Wonder Woman Psychology: Lassoing the Truth (Popular Culture Psychology, #6) by Travis Langley

Wonder Woman Psychology: Lassoing the Truth (Popular Culture Psychology, #6) Reviews

• 
  Lindsey

  I am a lifelong comic book nerd and hardcore lover of all things Wonder Woman. My daughter's bathroom is Wonder Woman-themed. Name a work written about WW and I've read it. To say I was excited about getting a copy of this book would be a drastic understatement. I read it in one sitting if that tells you how much I enjoyed it. Most essay collections of this type tend to fall squarely in the "I liked it" point system. When you put together a collection written by different people there tend to be discrepancies in the quality or enjoyment of each individual piece of work, which tends to average out to about a 3-star, in my experience. In this collection, however, I did not find that to be the case.
  
  The structure of the book was excellent, with each section dedicated to a different area of psychology and how it can be applied to Wonder Woman. Each of the authors was well-versed in their chosen topic, and each essay was meticulously researched. I am no expert in psychology but the concepts were explained in such a way that they were easy to understand. Plus, not only do these people know their psychology, they know their Wonder Woman canon. That may seem like a small thing to expect to find in a book about psychology and Wonder Woman but I've read a lot of these types of books and have often been surprised how little the authors know about the pop culture part of their subject.
  
  In addition, I found the majority of the essays to be very well-written, with only a few being a bit dry, though even the dry ones were still very enjoyable. If I had to make a criticism it would be that I wish the editor had used more panels from the Wonder Woman comics to flesh out the essays. Each essay cites the comics extensively, often citing specific issues or even specific panels. Though there were a handful of panels included in the book I wish there had been more. There were plenty of opportunities for them to be inserted and they were wasted.
  
  Overall, if you are a comic book fan in general, and a Wonder Woman fan in particular, this book belongs in your library. Sometimes individual books in the pop psychology series become so popular they inspire a "sequel." I sincerely hope that's the case with Wonder Woman.
  
  I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V.

  4.5 Stars
  
  I won this book in a giveaway and then sat on it for months. I was never really a huge fan of Wonder Woman and never remembered entering the giveaway in the first place. Recently, I started watching the newer DC movies, including Wonder Woman with Gal Gadot. Having gone into it with such low expectations I was admittedly taken aback by how good the movie was and how well portrayed the characters were. I will give that movie full credit for getting me to finally pick up this book to get a better understanding of WW.
  
  This book discusses the creator of the original WW, William Moulton Marston, and his view of women, which was so completely ahead of his time. Convinced that the world needed women to be the dominant sex, and that they indeed already were, he created WW to show how he viewed a world with women at the helm. Creating WW to be both strong and sensitive, both a warrior and a maternal figure. I was blown away by the true depth that Marston gave WW. Having played an important role in the creation of forensic psychology, Marston understood human behavior more than a lot of people in his time. Which really gave him the ability to create a realistic individual, who just happens to be a woman, and show that everyone, both man and woman, are much more alike than some want to admit. Reading this book definitely solidified my appreciation of WW and I can’t thank the authors and contributors enough for that. WW is truly an inspirational role model to everyone; man/woman, young/old, rich/poor, and her character holds up exceptionally well to the test of time. I would highly recommend this read to anyone who holds an interest in psychology and/or in the DC character Wonder Woman.
  
• 
  Ashley Tidwell

  I absolutely love these books. They are so fun to learn more about the character and what makes them, them even as fictional characters. This book focused so much on Wonder Woman's creation, her creator and his deeply held feminist beliefs. You learn he helped create the lie detector test, he believed strongly in a future matriarch and women were perfectly capable of surviving and thriving in charge. I loved the look at why Wonder Woman does what she does, her search for truth, her beginnings and continued story. She is legendary and will always be legendary. She's a role model, first for women, next for everybody. I love learning more about the inner workings of heroes.
• 
  Kristen

  It was so much fun to go through this journey of human psychology with Wonder Woman as the ultimate travel companion. There is a lot about the creation and creator of the Wonder Woman character, which I found fascinating, as well as a look at the various writers and contributors throughout her history. If you're at all interested in human behavior and a fan of Wonder Woman, I think you'll enjoy this one!
• 
  Viewpoints Radio

