Quotable Bitch, The

You ... little ... bitch. Admit it: You've had that thought before. On more than one occasion. On more than several occasions. And you have probably been the subject of that thought before, too. The truth is we can all be bitches--and we know it.

Bitch. This small, five-letter word looks harmless but sounds caustic, and now it's thrown around effortlessly like the manicured middle finger you threw up this morning at the bitch that cut you off in traffic on your way to work.

But what kind of world do we live in when a man who stands up for what he believes in is automatically considered a strong leader, confident in his ways--a real go-getter--and a woman who speaks her mind is considered pushy, a trouble starter, a, well, okay ... a real bitch? Ladies, being that kind of a bitch isn't a bad thing. It's time to embrace this word for what it's worth.

To be frank (or Fran Lebowitz), a bitch is a woman who is unafraid to tell it like it is, to bluntly and honestly call out the shortcomings or injustices of the world and those around her. In this book, you'll find the voices of women from all walks of life who have done just that -- from civil rights leader Susan B. Anthony to comedian Sarah Silverman, from Academy Award-winning actress Bette Davis to singing sensation Bette Midler, and from author Jane Austen to TV personality Joan Rivers, among others. In the well-respected words of Madonna, thought of as the epitome of the B-word by more than a few critics, "I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay."

There's no doubt you'll find yourself grinning wickedly as strong, independent women such as U.S. Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder and tennis pro Althea Gibson reveal their innermost thoughts on just how bitchy we really can get, on how bitchy we can be toward other women around us, and, of course, toward all of the men in our lives that we love to hate. You'll read thoughts on the feminist movement throughout history as well as opinions from those bold and gutsy women who think it'd be best for everyone to just move out of the goddamn way.

So sit back, pour yourself a glass of whine-- er, wine--and get ready to embrace and fully appreciate the inner bitch you know and love. Whatever you prefer to call it--supreme confidence, an unapologetic attitude (we opt for the all-inclusive bitchiness)-- take pride in the knowledge that you, too, can be a bitch.