Good for a Girl Audiobook By Lauren Fleshman cover art

Good for a Girl

A Woman Running in a Man's World

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Good for a Girl

By: Lauren Fleshman
Narrated by: Lauren Fleshman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

* A New York Times Bestseller

* Winner of the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year Award

* A Financial Times Best Sports Book of 2023

Fueled by her years as an elite runner and advocate for women in sports, Lauren Fleshman offers her inspiring personal story and a rallying cry for reform of a sports landscape that is failing young female athletes

“Women’s sports have needed a manifesto for a very long time, and with Lauren Fleshman’s Good for a Girl we finally have one.”—Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers and David and Goliath

One of the most decorated collegiate athletes of all time and a national champion as a pro, Lauren Fleshman has grown up in the world of running. But every step of the way, she has seen how our sports systems—originally designed for men and boys—fail women and girls. Girls drop out of sports at alarming rates once they hit puberty, and female collegiate athletes routinely fall victim to injury, eating disorders, or mental health struggles as they try to force their way past a natural dip in performance for women of their age.

Written with heart and verve, Good for a Girl is Fleshman’s story of falling in love with running, being pushed to her limits and succumbing to injuries, and fighting for a better way for female athletes. Drawing on not only her own story but also emerging research on the physiology and psychology of young athletes of any gender, Fleshman gives voice to the often-silent experience of the female athlete and argues that the time has come to rebuild competitive sports with women at their center.

©2023 Lauren Fleshman (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Sociology of Sports Sports Women Inspiring Heartfelt
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“A close-up look at the uncertain and often unhealthy climb toward stardom for women in organized sports . . . The rawness of Good for a Girl serves as a push to demand that the next crop of female athletes has it better.”The Washington Post

Good for a Girl is in part a memoir of Fleshman’s failures and successes, but it’s also a call to action for the coaches, parents, and young women of future athletic generations. Fleshman argues convincingly that it’s essential for the sports world to disentangle physical suffering from self-worth. In 288 funny, honest, and sometimes-wrenching pages, she makes clear that empowering girls to better understand the need for balance between pain and elite performance is not only the ethical thing to do—it’s essential to their health and career longevity.”The Atlantic

“Part memoir, part critique of a sports system built around a man’s body, Fleshman offers a searingly candid look at her own victimhood and complicity, interlaced with compelling data and concrete ideas on how we can change this environment . . . Fleshman is an undeniably masterful storyteller, owning her own complicity in the system while holding others accountable, in a loving and nuanced way.”Women’s Running

What listeners say about Good for a Girl

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    349
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    323
  • 4 Stars
    22
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    317
  • 4 Stars
    25
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So. Dang. Good!! A true gift from Lauren Fleshman.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I was blown away as I saw the struggle I faced as an adolescent female athlete in a whole new way. I marveled at Lauren’s story, strength and commitment to shining light on both youth and adult female athletics. If you are a coach, a parent of an athlete or an athlete yourself, go get this one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal

Brilliantly written and narrated. Fantastic book for runners of all types, women of all types, and humans of all types. Incredibly authentic, relatable, and eye-opening. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Important listen

Steady, deliberate, and engaging narration from the author. Important topics for anyone coaching, parenting, or supporting women and girls in any sport - not just running.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

The story gives a unique perspective into the lives of women who pursue athletics. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I thought I knew a lot

Reading Lauren’s brave and honest account of what it looks like for girls and women on the inside. As a mom, to 2 athletes, Im simultaneously grateful and angry. Thank you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story that’s empowering for women athletes

Absolutely adored this memoir. As a female athlete, it resonated so deeply with me and my teammates. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Important for all women and trans athletes

Incredibly well researched and brave. Thank you Lauren for your strength and balls. Will be listening to this book again and again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully written and eye opening

I am a professional ballet dancer in my late 20s and I noticed many parallels in our fields. Lauren’s work is so important and inspiring!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you for this, Lauren!

It’s few athletes who take the time to advocate for a good cause. Your work in brining light to various stigmas revolving women in sports and the need to help young female athletes is amazing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An old crone’s reflection

This book is revolutionary in so many ways. The intersection of women’s running and athletics in general need this kind of conversation and truth-telling particularly around eating disorders. One comment about a girl’s body that disturbs an already fragile relationship as she goes through the earthquake of development can unleash the psychic predator that is any eating or body dysmorphic disorder.
As a female competitive runner for almost 30 years from 1976-2005, there were thousands of moments where I doubted myself and blamed myself for how my body felt in a race without a path to self-compassion. Eating disorders kill by being relentless and by insisting on secrecy, just as sexual abuse and other forms of abuse insist that a woman keep her suffering to herself. Thank you Lauren for your courage and persistence. My fingers are in the shape of a big “C” for you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!