Abigail O’Neel
ministry wife, podcast host, & bible teacher
A Note from Abigail
Let Me Be A Woman was written during the late seventies and early eighties, at the height of the feminist movement. Elisabeth Elliot drafted a series of brief essays that she later gifted to her daughter, Valerie, as a wedding gift. In these essays, Elisabeth touches on a variety of topics including womanhood, marriage, discipline, singleness, and more. Let Me Be A Woman is a great read for every woman, in every season of life.
The About Her book Club completed reading Let Me Be A Woman in November of 2021. You can find a summary of the book and the full reading plan we followed below.
Happy Reading!
Abigail O’Neel
ABOUT HER BOOK CLUB
Book Summary
“In order to learn what it means to be a woman, we must start with the One who made her.” Working from Scripture, well-known speaker and author Elisabeth Elliot shares her observations and experiences in a number of essays on what it means to be a Christian woman, whether single, married, or widowed.*
About the Author
Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) was a missionary and a critically acclaimed author and speaker. For over half a century, her life of obedience, timeless teachings, and best-selling books have influenced both believers and seekers of the Christian faith.
Elisabeth life work was to share these deep things: the trustworthiness of God, the blessings of obedience, the hope of joy in the midst of sorrow, the call to love one’s enemy, the priceless treasure of purity, and the true meaning of Biblical womanhood and manhood. Having written over twenty books, some of her most distinguished writings include, Passion and Purity, Let Me Be a Woman, Shadow of the Almighty, Through Gates of Splendor, and The Savage My Kinsman. The latter three chronicle Elliot’s missionary work and the life and martyrdom of her husband Jim Elliot.
She is survived by her husband Lars Gren, her daughter Valerie Elliot Shepard, and eight grandchildren. Today, her legacy lives on through the work of the Elisabeth Elliot Foundation. Visit ElisabethElliot.org to learn more.*
*Summary & author profile taken from book blurb.
Weekly Reading Plan
A(TYPICAL) WOMAN
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Read chapters 1-10 (30 pages)
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Read chapters 11-22 (35 pages)
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Read chapters 23-31 (38 pages)
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Read chapters 32-40 (32 pages)
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Read chapters 41-49 (35 pages)
Book Club Menu
NOVEMBER
inspiration
Elisabeth is, by far, my favorite baking blogger. Her recipes are absolutely delicious and always easy to follow. This Mascarpone Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust is the perfect dessert to enjoy over book club discussion on a chilly Autumn evening. If you have trouble finding figs in your local grocery store, you could also try using other seasonal fruits like apples or pears. Both would pair nicely with the tart mascarpone and warm gingersnap crust.
Happy baking!
Mascarpone Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
by Elisabeth & Butter
Are you interested in hosting an in-person book club discussion in your home? Here are five helpful tips for hosting meaningful book club discussion.
Hosting a Discussion
HELPFUL TIPS FOR
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Preparation is key, especially before your first meeting. Your guests may not open up if they are unfamiliar with the group, but intentionally prepared questions can help minimize excessive silence. Spend time carefully crafting 8-10 intentional questions before each meeting. You may not ask every question, but having these questions on hand will help direct conversation when lulls in the conversation arise.
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Open ended questions are an invitation to your guests to talk about whatever was most meaningful to them. Closed-ended questions will quickly limit the depth of your conversation. The discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter in (A)typical Woman are a great place to begin meaningful conversation.
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Effective leaders know when to speak and when to listen. I am certain you have much to offer the group as a host, but your guests have much to offer too. Be quick to listen to the insights of those in the group and make it your goal to draw these insights out of your guests.
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As a host, it’s your job to ensure all guests feel welcome and heard. No two group members are the same and it’s essential that you are attentive to the unique needs of every member. Invite a quiet guest into the conversation by asking them a question directly, or utilize a talkative guest’s enthusiasm for discussion by privately inviting them to help you draw out interactions from others.
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As you facilitate discussion, don’t fear silence. Silence enables group members to process and craft their response. Extended pauses may also compel quieter group members to speak up when they otherwise may not.
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It is a humbling thing to pray. Plan time to pray together and for one another as some topics may be sensitive for some women.
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