The Latina's Bible: The Nueva Latina's Guide to Love, Spirituality, Family, and La Vida

I recommend this book a million times over to all my Latina [and non-Latina] friends! This book acts like a big sister, giving advice on just about any aspect of life. Topics range from the masturbation, to religion, to marrying outside la raza. Even at it's most serious moments, it is a fun read. This is the type of book that I like to have handy and pass on to my friends. I often open it up and read parts of it to them, and we always have a good time relating to the many situations. Having been born without older siblings around, this book, in my opinion, was a God-sent!

So much of my life has been an attempt to fit into my latina roots and fit into my american roots. Being one of those white blue eyed latina's that never truely has fit into either side this book was a God(dess) send. I loved it the book really opened my eyes to why I am the way I am and More importantly it helped me to view my relationship with my mother, husband and children differently. If you are a latina woman, who has found fitting in difficult at best this book is for you! get back to your roots and let that latin pride take hold.5 stars are simply not enought.

The book is especially important for any Latinas seeking a way to connect their wonderful traditions with mainstream American perspectives. It is a tool for assesing your own values and how to apply them to today's society. The author gives us a sense of complete worth and value, she inspires you to use those Latina qualities to shine and excel no matter where you go. The Latina's Bible also provides strategies for effectively shifting existing paradigms.

"The Latina's Bible" is as an inspirational and practical guide for Latinas who want to reflect and understand issues that affect Latinas in general. I want to congratulate the author for her magnificent work and for being an inspiration to many other Latinas like myself. As I read the book, even though I am not part of the "nueva Latina" generation, I find my thoughts, my fears, and my strengths in every chapter, in every line, in every story. I am fascinated to read about: "el que diran" that I heard so many times as I was growing up;" My maid reads it" story that remainds me about the attitudes of many professionals I know; and the author's advise to "take care of our little hermanitas" that I practice every single day. I find the book to be of great help for educators, social workers and other professionals who want to better understand and help younger Latinas. The book has valuable and helpful information about health issues, relationships, and finding professional success. In addition, the author permeates the pages of her book with love and warmth for the "familia", presents a real tribute to friendship and admiration to our "hermanitas", and encourages the reader to fight and succeed."Consejos", facts about our people, anecdotes, and stories are told in such an intimate way, just like if you were in your "cocina tomando una taza de cafe" with the author, that you will read this book and will come back again and again to look for references, tips, ideas, and "recetas". I admire the author's use of bilingualism and her precise way of using Spanish phrases and words that are very difficult to translate into English. This is a true example of how we speak when we get together to discuss intimate topics. She uses English and Spanish in such a natural way- just like when we talk with friends. This technique gives the book validity. What I like the most about the book is the clever way in which the author combines facts, opinions, ideas, research, and every day experiences making it fun to read, even when she is speaking about very serious issues. Ms. Guzman's book makes me feel "bella", sexy, intelligent, and proud of being a Latina woman! Pa'lante!

I must say that I have to disagree with some of the other readers' reviews. The Latina Bible does speak to the variety of Latin American women that exist in this country. As a matter of fact, when I read it, I felt as if Sandra Guzman wrote this book especially for me. I can relate to practically everything she wrote in her book. I am a very light skinned/Dominican/Puerto Rican/American young woman and everything Ms. Guzman says holds true for me as well as for most of the people that I am in contact with on a daily basis. I would reccommend this book to my dark skinned family members as well as my light skinned family members because it doesn't really matter what color your skin is. Whether you are Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Spanish, or Salvadorian, I can guarantee that you will love this book because most of us grew up with many of the latin traditions mentioned. And as far as the "Spanglish" is concerned, many of us do speak that language. It is a mix of the old world and the new world. I find it appealing to hear phrases that I and many of my Latina sisters use on a daily basis. I love this book, it has changed my life, and if you do not read it you will be missing out.