  In light of the box-office smash hit Wonder Woman, we wanted to know exactly why she is the hero we need in 2017. Travis Langley weighs in on why Wonder Woman's pursuit of truth and belief in humanity made her the perfect hero. This book is the perfect tool to keep up with popular culture. To hear more from Langley, check out our radio show Viewpoints! Link HERE:
  https://viewpointsradio.wordpress.com...
• 
  Patricia Ann

  IF there were a title to my review, it would be "WOW"! I was so excited by this book. I wanted to be back in the classroom, either teaching a woman's study class, or theories of psychology, or diversity. I wanted to be able to discuss the essays with others, to get their perspectives and feedback!! The book covers so many areas in a well structured format; from parenting, feminism, empowerment, role models, theories of personality development (Freud, Bandura, Rogers, attachment, Piaget, etc) as illustrated by Wonder Woman and the characters in the comic book series. A GREAT book that I won from GoodReads!!
• 
  Diz

  This collection of psychology essays focusing on Wonder Woman was a lot of fun to read. It gives you a lot of things to think about while reading Wonder Woman comics. One essay that I really enjoyed is the one about parasocial relationships, or relationships with fictional characters. That essay helped me to look at my comic reading in a new way. Overall, if you have an interest in Wonder Woman, this is worth picking up.
• 
  Alex Foster

  Very interesting book.
• 
  Tracey

  Wonder Woman Psychology; Lassoing the Truth takes an in-depth look into what makes the world's most powerful female superhero tick. The Amazon Princess was created by psychologist William Moulton Marston, under the pen name of Charles Moulton. It was Martson's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, who suggested he make the comic about a woman. Editors Travis Langley and Mara Wood do a phenomenal job covering portions of Marston's personal history and theories, as well as educating readers on the psychology of Wonder Woman; a morally healthy character.
  
  Wonder Woman Psychology is packed with many A-list of contributors beginning with the writer of the foreword, Trina Robbins, the first woman artist/writer to work on the Wonder Woman comics. In addition to Robbins, the book also includes a short interview by entertainment journalist Jenna Busch of Susan Eisenberg, who voiced Wonder Woman in the Justice League animated series. The peppering of panels from the comics serve to highlight many of the key analyses, and I especially liked the timeline of entertainment firsts. For example, many people may not realize that Wonder Woman's first live action performance was by Cathy Lee Crosby in a 1974 television movie and not Lynda Carter in the widely popular 1975 television series.
  
  One of the most fascinating chapters is a portion of a memoir written by Elizabeth Holloway Marston entitled "The Tale of a Manx Cat". According to the editors, this piece has never before appeared in print. In it, E.H. Marston details her youth, provides glimpses of her courtship with W.M. Marston and ends shortly after the birth of the couple's first child.
  
  As a lifelong Wonder Woman fan I learned more than I expected from this book. For instance, I was engrossed by the chapter in which Wood discusses Marston's DISC theory which has been recognized for its importance in the history of psychology. Marston's theory, which stands for Dominance, Inducement, Submission and Compliance, is explained via examples from Wonder Woman's own history which makes it easy to understand and engaging. Another highlight for me was the chapter by Mike Madrid and Rebecca M. Langley, dealing with "Parenting Issues in Paradise." I found the discussion on the attachment theory to be very insightful to both Wonder Woman's psyche and my own.
  
  The wide array of contributors, who range from comic book historians, martial artists, therapists, and Ph.D.s in psychology among other professions, makes this non-fiction book about a fictional character very appealing. Each essay sheds light on the complexities of Wonder Woman's character while also equating her issues with themes and topics that are relevant in the real world.
  
  Wonder Woman Psychology: Lassoing the Truth is thought-provoking and educational, but delivered in a format that acknowledges the character's enduring entertainment value and celebrates her well-deserved return to prominence in a traditionally male-dominated field. A must read for fans of Wonder Woman, both old and new.
• 
  Hope

  In this addition to the Popular Culture Psychology Series, a collection of psychologists dig into the history, symbolism, and impact of Wonder Woman through the framework of psychology. They outline-and correct the many misconceptions around- Wonder Woman's origins, including explaining her creator's lasting impact in the field of forensic psychology. They use Diana, with her many identities, conflicting origin stories, and battles to highlight psychological principles. These psychological studies include parenting styles, leadership traits, and the scientific reason talking about your favorite fictional character puts you in a good mood. (No, really, it does.)
  
