A review of Stripping Down...

Stripping Down: A Memoir by Sheila Hageman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sheila Hageman's Stripping Down is an interesting read. That much I can say without any reservation. However, I guess I am from a different time. One of the problems I have with today's society is this whimpering, pass-the-buck, blame the world mentality that is so pervasive. Nowadays, everybody gets a participation trophy...coaches can't raise their voice... When did we stop being accountable.

The main theme here seems to be that, because the author found a box of Playboys as a young girl, she is overcome with image issues and fights depression for the rest of her life. When life does not work out exactly how she wants, there is this barrage of self-doubt mixed with a liberal dose of "poor me" from the author.

Okay, I'm a guy. So maybe I don't get it, but this is not something new. The EMO music genre has built itself on the idea that "my parents didn't hug me enough so I am messed up."

All that said, she does lay down some insightful moments. It is interesting to see through her eyes when she is dancing. I think the industry might dry up a bit if every guy who frequented strip bars had to read just the parts of the book that related to her time in that role. Also, the dynamics between the author and her dying mother with the added element of the author having her own daughter to raise makes for an interesting case study that psyche students would love.

Overall, the book is okay. It isn't salacious or titillating; it is an emotional catharsis laid out for the public to read.