Shrill

Notes from a Loud Woman

By: Lindy West

Narrated by: Lindy West

Shrill is an uproarious memoir, a feminist rallying cry in a world that thinks gender politics are tedious and that women, especially feminists, can't be funny.

Coming of age in a culture that demands women be as small, quiet, and compliant as possible -- like a porcelain dove that will also have sex with you -- writer and humoristLindy West quickly discovered that she was anything but.

From a painfully shy childhood in which she tried, unsuccessfully, to hide her big body and even bigger opinions; to her public war with stand-up comedians over rape jokes; to her struggle to convince herself, and then the world, that fat people have value; to her accidental activism and never-ending battle royale with Internet trolls, Lindy narrates her life with a blend of humor and pathos that manages to make a trip to the abortion clinic funny and wring tears out of a story about diarrhea.

With inimitable good humor, vulnerability, and boundless charm, Lindy boldly shares how to survive in a world where not all stories are created equal and not all bodies are treated with equal respect, and how to weather hatred, loneliness, harassment, and loss, and walk away laughing. Shrill provocatively dissects what it means to become self-aware the hard way, to go from wanting to be silent and invisible to earning a living defending the silenced in all caps.

Critic reviews

"Lindy West's memoir is a witty and cathartic take on toxic misogyny and fat shaming. She comes to accept her body just as Internet trolls congregate en masse to try to rip this new confidence from her, but she's rearing to fight back...In Shrill, West is our fat, ferocious, and funny avenging angel."—NPR, Best Books of 2016

"It made me hurt, both from laughing and crying. Required reading if you are a feminist. Recommended reading if you aren't."—Jenny Lawson, #1 bestselling author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy

"Lindy West is an essential (and hilarious) voice for women. Her talent and bravery have made the Internet a place I actually want to be. Thank you, Lindy."—Lena Dunham, #1 bestselling author of Not That Kind of Girl

"Hey reader! I thought I'd read enough in this lifetime about people's childhoods and feelings and such and I'd never want to do it again. But Lindy West is such a totally entertaining and original writer she kind of blew that thought out of my head halfway into the first chapter. I dare you to feel differently."—Ira Glass, This American Life

"It's literally the new Bible."—Caitlin Moran, bestselling author of How to Be a Woman

"One of the most distinctive voices advancing feminist politics through humor...With patience, humor and a wildly generous attitude toward her audience [West] meets readers at their point of prejudice so that she may, with little visible effort, shepherd them toward a more humane point of view."—The New York Times Book Review

"Lindy West is funny. That's the first thing you should know about her essay collection on feminism, fat acceptance, and Internet harassment....Lindy has faced so many intolerable and enraging situations as a fat woman who is outspoken in her writing and on social media, but she always frames her negative experiences with humor and perspective. With her clear-eyed insights into modern culture and her confidence in her own intelligence and personal worth, West appeals to the humanity of even the most parents' basement-dwelling, misogynistic and casually hateful of trolls."—Esquire, Best Books of 2016

"There's a reason Lindy West is such a beloved writer: she gets to the heart of impossible issues with humor and grace. West will have you cringing, laughing and crying, all within one page. Shrill is a must-read for all women."—Jessica Valenti, author of Why Have Kids and Full Frontal Feminism

"The surge of love and joy I felt while crylaughing through this book almost made my cold dead heart explode. Lindy is so smart and so funny that it almost hurts my little jealous-ass feelings. She is my most favorite writer ever."—Samantha Irby, author of Meaty

I love this woman

I am a long time audiobook fan (I like to read with my ears) but I have never binged listened to any book before this. May Lindy West continue to lead platoons of strong, smart, out spoken women whose armor and weapons are their wit and hilarity.

Fantastic, funny, smart

This book was phenomenal. Smart, very well written, incisive, funny. West brings her capacious wit, empathy and intelligence to tackle tricky topics like fat-phobia, feminism and rape culture. She's also a great reader (which makes sense given her performance background). This was an accessible, fun, and fast read.

So good

Listening to this, I laughed so loud I got funny looks on the train. And I cried in public. And I wanted to pause it, write down a quote, and tattoo it on myself more times than I can count. Lindy is funny, charming, and oh so real. Do yourself a favor, ladies, and listen.

New favorite book to recommend

If you see value in knowing more about any of the following, then this is for you: a) women in comedy b) rape culture c) treating fat people like human beings d) misogyny and silencing of women e) positive body image

outstanding

hilarious, feminist. a must listen for all. thank you lindy for doing what you do!