Book Circle * On Our Best Behavior * Part 2

 Book Circle: On Our Best Behavior * Part Two

Our first session was incredibly inspiring. We decided to keep the conversation going. All are welcome to this - regardless if you attended Part 1 or not!

Watch the Replay of Part One

Buy the Book

Book Discussion Kit (we will be using some of these resources to prompt our discussion)

 

Leslie’s Thoughts:

It’s Not Your Fault: Understanding How We Got Here

This book is nothing short of a feminist manifesto. Reading it made me angry and hopeful – we no longer live in medieval times and yet….in the spirit of fostering awareness and giving ourselves a pass at behaviors that were taught to us, explicitly or implicitly, It was a relief to understand that the system was set up this way for a reason. And we can change it.

About the Book:

This groundbreaking exploration of the ancient rules women unwittingly follow to be considered "good" reveals how the Seven Deadly Sins still control and distort our lives and illuminates a path toward a more balanced, spiritually complete way of life.

Why do women equate self-denial with being good?

We congratulate ourselves when we resist the donut in the office breakroom. We celebrate our restraint when we hold back from sending an email in anger. We feel virtuous when we wake up at dawn to get a jump on the day. We put others' needs ahead of our own and believe this makes us exemplary. In On Our Best Behavior, journalist Elise Loehnen explains that these impulses--often lauded as unselfish, distinctly feminine instincts--are actually ingrained in us by a culture that reaps the benefits, via an extraordinarily effective collection of mores known as the Seven Deadly Sins.

Since being codified by the Christian church in the fourth century, the Seven Deadly Sins--pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth--have exerted insidious power. Even today, in our largely secular, patriarchal society, they continue to circumscribe women's behavior. For example, seeing sloth as sinful leads women to deny themselves rest; a fear of gluttony drives them to ignore their appetites; and an aversion to greed prevents them from negotiating for themselves and contributes to the 55 percent gender wealth gap.

In On Our Best Behavior, Loehnen reveals how we've been programmed to obey the rules represented by these sins and how doing so qualifies us as "good." This probing analysis of contemporary culture and thoroughly researched history explains how women have internalized the patriarchy, and how they unwittingly reinforce it. By sharing her own story and the spiritual wisdom of other traditions, Loehnen shows how we can break free and discover the integrity and wholeness we seek.

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 What are Collective Book Circles? 

Our Book Circle is a bi-monthly virtual gathering led by our sensational sage, Leslie Appleton Young. With a passion for books, the art of listening, and a fierce determination to break free from the constraints of patriarchy, Leslie guides us on a journey of exploration, reflection, and empowerment.

At the Book Circle, we come together to dive into the pages of a pre-selected book, carefully chosen to inspire, challenge, and uplift us on our collective journey of personal and professional growth. Through thoughtful discussions, we explore the highlights, insights, and lessons within the pages, drawing wisdom from the author's words and our own shared experiences.

In addition to our enriching discussions, the Book Circle features a Q&A segment, where participants have the opportunity to engage with Leslie and delve deeper into the themes and concepts explored in the book.

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Join us as we reimagine the power of reading and storytelling, challenge the status quo, and empower ourselves to live boldly and authentically.

Visit our Red Threads Collective store on Bookshop.org.