It's full of detail on individual women's lives, following their stories throughout the period, as well as drawing conclusions about society as a whole and tracing the roots of why things were as they were. It’s almost brain-dead, it smells good, it tastes good, and you don’t have to worry about your life. Above all, one of the qualities of a good wife is knowing that her home has to be a safe place for the family to grow, play, and live. A lot of the strict gender roles that the book talks about probably still exist in some form of the other today – evangelical purity culture/messaging about femininity reminds me a lot of this.

There is warmth in [Nicholson's] curiosity as she delves into the stories of her mother's generation. It’s one of the interesting political questions that this book raises, by assembling together all these life stories, and then doesn’t quite satisfactorily answer. Patience: Be patient with yourself and your spouse as you work through challenges, understanding that it’s a journey of growth and development.This requires her to exercise discernment, so that she does not blindly follow her husband if he veers into sin. It is essential for individuals to discern and prioritize the qualities that resonate most with their hearts, as understanding one’s unique needs becomes the compass guiding a fulfilling partnership.

Was so interesting and covered an amazing range of topics, real peoples lives and there was never a dull moment.If, like me, you were a child in this era the book is like a trip down memory lane and a wallow in nostalgia. Many teachers and parents had narrow expectations for girls whose destiny was to be marriage, a home and a family, with work just an interim measure between leaving school and walking down the aisle, rather than a career.

Nicholson has the same knack of seamlessly piecing gripping individual stories into a panorama of everyday life. It was interesting reading about the fashions of the times and how women always wore hats and gloves and aprons. Nicholson contrasts them throughout the book and it is an effective pairing: one the beautiful, feminine storybook princess whose purity and perfection, at least in the 1950s, was the pride of the nation, the other a brilliant, ambitious career woman, ready to take advantage of every opportunity available to her and brutally pilloried for it (though that would come later, once she achieved success).

The Proverbs 31 wife is a capable woman who cares well for her family, plans for the future, is creative, entrepreneurial, and generous to meet the needs of others.