Grown Woman Talk - by Sharon Malone

About the Book

"A practical guide to aging and health for women who have felt ignored or marginalized by the medical profession, from a leading OB/GYN and expert on menopausal and post-reproductive health. The medical system today is increasingly complicated and impersonal, and unfortunately, it is not going to be less so in the future. The rules of engagement have changed in medicine, but no one has bothered to inform patients. Much is written about Black women and women of color, be it our increased cancer risk, our alarming obesity statistics, or our disproportionate risk of cardiovascular diseases, but very little is written for us, and a diagnosis from Dr. Internet doesn't cut it. Talk about being sick? Dr. Sharon Malone is sick of that. Grown Woman Talk is for all women who have often not been seen or heard. For more than three decades as a practicing OB/GYN in the nation's capital and now as chief medical officer of Alloy Women's Health, Dr. Malone has served women across the city all the way to the upper echelons of power. In this book, she gives us the nudge we all need to become effective and efficient advocates in getting the care we deserve. Part medical memoir of the Malone family experience tracing from the Jim Crow South to the highest corridors of power in Washington, part relatable clinical scenarios of women from all walks of life and experiences, and part practical medical and logistical advice, this book is a reliable and easy-to-understand resource. In addition to information on ailments like fibroids, cancer, heart disease, and perimenopause, it also helps us navigate the medical establishment of today with advice on how to choose a doctor, why our family's health history matters, and how to decide among treatments. Combining emerging practices with the latest research the book addresses many women's greatest gap, the one between what they believe and what is actually true. With a combination of medical expertise, up-to-date science, and lived experience, Grown Woman Talk addresses the most common conditions women over forty deal with. And it helps women, especially Black women, identify the power they have and how to use it to chart a path to improve their health outcomes and thrive"--

Book Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "A must-read for anyone who cares about their quality of life . . . Dr. Sharon Malone is the first person I turn to for a whole host of issues, especially my health."--MICHELLE OBAMA

A practical guide to aging and health for women who have felt ignored or marginalized by the medical profession, from a leading OB/GYN and expert on menopausal and post-reproductive health

AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

There's not enough talk around women's health, and what little there is rarely helps. Women are routinely warned, lectured, or threatened about their health. Or they are ignored, dismissed, or shamed. But they are rarely empowered. And empowerment, more than anything, is what women--and women of color, in particular--need.

Grown Woman Talk is for every woman who has felt marginalized or overwhelmed by a healthcare system that has become more impersonal, complex, and difficult to navigate than ever. It's also for any woman who is simply standing at the intersection of aging and health, anxious and wanting solutions.

Part medical handbook, part memoir, and part sister-girl cheerleader, this book is filled with useful resources and real-life stories of victory and defeat. It not only highlights the current data around women's health issues, but it also places that data in a helpful context.

In a tone that is lively and intimate but unflinchingly direct, Dr. Sharon Malone details how to live better, age better, and get better medical treatment, especially when it's most needed. This is not a medical activism book designed to fight the power. This is a book designed to show women that they already have the power--they need only to increase their capacity and willingness to use it.

Most important, Grown Woman Talk seeks to eradicate the silence that surrounds women's health by facilitating discussion between women of all ages and encouraging more accurate and productive medical insights. It is Dr. Sharon's belief that giving women more agency can, literally, give them life.

Review Quotes

"In Grown Woman Talk, Dr. Sharon Malone offers straightforward advice on how to structure your healthcare experience, manage your personal health, understand menopause, and so much more. For Dr. Sharon, this isn't just about how to live longer; it's about how to live healthier--and happier."--Michelle Obama, former First Lady and New York Times bestselling author of Becoming

"With an extraordinary combination of lived wisdom, professional expertise, insider perspective, warm sisterly love, and honesty, Grown Woman Talk offers a timely guide to truly taking control of our health, our healthcare, and our quality of life. Dr. Sharon Malone has filled every page with the vital information and the inspiration that we need to improve our health and extend our health spans--immediately!"--Kerry Washington, Emmy-nominated actress and New York Times bestselling author of Thicker Than Water

"For every woman who has ever felt unheard or marginalized by the healthcare system, Dr. Sharon Malone's voice resonates with compassion, clarity, and an unyielding commitment to driving change. Grown Woman Talk is a must-read for women of all ages seeking validation and agency in a world that often denies them both."--Naomi Watts, Academy Award-nominated actress

"Grown Woman Talk is a beacon of insight and grace, helping women navigate their health journeys with confidence and knowledge. A must-read!"--Lisa Mosconi, New York Times bestselling author of The XX Brain

"Dr Sharon Malone's visionary approach sheds light on the intricate path of women's health through the aging process. She offers not just advice but also a lifeline. As healthcare systems, therapeutics, and technology evolve, her timely wisdom serves as a guiding star. This invaluable book reveals the life-saving importance of informed choices and empowers every woman, especially Black women, to practice self-care and navigate the healthcare maze with grace and confidence."--Linda Goler Blount, president and CEO of the Black Women's Health Imperative

"Grown Woman Talk is a compulsively readable page-turner, packed with equal doses of science and sagacity, humor and history, plus practical advice galore. Dr. Sharon Malone is the compassionate doctor, soulful storyteller, surrogate sister, friend--and DJ extraordinaire--we all need and deserve in our lives. This book is an extraordinary public service to women of every age."--Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, executive director of the Birnbaum Women's Leadership Center at NYU School of Law

About the Author

Sharon Malone, M.D., is a board-certified OB/GYN and a certified menopause practitioner who has practiced medicine in the nation's capital for more than thirty years. She is the chief medical officer of Alloy Women's Health and a passionate advocate for improved research and education around women's health in midlife. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Eric Holder.