Women's Stuff

WOMEN of all ages will get something out of Kaz Cooke's new book, writes Trudy Oram. 

ONLY author Kaz Cooke can take topics such as "periods'' or "breaking up'' and make you smile - even when you're feeling down in the dumps. And who else will openly and honestly discuss "downstairs'', hormones and growing older than the straight-down-the-line Cooke?

Best known for her witty, practical, bestselling advice books Up The Duff, Kidwrangling and Girl Power, based on her own and others' experiences of pregnancy, the toddler years and teen daughters, her latest book focuses on you: women.

As Cooke puts it, it's about "cutting the crap and giving you the info you need to enjoy life the best way you can''.

Women's Stuff is a compilation of thoughts from more than 7000 Australian women who anonymously responded to an online survey - many of whom revealed their most intimate details, says Cooke, 48.

Some of those women may have met the author when she visited Adelaide recently.

Cooke says writing the book has been an emotive experience.

"I really wanted it to be like a best friend in the cupboard,'' she says.

Many respondents poured their hearts out in the survey, admitting to infidelities, worries, breakdowns and having issues with their body image and confidence.

Friendships and sleep issues were hot topics for respondents, with many confused about where their current friendships were going and also admitting to a lack of sleep.

Sex and relationships were other areas of contention for the respondents. Cooke read all 490,000 answers and says many of them made her laugh and cry.

Women's Stuff, Kaz Cooke, Viking, $59.95.