Wendy Kaminer, a writer and social critic who is also an egalitarian feminist and radical free speech advocate, has written on a wide variety of subjects. Here are some of her more readable books on American culture and politics.
1. Free for All: Defending Liberty in America Today
A collection of essays by Wendy Kaminer on a variety of civil liberties issues in America today. 2002. (free discussion guide)
2. Women Volunteering
Subtitle: The Pleasure, Pain, and Politics of Unpaid Work from 1830 to the Present. Kaminer's first book, on a much-neglected aspect of women's history.3. Sleeping with Extra-Terrestrials: The Rise of Irrationalism and Perils of Piety
This book is Kaminer's critique of -- or tirade against -- irrationalities including religious fundamentalism, New Age spirituality, and "junk science."4. I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional
Subtitle: The Recovery Movement and Other Self-Help Fashions. Kaminer criticizes much of the self-help movement as dominated by an authoritarian attitude, a tendency towards victimhood and away from personal responsibility, and a shallow, knee-jerk religiosity.5. A Fearful Freedom: Women's Flight From Equality.
Kaminer's now-classic 1990 critique of protectionist feminism (advocating for maternity benefits, child care laws) in favor of egalitarian feminism.6. It's All the Rage: Crime and Culture
Kaminer's incisive critique on the role of pop psychology and other irrationality on cultural attitudes towards crime and the death penalty. How could, for instance, the same California voters support Governor Pete Wilson's "get tough on crime" initiatives, yet favor leniency for O. J. Simpson in his murder trial?7. True Love Waits: Essays and Criticism
A collection of essays by Kaminer, including on such topics as feminism, sex, premarital abstinence (the source of the title) and pop psychology.8. Worst Instincts: Cowardice, Conformity, and the ACLU
Wendy Kaminer takes controversies at the ACLU -- where she was a dissident member of the national board -- and dissects them from her point of view.