Mean Girls All Grown Up: Surviving Catty and Conniving Women (ISBN 080073100X)

This book is an open invitation for bullies everywhere:
I'm sorry, but this book is worse than useless. It basically tells the reader not to protect herself or to stand up for herself. It tells readers to turn the other cheek, try to placate, ignore and try to be nice as an example. Most women who buy this book are probably in the victim position and are looking for useful tools to help them become stronger so that they will no longer be prime targets for bullies. Women who are being victimized got that way from being the good girls, the nice girls, not causing any waves, not rocking the boat and living in a lot of fear. The last thing they need is more advice on how to lie down in front of a bully and pray and quote scripture in hopes that the bully will have an epiphany and go away. They are looking for awareness to protect themselves from being bullied and for tools to increase their self-esteem. I read Mean Girls Grown Up : Adult Women Who Are Still Queen Bees, Middle Bees, and Afraid-to-Bees -- by Cheryl Dellasega, which was a wonderful book and has helped me immensely. The whole premise of Ms. Dellasega's book is strength, self-esteem and awareness. I then began Ms. Dimarco's book and couldn't believe what I was reading. I could not finish the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone searching for an end to the bullying.

I wasted my money!:
Apparently I was looking for the book with a very similar title by Dellasega. Somehow, I missed the fact that this book is saturated with Christianity, complete with scripture references to back up its points. I'm frustrated that this isn't spelled out for a prospective buyer... no mention of Christianity in the title, subtitle, or editorial reviews. Not my style... to the point where I can't stomach even the first chapter. Wish I would have known before wasting my time and money. And I imagine that women who are Christian might be more interested in the book if it were accurately described.

Some Interesting Material but...:
This book really does apply mostly to Christians as its proofs are Christian specific. Should one be of another religion then they will be fairly discombobulated by the author's reliance on scripture as a means for justifying her positions. I don't know Mrs. Dimarco personally, but I am rather certain that she is a member of one of Christianity's more evangelizing wings as there is much here that would even confuse Catholics. In fairness, the title of the book should probably have been Mean Girls All Grown Up: A Guide for Christians as there is not hint of its biblical emphasis on the cover. While I can see why several readers were disappointed, I do think the author has some excellent analysis here. I also think that "forgiving your enemies" is the best thing for one's own mental health. I don't say this out of a desire to religiously parrot, however. I truly think that when one holds grudges they drink a glass of poison every day while expecting the other person to die. Furthermore, I admit to my own hypocrisy here as I have been unable to forgive properly on a handful of occasions. Yet, the way she advocates is undoubtedly best for the person cursed with the ire of mean women.

I want my money back!:
If I had wanted a book that was full of Bible versus I would have bought one! I feel that the title mirepresented the whole thought behind the book. It was a waste of money and, if I could, I would return it! I didn't get beyond the first chapter, but the thought that I would "find having a friendship with women diffucult after being friends with guys" was insulting to say the least. I have plently of close female friends but was looking for a good read about "Queen Bees", etc. I will never again buy a book by this author.

Religious book in disguise:
I am so annoyed I bought this book, based on FALSE advertising and MISLEADING content on the web and on it's jackets. The recommendation is boasted from the Journal of Nursing. Should be from the Journal of Hysterical Jeeezus Freaks. The thing is a NOT so thinly veiled evangelical mess. I wanted to sell my used copy. Come to find out you cannot get more than 30 cents for it. I KNOW! Maybe it is flammable. I'll try lighting it, and see if the pretty colors as it burns make me feel any better. See, look, did it help me be less mean? No. No-- it dinn't.