Libby Audiobook: The New Rules of Menopause, De Stephanie. S Faubion

 

I don't think a book has irritated me quite this much in a long time.

TWELVE HOURS audiobook!

So much repetition. I honestly think the key takeaways could have been condensed into a much shorter, more accessible guide.

What frustrated me most was the wildly inconsistent level of detail. One minute we're getting incredibly technical explanations about hormones, medications and medical terminology that practically require a medical degree to follow. The next, we're being told how to brush our teeth and how dental floss works.

Really?

I would have thought that by the time we're navigating perimenopause or menopause, most of us would have mastered the basics of dental hygiene back in primary school! At times, it felt rather condescending.

The book seemed to swing between assuming the reader had extensive medical knowledge and assuming we knew almost nothing about looking after ourselves.

Eventually, the repetition became so frustrating that I actually started fast-forwarding through sections of the audiobook.

I'll give it one thing, though. It is thorough. Incredibly thorough. There is clearly a wealth of information here, and I appreciate the intention to provide a comprehensive guide.

But comprehensive doesn't necessarily mean engaging, and more information doesn't always mean more value.

Perhaps this works better as a reference book, where you can dip into specific chapters as needed, rather than a 12-hour audiobook.

3/5 being generous