What Women Want: Conversations on Desire, Power, Love and Growth

Description

From a leading psychotherapist comes an electrifying examination into female desire told through the stories of seven very different women. After thirty years of research, Sigmund Freud still felt the great unanswered question was- 'What does a woman want?' Fifteen years into her own journey as a psychotherapist, Maxine Mei-Fung Chung believes her collaboration with her patients holds the answers. Through the profound and moving stories of seven very different women, Maxine Mei-Fung Chung sheds light on our most fundamental needs and desires. From a young bride-to-be struggling to accept her sexuality, to a mother grappling with questions of identity and belonging, and a woman learning to heal after years of trauma, What Women Want is an electrifying and deeply intimate examination into the inner lives of women. Based on hours of conversations between Maxine and her patients, this book lays bare our fears, hopes, secrets and capacity for healing. With great empathy and precision, What Women Want presents a fearless look into the depths of who we are, so that we can better understand each other and ourselves. To desire is an action. This extraordinary book liberates and empowers us to claim what we truly want.

Maxine Mei-Fung Chung is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and writer with over fifteen years of clinical experience. She lectures on gender and sexuality, trauma and attachment theory at the Bowlby Centre and was presented with The Jafar Kareem Award for her work supporting people from ethnic minorities experiencing isolation and mental health problems. What Women Want is her first work of non-fiction.

This debut from a leading psychotherapist is an enthralling, intersectional investigation of female desire * Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller * I couldn't stop thinking about these women's stories. The best book on female desire and longing since Three Women * Abigail Bergstrom, author of What a Shame * Maxine's book is insightful, tender and brilliant. I am enraptured by these women's stories. * Katy Hessel, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Story of Art without Men * A rich and intimate examination of female desire, Maxine's book is full of wisdom and insight. I cannot recommend it enough * Julia Samuel * A compelling read * Sally Huband *