NOT PRETTY ENOUGH The Unlikely Triumph of Helen Gurley Brown

Helen Gurley Brown, author of SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL, and legendary editor of COSMOPOLITAN magazine, was a singular woman who really did change the world. How she did it, and the prices she paid as well as the rewards she reaped, make for a truly fascinating listen. The Hearst Corporation apparently has a stranglehold on Brown's archives at Smith College, though she meant them to be available to researchers. Gerri Hirshey has found ingenious ways around their self-serving obstructions; she tells a full, complex story of a unique personality and her mid-century world. Eliza Foss is perfectly equipped to narrate this juicy saga with warmth, sympathy, and enthusiasm. Her attention never flags, and the only unwelcome distractions in this excellent production are audible edits. B.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016]