  As with many of the novels in this series, some contributors are better at integrating the psychological material and the source material of the pop culture icon they are exploring. In this particular novel some of the authors oversimplify one aspect of their argument, whether it is psychological foundations or Diana's character traits. However, other authors dive deeper, pointing out Diana's flaws as well as her strengths in addition to spending more time explaining the scientific backing behind their viewpoint. Many of the contributors make the same points, but each chapter approaches it in a different way.
  
  As a fan of Wonder Woman and a student of psychology, this book was very interesting and entertaining. Anyone interested in the superheroine or the scientific field should take a crack at this read.
• 
  Boston

  One of the best books on the topic of Wonder Woman out there--a well-organized collection of essays that explores the psychology of Wonder Woman. Created by a psychologist as a carrier for his personal philosophies, Wonder Woman is the perfect subject for such a book. If you're a Wonder Woman fan, read this.
• 
  Jason M Waltz

  This was a very good read. Easy to follow, interesting, illuminating in many aspects, and mostly well-rendered analysis. There were some head-scratching assertions a time or two, but for the most part this was well-researched and articulated reasoning on numerous topics, from the obvious role of female heroes to the not-so-readily embraced role emotion, virtue, and truth play in heroism (regardless of gender).
  
  There is much I agree with here on the defining of heroics and the impact of heroes, but I'll touch on two things that struck me profoundly. First, there are some very direct sections/pages that directly offer insight and great illumination on two of my own characters, heroes I've been writing about and exploring for a few years. While I was reading this and enjoying it, when I hit these sections that so immediately reflected my guys and my/their motivations and aspirations, it was very personally cool. I had planned on giving this book to a friend, but I ended up writing all over in the margins! Talk about learning more about one's self and characters - this was very exciting.
  
  Second, however, is the very strange history of psychology I learned of. It's difficult to articulate clearly without going into giant essay mode and I don't wish to do that here, but suffice to say, even with understanding the history of the fight for women's rights from voting to employment to military service, I was shocked to discover that even in the study of the mind, psychologists did not deem it important/interesting/whatever to study the female mind. WTF? It is one thing to disregard the equality or value of another human (and I'm only putting it this way to be brief), but to acknowledge humanity but have zero interest in the working of the brain simply because it was not male?!??! I frankly don't understand, even if we stick strictly to scientific thought, how can a scientist not be interested in determining differences and similarities? Again, WTF!
  
  This concept statement toward the close "Research suggests that there is a thin line between being perceived as a hero and being seen as a villain; individuals afford heroes little leniency when they exhibit flaws or engage in something perceived as immoral and have little trouble blaming them for it." sums my thoughts on the eternal struggle of mankind to clamor for heroes while our search to hold them high or drag them low ebbs and flows with the current societal norms. Norms that currently I believe love to despise heroes and to drag them into the dark and grime them with our despondency. Heroes should be better, should be beacons, should be bold - but we should encourage their betterment, reflect their shine, and praise their boldness. The deal works both ways - and we get the heroes we deserve.
• 
  Guilherme Smee

  A Psicologia da Mulher-Maravilha é um livro estilo antologia de diversos artigos analisando a mitologia de Diana Prince através das lentes da ciência da psique. A primeira coisa que chama atenção no livro é a belissima capa metalizada, que tem tudo a ver com as cores e o uniforme da Mulher-Maravilha. Contudo, geralmente, livros que trazem capas extremamente fancy escondem um conteúdo nem tão legal como a capa. É o que ocorre nesse livro. Os artigos psicológicos são muito rasos, como se fossem destinados para crianças lê-los, não se aprofundam nem nos trâmites psicológicos e também não são convidativos para fãs mais atentos dos quadrinhos da Mulher-Maravilha, onde falta também profundidade. Não parece que os autores dos artigos são profundos conhecedores da personagem. A mesma coisa serve para a versão brasileira. A tradutora não conhece os quadrinhos e usa termos traduzidos errados ou não usa os nomes usados no Brasil. Um trabalho de revisão especializada resolveria esses problemas. Infelizmente esse se torna mais um livro de curisidades do que um livro para se tratado com rigor e respeito acadêmico...
• 
  Charlene

