The Survey
More than 7000 women responded to a comprehensive research survey online, many spending more than an hour pouring out their feelings and responses to 336 questions on subjects including confidence, body image, dieting, mental and physical health, sex and shopping, flirting, family, debt, looking older and cosmetic procedures, and life fulfilment.
More than 2,000 of these quotes are in the book – some are laugh-out-loud funny, some are fascinating, and all are though-provoking. (Some names have been changed to protect privacy, as women were incredibly frank and trusting about some things they'd never shared before such as affairs, worries, secret Botox, grief, toxic partners, tattoos and transgender operations).
The average age of respondents was 38 (the "average" Australian woman is 37), and the oldest was 86. Most of the surveys came in from Australia, followed by women from the UK, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, China, and many others from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Russian Federation, Papua New Guinea, Botswana and other places.
"Nearly 2000 women told me what they have for breakfast. Although I couldn't print all of the quotes in this book, I read every last one, laughing out loud at a fashion disaster, then later weeping at some of the extraordinary bereavements women have suffered. I've never been more sincere when I say: thanks for telling me." – Kaz.