Women in the Material World

Also recommended: The Material World: A Global Family Portait around the World


Absolutely Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!   July 12, 2002
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

When I first ordered this book and received it in the mail, after opening the box it came in, sat down right then and there "just to take a peek". Well, let's just say, my short "peek" turned into an interrupted 30 minutes! "Women in the Material World" certainly joins the ranks of "can't-put-down-and-can't-forget-about" books. It is a very worthy sequel to "Material World", in which women from some of the "Material World" families are looked at more closely. Perhaps the most special thing about this book is a long, personal, and intimate interview with each women. The women are surprisingly open in responding about their daily life, their children, their marriage, and their future hopes. "Women in the Material World" simply lets the women speak for themselves, and in the process, breaks down many stereotypes (who would have thought a 58-year Chinese woman would love farming much more than her traditional household duties?)and lets others remain (the secluded life of an Indian woman). Statistics for that country, quick facts about each woman, a brief write-up on conditions for women in each of their countries, and field notes from the photographer further enrich this amazing book. The women in this book will inspire you, challenge you, and never let you forget this book.


An amazing book that should remind us just how lucky we are!   June 11, 2001
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I first read Material World: a Global family portrait. This one is similar, and has some of the same people in it, but this one focuses on the women in the family, and how she takes care of her family, what she thinks about, how she gets along in life in general.

There are some statistics about the country, things about how much money they make, the literacy rate, etc.. none of it boring. the book makes you feel like you are traveling around the world and meeting all of these people. The pictures are also beautiful.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in other cultures and the way that women live around the world.. i would love to find more books like this. It makes me thankful for how much I have and the opportunities in this country that are open to women!


Women in the Material World is a great book!   May 17, 2000
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I read the book, Women in the Material World after I saw the author at a young women's conference last year. I thought the book was great. It showed many women's points of view on life and the way they live. This book made me think about other women and how we are all very different but also the same. I think this book is very truthful and has a beautiful message. There are not many books like this out there so I commend Faith for writing it.


Photos amazing, interviews however...   September 29, 1999
 11 out of 15 found this review helpful

I was thrilled with this book when I first saw it at a friend's house when I was visiting the US. While trying to recover from burn out syndrome, 'reading' photo books works well for me and I enjoyed this book so much because the photos give an incredibly intimate look into the lives of ordinary people around the globe. They capture both love and despair in an amazing way. However, the interviews could have been a lot better. Other reviewers are right that the chosen families are not as representative as we might wish, but at least that is accounted for and I think understandable. What bugs me most is the American bias: the American woman is asked questions on a totally different level than the others, making the others seem sort of stupid on the one hand and frustrating comparison on the other. And I also would like to have had more information about how the interview was done, if the interviewer spoke the woman's language, what may have gotten lost in the translation etc. Still, a great book to have and I wish I could have been part of the team that made it!