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Brent's notes: This book really gets into the cultural influences on US girls and women regarding their body image and how that influences self esteem and every other aspect of their lives. While a worthwhile read, and very informative from a social-historical perspective, the author doesn't give women much credit for being able to think for themselves, and does spend a lot of time demonizing the medical profession and the media (which, of course, both richly deserve). It gave me a lot to think about.

Brent's notes: Very little of academic merit has been written on this topic. This book very competently engages in a heartfelt exploration of it. Very well done and very important to understanding victim psychodynamics and how some can express their feelings.

Brent's notes: David Finkelhor is an authority on this subject, so reading his work is incumbent upon on all serious students.

Brent's notes: Another excellent work on the subject of self-mutilation. Full of very well rendered case studies. Though it is very clinical/disease oriented.

Brent's notes: This is one of those books that you really have to read to appreciate. Though some of the conclusions the book draws are not so well thought out, and clearly the exploration is not as informed as it could be, the work asks some very important questions on a difficult subject. It did make me think as I read and that will lead me, hopefully, to asking better questions in the future.

Booknews, Inc. , December 1, 1994
Professionals in counseling, social work and psychotherapy share insights gained from experience in this under-explored field. Interviews with survivors and abusers refute many commonly held myths about female perpetrators, and one family's experience is examined from the viewpoints of family members and their therapists. Includes a review of the literature. Published in the U.K. by Longman (1993) with the subtitle The Ultimate Taboo. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Synopsis
In this groundbreaking book, women of all ages and circumstances describe their struggles to come to terms with their fear, anger, and pain, and the silence that allowed their abuse as children and teenagers. Written with courage and honesty, these stories are a powerful testament to all survivors of sexual abuse; and offer real hope for change--and healing.

Brent's notes: I really found this work illuminating on a lot of levels. Basically, it gives the perspectives of six mothers of incest survivors. It is somewhat apologetic and looks for explanations rather than blame (almost but not totally clinical). But it looks at the psychodynamics of incest and incest family relationships in a very revealing way. And even more interesting because of the author's personal experiences and the unique point of view of the mothers.

Brent's notes: Easily one of the most important historical texts on the culture of war time rape. A powerful, well documented account that absolutely demonstrates the importance of history to understanding social psychology. A very important and very brave work at a time when it is not politically or physically safe to be brave on this subject in Japan.

Brent's notes: David Finkelhor is an authority on this subject, so reading his work is incumbent upon on all serious students.

Victims No Longer:
Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse
by Mike Lew, Ellen Bass
Paperback - 352 pages Reprint edition (February 1990)
HarperCollins