Women in Political Theory - Diana H Cooles

This book looks at how misogyny and western political thought were intertwined in their origins and how this relationship has worked itself out through the classic texts of traditional and modern political theory. The concluding chapter examines contemporary feminist theory by discussing post-structuralist and post-modernist themes, which allows for a reappraisal of the critical perspectives brought to bear in the earlier chapters and for a discussion of recent feminist developments in terms of textual analysis and critiques of foundational categories and concepts.

A thoroughly astounding book. I sat breathless after finishing, all the new information whizzing around my brain. Brilliantly paced, it is a long chronological adventure through the perceptions of women in political and philosophical realms. Not a book of politics or philosophical theorisation in and of itself it is more a exploration of other's ideas and the way that that perception has evolved and interwoven in time. 

I found that the structure of the book was excellent, things moved on in a fluid way and it made the flow of time and perception wonderfully obvious. 

Diana Cooles's writing is personally sublime. Her style is right up my street, she writes in such a precise, unemotional and clean way. Complex ideas and concepts are gotten across succinctly and quickly with no unnecessary information or waffle. 

To be fair, the language used can be difficult in places. It is a highly academic book that needs to be read in small chunks. Definitely not a speed read. The discussion is also admittedly very Western focused. However Diana openly admits that and states that lack of non-western theories and political discussion is a continuing issue in modern feminism in general. 

Overall a wonderful and highly recommended book. A great introduction of feminist politics and philosophy in general. I would say that is reminds me of A Quest for a Moral Compass by Kenan Malik. The same brilliant ability to make the difficult, and at time elitist, accessible to all. 

Age Rating 15+. Nothing untoward however the concepts discussed do require a high degree of previous reading, intimate knowledge of Freud and quite a bit of patience.