If you only read one book about menopause, Flash Count Diaries shouldn't be it. That isn't to say don't read it, but if you are trying to figure out weird symptoms or what you might be able to do to get through hot flashes, lack of sleep, and many other issues related to perimenopause and menopause, this is not the book for you.

Steinke comes to this conclusion: It is not menopause itself that is the problem but menopause as it’s experienced under patriarchy. Most of her exploration is a push back against hormone therapy as not allowing a full experience of this change. She seems to equate hormone therapy with "wet, pliable pussies" or trying to stay young and cycling forever. I don't know anybody who is trying to do that. Most women I know are trying to understand the changes in their own body and ease some of the challenges for themselves.

The book pushes back hard on the male gaze on menopause, but I think also fails to acknowledge that hormones affect all of our bodies and that there are health issues that come up as a result of our changing hormones. I suppose that is part of "natural life," but we treat other risk factors for health risks.