Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities | 
|  | | | Title: | Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities | | Author: | Alexandra Robbins | | Publisher: | Hyperion | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | July, 2005 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0786888598 / 9780786888597 | | List Price: | $13.95 | | You Save: | $2.79 | | Amazon Price: | $11.16 | |
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller-with over 91,000 copies in print-that takes you behind closed doors to see what really goes on in America's sororities ver wonder what sorority life is really like? In Pledged, bestselling author Alexandra Robbins goes undercover to expose the dark side of collegiate sisterhood-the psychological abuse, hazing rituals, and widespread body image disorders-while at the same time introducing us to many of the intelligent, successful women within its ranks. The result is a compelling sociological exploration of the powerful influence that these organizations wield over young women today. With its fly-on-the-wall voyeurism and remarkable insight, Pledged paints a sharp-eyed portrait of the intriguing and paradoxical world of modern-day sororities.
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Customer Reviews:
• More Of A Novel 27 June, 2008
This book should definitely be bought with the idea of a novel in mind, not investigative research. The author "exposes" all the terrible atrocities of sorority life, but only mentions once that these are not rampant in all houses on all campuses. Hazing in sorority houses is an idea of the past. Most sororities now give pledges gifts every day during pledge period before initiation. I have NEVER heard of a house needing new plumbing because of too many bulimic girls in the house.
The author tries to give an honest look at sorority life, but to better do this, she should have gone to more than one campus to "investigate." Most of the things she "reports" are simply partying examples that Greeks and non-Greeks alike follow while in college, and are not specific to the Greek system, nor are they an accurate representation of the Greek system.
Sisters and brothers share a special bond that cannot be exposed by any book, regardless of how much research the author feels she has done. The author's revealing of sorority secrets was wrong and unbecoming of her as a person. Revealing any secret ritual to any group in a published account is hurtful and out of place. Just because the author may have found out this information does not mean she is entitled to share it with the world. Over a hundred years have gone into protecting sorority rituals, and to expose them in this manner is cheap and rude.
The book would make a good novel for anyone wanting to read about a preppy school with a large Greek population. However, it is an inaccurate representation of Greek houses nationwide and should not be read as an honest, unbiased non-fiction book.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2W3KN59ME7BYQ
• Good Concept That Needs Some Work... 06 July, 2008
Because my sorority experience was somewhat unorthodox, I was interested to read this book that claimed to offer an "unbiased, informational, well-researched" look at the sororities and sorority women of today. In the end, while I agreed with many of the observations made by Ms. Robbins and even saw some parallels to my experience, I believe she focused too much on one school and only two of the sororities there, as well as giving too much page time to sororities in the deep south. Greek life was a huge part of my University, as four sororities were founded on my campus and we had nine national sororities and I think six national fraternities at a school of only [approximately] 4500 people. I'm sure much of what Ms. Robbins witnessed took place in some of our chapters, but the fact remains that there are many different types of sororities, even among the same national chapters, and I feel that she would be smart to do more in-depth studies of other sororities at other schools in other areas of the country in order to get a more "true" picture of what sorority life is like.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AMCAID3LTHKEC
• Pitiful 28 May, 2008
Ms. Robbins does nothing more than re-state tired stereotypes without a sufficient amount of supporting data. It is certainly no expose of the Greek system.
From university to university, student organizations vary. Behavior of college students is relatively consistent regardless of membership in sororities or fraternities. There is nothing mystical about it.
Unfortunately, this book does nothing more than make it OK (in the eyes of some) to ostracize a particular group of people. We need more of this?
Perhaps Ms. Robbins has a personal axe to grind with an organization...
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1QLPZWF1VKDAK
• A Page-turner 05 June, 2008
As someone on the fringes of Greek life (I'm part of a Greek organization, but not a social one) I can tell you this is sadly accurate and disturbing, and I would encourage girls - particularly high school girls - to read this book to learn about what goes on in these circles, and about cliques in general and how they can deteriorate one's individuality and decency. From a cultural standpoint alone, there is much to be learned.
I'm constantly amazed that people would criticize this book without having the courage to read it themselves, and to those who have actually read it before bestowing either praise scrutiny, kudos!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1AH19FC8WXYIJ
• This Book Is Trash 06 July, 2008
I was totally offended by this book. I was in a sorority in college from '88 to '91. I can tell you it was NOTHING like the one in the book. Many of my friends, past and present, were in sororities and had the same experience that I did. I still keep up with some of my sisters from college. I met my husband through one of my pledge sisters. My sorority gave me contacts when I graduated college to find a job. I would be a fool to think some of the things that went on in this book don't happen- drinking, hazing, stealing boyfriends, etc. But not to the degree that Robbins' picture paints! If you were not in a sorority, PLEASE don't think this is how Greek life really is. If you were Greek or plan to go through rush, ignore what is said in this book. I can tell you first hand that this is not the way Greek life usually is.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A29SXPXCOS1G7I
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