the religious parables, the literature and films and fairy tales passed down through the centuries about women and men, power and war, sex and love, and the values we live by. Stories written mostly by men with lessons and laws for all of humanity. We have outgrown so many of them, and still they endure. This book is about what happens when women are the storytellers too—when we speak from our authentic voices, when we flex our values, when we become protagonists in the tales we tell about what it means to be human.

Lesser has walked two main paths in her life—the spiritual path and the feminist one—paths that sometimes cross but sometimes feel at cross-purposes. Cassandra Speaks is her extraordinary merging of the two. The bestselling author of Broken Open and Marrow, Lesser is a beloved spiritual writer, as well as a leading feminist thinker. In this book she gives equal voice to the cool water of her meditative self and the fire of her feminist self. With her trademark gifts of both humor and insight, she offers a vision that transcends the either/or ideologies on both sides of the gender debate.

Brilliantly structured into three distinct parts, Part One explores how history is carried forward through the stories a culture tells and values, and what we can do to balance the scales. Part Two looks at women and power and expands what it means to be courageous, daring, and strong. And Part Three offers “A Toolbox for Inner Strength.” Lesser argues that change in the culture starts with inner change, and that no one—woman or man—is immune to the corrupting influence of power. She provides inner tools to help us be both strong-willed and kind-hearted.

Cassandra Speaks is a beautifully balanced synthesis of storytelling, memoir, and cultural observation. Women, men and all people will find themselves in the pages of this book, and will come away strengthened, opened, and ready to work together to create a better world for all people.

I am such a stupid man

I feel the beginnings of an enlightening. I can only hope not to stand in my own way. Thank you.

One of the best books I have ever read.

One of the best and most inspiring books I have ever read. It talks about changing history and society's narrative and outlook past and present by incorporating the female perspective, voice, values, and presence. And it does so in such a natural, kind, healing, and conciliatory way. Simple things like taking a fresh look at what we consider power and leadership are or should be, asserting our opinions and values while also listening to others that may think differently, etc. All from a place of love and partnership. No war here, no confrontation, just truly seeing and hearing each other. It made me dream of a much better world, that I want to believe is possible.

Another great rec from Brené Brown!

I couldn’t wait to read this. It was everything I hoped it would be and more!

So much in one book to benefit the world!

I would recommend this book to everyone. Elizabeth Lesser is an engaging writer and her ideas in this book are profound. The other writers, philosopher and scientist that she quotes are all world class, and if people can understand and attempt to follow her suggestions, the world would immediately be a far better place. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Brilliant

Touches on everything about being a woman and what it means to create power from the feminine.