MEREDITH WESLEY’s Unmasking Manipulation: Maneuvering the Undertow with Shrewdness and Innocence is the first book I’ve selected to review because it is an excellent self-help resource.
I had the honor of endorsing the book in 2020, the year of its publication after the author sent me an advanced copy. I knew that the focus of the book was psychological manipulation but what came as a pleasant surprise was that Wesley had written a how-to manual for women seeking to untangle themselves from the powerful tentacles of psycho-emotional abuse.
I mentioned that Unmasking Manipulation is written for women, as it uses the feminine gaze and its contents speak directly to anyone who has experienced manipulation in the context of misogyny. Keeping in mind that the women’s rights movement began in 1848 and has been in progress for less than two hundred years, it is essential that women share their stories and perspectives in a world that has historically erased them.
Perhaps the most valuable part of the book is Wesley’s ability to detail a range of manipulation tactics and teach readers to recognize them in daily life. However, another characteristic of the book I found especially useful is the practical way that it is structured into sections, each one addressing common aspects of the manipulation process. Wesley excels at explaining complex topics in clear and direct language, which is helpful for readers in the early stages of recovery from psycho-emotional abuse who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress.
In Unmasking Manipulation Wesley compares misogynistic abusive power and control to warfare and illustrates why she has come to this conclusion. She effectively articulates the shocking sensation of having one’s face pressed up against the glass of the systemic oppression of women.
Unmasking Manipulation: Maneuvering the Undertow with Shrewdness and Innocence by Meredith Wesley is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other fine book stores.