The Women's Book that Men Are Reading

So I interviewed Sarah Cunningham about her new book Picking Dandelions...

ME: Sarah, congrats on the new book. What's it about?

SARAH: “It's a loose collection of stories that play to a universal theme—that humans (especially people in the faith) can’t afford the luxury of unchanged living. And it paints a metaphor of having to weed out one’s life to make room for more Eden intentions; more of the life God intended.”

ME: Who is it for? Cuz I see the dandelion, and I'm like...

SARAH: “I was thinking it would be 30 to 50 year old multi-tasking women, probably juggling a fast-paced career, laundry duty, and reading three or four books simultaneously. Maybe using a half-completed to-do list as a bookmark.”

ME: But no?

SARAH: "I was surprised that six of the seven people who opted to endorse the book were… men. And after the book hit the shelves, men have consistently made up about half the reviewers."

ME: Well, there is a rumor going around that Donald Miller wrote the book under the pen name "Sarah Cunningham."

SARAH: “Its been funny to watch. A lot of the men who mention the book to me, in emails or online, abbreviate it as PD—as if the title and the bright fuzzy flower on the cover, becomes a little more masculine."

ME: Are you surprised that men are reading it then?

SARAH: “Sorta. I was a little surprised that men got over the cover image. It wasn’t a bubble letter cursive font or hearts and lipstick smeared all over the cover, but it played to women. Now I imagine this underground group of muscle-y guys, flipping through the book with paper bags over their heads. Like the sports fans who are embarrassed by their teams.”

ME: What do you think that means?

SARAH: “Maybe the metaphor is bigger than I realized then. Its not just women kneeling in their gardens pulling stray dandelions; it's men firing up the weed-eater and mowing down hundreds at a time.”

ME: Yeah, that sounds like me.

Comments

[Janet oberholtzer]

This book had been on my reading list and now it definitely is ... good interview! Sarah, I received the magnet the other day - like the quote about change. Thanks!

But I have a question (think I was born saying why) why is it a surprise that men would like a woman's book, when women read and like many men's books?
With all due respect, I like Donald Miller's writing (his stuff on telling a story and living a good life has major influence on things I do or don't do) but because it's good and men like it - Donald Miller wrote it? Why?

[Ben Arment]

Janet, I confess I cut out some of the interview. There's a larger number of people who have compared her to Anne Lammott. It was more about the flower on the front cover. =)

[Sarah]

Hey Janet, it wasn't entirely surprising. But from my own experience, my brothers and husband tend to be the "man's man" type--they don't wear pink, they don't read books with flowers on them (unless their sister/wife who wrote them forces their hand). So I knew some men might shy away from a book that appears to be aimed at women. But really, I was NOT shocked that the message has universal appeal and significance. And was expecting to be compared to Lamott (she is an influence) but was surprised by the Donald Miller comparisons... (I think people compare me to him. The part about him writing it was a joke.)

[Janet oberholtzer]

Ben ... nice to hear her compared to Anne Lammott.
And congrats to you Sarah ... Lammott and Miller, two great people to be compared to. I planned to finish a couple other books I started before I allow myself to start yours, but I might be moving it to the top of the pile now :)
I reread my comment wondering if it sounded different than I meant it to - maybe I should have used some emoticons :) I wasn't complaining ... I often have questions concerning men/women and this triggered one.

[Sarah]

No worries at all,Janet. I just wanted to explain. Some details get lost in our humor too. :)Thanks for the compliments and comments!

[Ben Arment]

And I misspelled Lamott - I keep doing that to her.