Brazen: My Unorthodox Journey from Long Sleeves to Lingerie by Julia Haart (Crown Publishing Group)

I had no expectations when I started reading Brazen, which made it all the more surprising. The book is interesting, informative, and much more because of the author's excellent writing style. Julia is an extraordinary woman. 

I was drawn to the chapters that described life in the orthodox Jewish community and less to the second section, in which she candidly describes her sexual life. I understand that detailed descriptions liberate her; perhaps she should keep some details to herself.

Several times while reading, I wondered how she was able to accumulate so much money to start her business with nothing and immediately live in a luxurious style, as we could see on Netflix.  I have serious reservations about this, and I don't take everything at face value.

Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and learned a lot about the Orthodox Jewish community, religion, and attitudes toward women. That is the brilliance of religion: it makes you believe that the freedoms you have given up were sacrificed for a good cause, the best cause. It makes you police yourself. You feel as if it is your choice, and you don’t realize that you haven’t really been given a single choice since you were born.

The heavily indoctrinated rarely recognize their own indoctrination, and they defend their indoctrinators with all the power at their disposal.

Julia built herself from the ground up, as she puts it. She is a fearless, innovative, and courageous woman. For her, real feminism is what she calls feminine feminism. You don’t need to pretend to be a man to be respected. You don’t need to dress like a man to be taken seriously. Enjoy being a woman. Luxuriate in your curves. And stand up and claim that boardroom. True freedom is being yourself—not having to hide your curves, your personality, or your opinions.

4/5