Kendall Jenner is back in the spotlight with her latest memoir, Still, You Want More. She tells her story through a series of vignettes. At times it feels like she is telling her story to an interviewer and sometimes to herself. In any case, I think she nails down everything she needs to write a great memoir. If you are tired of reading rehashed lines from other books about women, this one should interest you.
One of the vignettes focuses on Adin Aubin’s family. He is a deeply religious man who is deeply involved with his culture. We learn some things about the culture of his ancestors and how he relates to them through his religious activities. It is refreshing to read about a man so steeped in his culture that he chooses to share it with all of us.
We learn a little bit about Adin and how he has been affected by his time in the West. It is interesting to learn how culture can affect men and women so differently. The culture of America for instance has caused some issues for women. In contrast, it seems that American men have been free and easy.
The author talks about the differences between men and women. There is plenty of talk about the domestic violence that men commit. I was surprised that there is very little focus on male violence against women in the culture. It was obvious that the author wants to tell her story as a female, but she notes that many people do not consider these issues necessary to write about. This is a smart move.
We learn a little about Adin’s work. He was very good at what he did and that reflects in his memoir. He talks about his faith in God and the difficulty of balancing it while being true to his core values of honesty and integrity. This is something we need more of in our men. Too many of us either hide our emotions, or we try to mask them as “principle”.
There are a number of things in this book that will remind us of the value of the book. Some of these are the cultural differences in how men and women are treated, as well as what obstacles men face in a society that keeps them from reaching their potential. There are also a few lessons that should help us all to grow personally and professionally. The fact that we live in a patriarchal society means that we also live with other men. These experiences are not always easy. Men often fight to be masculine, and this sometimes backfires because they become weak and submissive.
The author has done an excellent job of bringing light to some very important issues. She does not romanticize the past but rather examines it realistically. This makes the stories more appealing to women readers. Her writing style is clear and easy to follow. The author makes it clear that she is an expert in these matters and that she has given much thought to this topic. This is a very encouraging book for both men and women to read.
If you are a man looking for a little insight on how the present culture affects you, and if you are a woman looking for a great read about how your place in society affects men, this book is worth checking out. It may even inspire you to change your views on some things. We can only hope that future generations will look back at this period of time with a little more admiration than what we give today.