  I found this amusing more than anything. If you love psychology and Wonder Woman, and like to analyze characters in general, you will probably find this book delightful. There were a few too many times when the authors tried to include every aspect of the psychology of humans beings (a very tall order) into this book, even when it didn't relate very well to Wonder Woman. I found those times almost maddening because the rest of the book was so much fun to read and think about, when I came to a part that just did not fit, it seemed to go on for far too long before I could get back to an entertaining patch of text. The dull /ill-fitted parts were worth it though because analyzing Diana of Themyscira was so much fun.
• 
  Shelby (Grace with Books)

  Such an interesting book.
  I made it a goal in 2020 to read more nonfiction books and I am so happy I started with this one! Wonderwoman Psychology is a collection of essays that examine the superhero Wonderwoman through a psychological lens, and there is so much to learn from it. I didn't even know that the creators of Wonderwoman, Dr. Marston, and his wife, were BOTH psychologists. It was so fun to watch these psychologists apply theories like Freud's psychoanalytical theory to one of my favorite superheroes! It allowed me to really apply things I had learned in my psych classes to a genre and character I love! Highly recommend!
• 
  Anna

  Interesting read - or well, I listened to the audiobook so it was an interesting listen. Wonder Woman Psychology is a collection of essays and transcripts from various contributors that explore different elements of Diana's character and relationship with the world around her. This book touches on William Moulton Marston's reason and journey creating WW, topics such as dominant, submissive behavior. Not too dry and scholarly at all!
• 
  JSH Placie

  This is a great way to expand your knowledge of psychology in an easily digestible package. Sure, it's the very definition of pop psychology, but the credentials of the contributors are legit. Not surprisingly, this could just as easily be entitled Feminist Psychology, but Wonder Woman is probably more fun.
• 
  Crimson

  Travis and Mara are an absolute delight when it comes to blending Wonder Woman with psychology. It was a welcome perspective and I look forward to Travis’ new book.
• 
  Sathish

  I was mostly skipping through most parts since it got repetitive at a point !
  
  There were certain examples which really highlighted the very essence of Wonder Woman character beautiful; it’s a pity that the examples were far & few between.
  
  Most parts of the book were the opinions of expert psychologists whose contributions were almost similar & didn’t shed any new light on the subject.
  
  The initial chapters were the most engrossing & it appealed to me but after a point it was a drag.
  
  This book was like many unabridged research articles put together.
• 
  Trevor Kidd

  Wonder Woman and Psychology is an anthology of essays so of course they are going to vary in quality. The opening essay about William Moulton Marston (wonder woman's creator) is interesting and informative. The rest of the essays are frustratingly imprecise and follow the same pattern - somewhere in Wonder Woman's 80 year history something happened that connects to a psychological idea. There isn't any context given to who the writer was at the time or why it was written like that. It's very sloppy.
• 
  Cindelu

  I won this book on Goodreads. It was a rather unusual book written by several psychologists and other educated people with PHDs and MAs about the traits of Wonder Woman and how it relates to society in general. The most interesting thing I learned was that Wonder Woman was actually created by a psychologist in the early 40's. Also the expert from his wife's letter was interesting. Other wise it was just ok.
• 
  Diana Prince

  This book was written for someone like me, and I love it. I wish that it had been a little bit more prose-y instead of more like a collection of short essays, but I liked that I learned a little bit more about two of my favorite subjects - Wonder Woman and psychology - and how they interact with each other and influence the world around us.
• 
  Wendi

  This was a heavy, thought provoking book with articles from different people about the psychology of Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. I loved how each of the contributors approached WW's thoughts, actions, and behaviors then promoted her ideology. It made me pause for just a moment to better understand why I personally love Wonder Woman.
• 
  Afton

  This was a fun bunch of essays. I definitely have a better appreciation for Wonder Woman now. The psychology is solid, but not overly technical. That overlaid with the comic book aesthetic makes for a really fun book. I would recommend this to just about anyone. Whether you are into comics or not this book is a great read.
• 
  Bhavini

  If there was an option for half stars, I would give this book 4.5.
  It's informative without being bogged down with research and studies. It's given me a better understanding of what went into creating Wonder Woman
• 
  jenkamichiko Jenny

  If you’re into psychology and female superheroes and villains, look no further. This piece analyzes Wonder Woman from a psychological perspective in terms of feminist psychology, gender roles, sexism, etc. I also learned more details about the comics and the creators. Fascinating.
• 
  Martine

  This made me want to find some Wonder Woman comics to read...