The New Single Woman

If Bridget Jones had had a chance to meet Trimberger as a teenager, it's a good bet that her diary might have read very differently. The Good News from Planet Singleton is that despite overwhelming cultural messages to the contrary, it's possible for women to live happily ever after alone. A professor emeritus of women's and gender studies at Sonoma State University, Trimberger bases her book on a qualitative study detailing how 27 women between the ages of 30 and 60 have crafted full and satisfying lives. Nancy, like many of the women in the study, never consciously decided to remain single. But, she explains, "One of the major sources of joy that I have in my life is that I can take care of myself." She lives near family, and her network of friends is built around her workplace and people she's met pursuing her hobby, flamenco dancing. Wynona, a mother of four, earned advanced degrees after leaving an abusive marriage. Trimberger's research skills are impressive and her message clear. What's missing is the voices of the women she's describing. She talks at length about them and provides the occasional quote, but her clinical prose style doesn't serve the subject matter well. Still, this is a great resource for social science professionals. (Sept.)