On Our Best Behaviour is an informative account of how women are suppressed and separated from our true selves in modern society. The golden thread throughout this book is that if the seven deadly sins and Elise Loehnen shows how the idea of these has been woven throughout culture, society and politics to keep women in their place and used to continue to programme women to obey the rules and support the patriarchal norm of our society. What if women finally found freedom—because we gave it to ourselves? Elise Loehnen brilliantly reframes our toxic cultural programming and helps us to see that what we thought were our sins are actually our greatest virtues. This book is the gift we have all been waiting for.” —Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone In the greed chapter, she encourages women to “lean in” and gives advice for how to succeed in the existing patriarchal structure (if you’re college-educated and middle class).In other sections, she talks about the evils of capitalism and how we need to stop trying to fit into the patriarchal structure but teach men to be more like us.

Highlights the conflicting priorities or a patriarchal society (looking after the children’s and men) vs the capitalist society (work to make money)-the result of which is that women try to do it all. La forma en la que la religion ha moldeado lo que son los pecados capitales me voló la mente, el contexto histórico, los estereotipos generacionales, las culpas, los temores todo lo que la autora confronta es muy interesante. While analyzing history, fairy tales, myths, folklore, religion, and much more, Loehnen provides us with an important argument around how owning our desire leads to wholeness and a rich human experience not a sinful one. Half historical docent, half big sister with a hot cup of tea, read this and change your life' TERRENCE REALA raw cri de coeur, penetrating social analysis, and revealing personal reflection . . . Elise Loehnen deftly deconstructs one of the central ideological buttresses of patriarchal society: the shaming of women for having human desires, strengths, capacities, and strivings of body, mind, and soul. Doing so, she provides a guide to liberation and a return to the authentic feminine self.” —Gabor Maté, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Myth of Normal It combines a mixture of data, historical accounts and modern day stories to highlight the ongoing pervasive nature of the patriarchy.

Made me challenge my own stereotypes towards other women. ‘We believe in a women’s equality and yet, as women, feel guilt when we put our own needs forwards or uncomfortable when other women do the same’ Having a daughter who is about to embark on her own life and going to college. I have always worried whether I have prepared her enough for her future years and the choices that I have made. On some levels I can say I am almost ashamed of some of the things that I have may portrayed and how they could be damaging to this culture of not supporting other women and isolating ourselves. I plan to remedy that before she leaves on her own life adventure. It is interesting to think about how this concept of the Seven Deadly Sins has lasted in our culture. It would be nice to read a book that actually traces that thread in history, philosophy, psychology, and social science. This book is more interested in telling us what “society” expects of us.

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I can say I learned some cool things like about the Eight Thoughts, that it was taken and mashed into the Seven Deadly Sins by christians, taking away Sorrow. Learned that sinning originally meant "missed the mark" in Hebrew and Greek so it was more forgiving than christianity allowed it to be. I appreciate the outright critique on christianity as well. A stunning, big, and bold encyclopedia of how to live—the first post-pandemic book to take our latest measurements and provide something fresh to comfort, embolden, enlighten, and enrich who we are today . . . On Our Best Behavior is nothing short of a tangible necessity in our new intangible world.” —Lisa Taddeo, New York Times bestselling author of Three Women