Me, My Hair, and I: Twenty-seven Women Untangle an Obsession by Elizabeth Benedict
Title: Me, My Hair, and I: Twenty-seven Women Untangle an Obsession
Author: Elizabeth Benedict
Pages: 336
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Genre: Nonfiction - Essays
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Kindle
Summary (back of book)
Ask a woman about her hair, and she just might tell you the story of her life. Ask a whole bunch of women about their hair, and you could get a history of the world. Surprising, insightful, frequently funny, and always forthright, the essays in Me, My Hair, and I are reflections and revelations about every aspect of women’s lives from family, race, religion, and motherhood to culture, health, politics, and sexuality.
They take place in African American kitchens, at Hindu Bengali weddings, and inside Hasidic Jewish homes. The conversation is intimate and global at once. Layered into these reminiscences are tributes to influences throughout history: Jackie Kennedy, Lena Horne, Farrah Fawcett, the Grateful Dead, and Botticelli’s Venus.
The long and the short of it is that our hair is our glory - and our nemesis, our history, our self-esteem, our joy, our morality. Every woman knows that many things in life matter more than hair, but few bring as much pleasure as a really great hairdo.
Review
Dennis thinks I think and talk too much about my hair. And he’s right. I definitely spend more time thinking about my hair than most people. I always say it’s because my hair isn’t normal! It requires a little more thought to look decent!
I saw this recommended somewhere (unfortunately, I forget where) and added it to my list a few years ago. I was in the mood for an essay collection to chip away at and this was a great one.
I was expecting the essays to be about women and the challenges they experience with their hair, or their attempts to replicate an iconic hairstyle. I wasn’t expecting how much culture and history and religion was woven into this collection. It was lovely.
If you’re interested in getting a copy for yourself, please consider using this link to not only get a copy, but also support this site!
