The Optimized Woman: Using Your Menstrual Cycle to Achieve Success and Fulfillment

I'm very much a "Type A" personality. I like charts and lists, and nothing makes me happier than getting to put a checkmark in a box. Therefore, my favourite part of this book was definitely the daily plan; the day-by-day breakdown of how best to utilize the hormonal energy of a particular cycle day to get the most out of productivity, goal achievement, and personal growth. I also really liked the description of creating a Cycle Dial. Again, I appreciated the cohesive look at a month's worth of insight in one place.

What I thought less successful was the explanation of each phase. I found those chapters dry and difficult to follow. I've read other books on the subject that were much better organized, more insightful and offered a more show more accessible look into why the cycle is so impactful. (4 Seasons in 4 Weeks is my favorite to date.) It could be that I already knew enough on the topic of working with my cycle to glaze over the explanations and impatiently want to get to the good stuff - which, for me, was the plan itself. show less

One thing I love about this book is that it throws a positive light on menstruation. Most materials I've read on this topic portray it in a negative way (I'm guilty of writing such a blog post too) and it was refreshing to read a book that says the good things about having periods.

Being someone who reads up on this topic a lot, I knew most of the things mentioned in this book. However, I liked the way each phase of the cycle was described, followed by a list of what abilities the phase brings, what to watch out for, strategies and challenges. Personally, I would use this as a reference guide or a self-help book.

What I didn't like about this book was the repetition. The initial chapter was trying very hard to convince people that this show more plan works and I found myself very bored. Also, the first three chapters had needless summaries.

This book will be useful for women who are sensitive to their menstrual cycle. Others may not benefit from it as much. I would still recommend it.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my unbiased personal opinion. show less