No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful

No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful

  • Downloads:5444
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-12-24 09:51:44
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Paulina Porizkova
  • ISBN:0593493524
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

“A book about a rare life, profound love, profound grief, anxiety, self-assurance, empowerment, aging, loss, and joy。 It is nuanced, complex, insightful, helpful, and constantly surprising。” —Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author of These Precious Days

Writer and former model Paulina Porizkova pens a series of intimate, introspective, and enlightening essays about the complexities of womanhood at every age, pulling back the glossy magazine cover and writing from the heart。


Born in Cold War Czechoslovakia, Paulina Porizkova rose to prominence as a model, appearing on her first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover in 1984。 As the face of Estée Lauder in 1989, she was one of the highest-paid models in the world。 When she was cast in the music video for the song “Drive” by The Cars, it was love at first sight for her and frontman Ric Ocasek。 He was forty at the time, and Porizkova was nineteen。 The decades to come would bring marriage, motherhood, a budding writing career; and later sadness, loneliness, isolation, and eventually divorce。 Following her ex-husband’s death—and the revelation of a deep betrayal—Porizkova stunned fans with her fierce vulnerability and disarming honesty as she let the whole world share in her experience of being a woman who must start over。

This is a wise and compelling exploration of heartbreak, grief, beauty, aging, relationships, re-invention and finding your purpose。 In these essays, Porizkova bares her soul and shares the lessons she’s learned—often the hard way。 After a lifetime of being looked at, she is ready to be heard。

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Reviews

Betsy Suits

Words of wisdom about defining your own definition of beauty as you grow older from a Top Model。 She is against Botox and following trends。 Find your own style and enjoy the moment!

Nadine

(Audio) This is a good biography to tell you everything about Paulina Porizkova, who was one of my favorite supermodels。 Another reminder that the beautiful and greatly admired have problems。

Julia

DNF at 12%。 I had no idea who she was prior to this book so had no preconceived notions and I liked her message re beauty and ageing, but。。。。 Whilst I liked her intro, the first few essays I read had a certain tone to them。 Increasingly whiny。 She keeps saying that she had no choices, things happened to her without her choice in the matter, but that's not really true, is it? Pursuing and staying in the modelling career was a choice, albeit a passive one。 Going to a supermarket knowing your husba DNF at 12%。 I had no idea who she was prior to this book so had no preconceived notions and I liked her message re beauty and ageing, but。。。。 Whilst I liked her intro, the first few essays I read had a certain tone to them。 Increasingly whiny。 She keeps saying that she had no choices, things happened to her without her choice in the matter, but that's not really true, is it? Pursuing and staying in the modelling career was a choice, albeit a passive one。 Going to a supermarket knowing your husband will be recognized and approached by random strangers is also a choice。 Again, a passive one。 There's a whiff of victim mentality here that I personally struggle to empathise with, perhaps because I'd gone through some similar situations (being uprooted as a child to a different country, unwanted and inappropriate "attention" from men as a teenager, lacking privacy is a claustrophobic community) in my life so I have a certain bias。 So I'm just going to show myself out。 。。。more

Amanda Morgan

2。5 stars

Julie Podstata

I have been following Paulina on Instagram for the past few years and truly loved her honesty and openness of her life。 Especially during COVID and the death of her husband。 This book was an extension of that and I loved learning more about her upbringing and how it formed her life。 This was a short quick listen on Audible。 I really enjoyed it。

Terri

I could relate to many of Paulina’s thoughts on women and aging in this book。 She felt like a kindred spirit。 I enjoyed this book of essays。

Mary

I was in college when Paulina met Ric making his bands’ MTV video so I was intrigued that she had written a book。 Well, it’s not very well written。 It’s a series of essays, not necessarily in chronological order。 I didn’t mind this so much as the writing itself。 This book felt like being tossed around in someone’s inner ramblings。 Not fun! I think I read about her divorce/will battle at least four times! She uses far too much hyperbole and symbolism; I often had no idea what she’s talking about I was in college when Paulina met Ric making his bands’ MTV video so I was intrigued that she had written a book。 Well, it’s not very well written。 It’s a series of essays, not necessarily in chronological order。 I didn’t mind this so much as the writing itself。 This book felt like being tossed around in someone’s inner ramblings。 Not fun! I think I read about her divorce/will battle at least four times! She uses far too much hyperbole and symbolism; I often had no idea what she’s talking about (what does it mean that some children learn to use the chimney to enter a house and that’s how she loved?)。 I don’t regret reading this, I learned a few things about Paulina, but I wouldn’t recommend it。 。。。more

Nichola Gutgold

I loved it。 Raw and open, generous and fresh, Paulina shares her life experiences and how she feels about being a "seasoned" woman。 I like her and I enjoyed her book very much。 Lots of wisdom。 I loved it。 Raw and open, generous and fresh, Paulina shares her life experiences and how she feels about being a "seasoned" woman。 I like her and I enjoyed her book very much。 Lots of wisdom。 。。。more

Helen

Thoughtful and well-written。 Highly recommended。

Gordon

3。5 Rounded up。

Diem

So, I'll say it。 This book surprised me。 Because I don't think beautiful people can have depth and be skilled writers? No。 Because I don't think models can have depth and be skilled writers? Closer。 It's because I didn't think one of the industry's most in demand models would have the time or incentive to learn how to be a skilled writer。 Don't come at me。 I have a nearly adult child who is a professional model and I have spent a bit of time learning about the industry and there is nothing about So, I'll say it。 This book surprised me。 Because I don't think beautiful people can have depth and be skilled writers? No。 Because I don't think models can have depth and be skilled writers? Closer。 It's because I didn't think one of the industry's most in demand models would have the time or incentive to learn how to be a skilled writer。 Don't come at me。 I have a nearly adult child who is a professional model and I have spent a bit of time learning about the industry and there is nothing about it that particularly encourages the participants to be curious about the world outside of the hustle。 It doesn't actively discourage it, but if you're Paulina and you're working A LOT from the age of 15 into motherhood。。。well, I don't see where there's time to pursue almost anything else。 In the years since then, I don't know, I haven't followed her career but once you've been successful in one field it is unusual to decide to be good at something else。 But here she is, she took classes and worked at it for years and as it turns out, she's a polymath。 What can you say? Sometimes nature gives with both hands。。。and then the gifted person puts in the work。 Porizkova is a story teller and has some very good insights about aging, about womanhood, about codependency, about totalitarianism, about anxiety disorder, about marriage, about divorce, about widowhood, about betrayal。 Never preachy, never self-piteous, never taking herself too seriously。 She neither assigns blame nor lets people off the hook。 She has a very holistic approach to assessing the behavior of the people in her life。 It's damn refreshing。 Who should read this? I really don't know。 The book isn't necessarily about anything specific。 It isn't specifically about modeling, or aging, or grief。 Although those are all themes。 It's just a very interesting collection of essays written by an astute observer of life who has seen things from a vantage point not many get to experience。 She was a fantastic reader, btw。 Not all writers are。 。。。more

Elizabeth Reuter

A beautiful start。Paulina has proven on her Instagram and in published essays that she can write。 She's talented, thoughtful, intelligent, and has a life with problems that are relatable, but also experiences that most of her audience isn't familiar with, which adds excitement。All of that is in No Filter。 I never wanted to put it down, and always read with interest。 I was truly moved by some essays, and the direct honesty was always refreshing and, at times, gripping。The problem is that No Filte A beautiful start。Paulina has proven on her Instagram and in published essays that she can write。 She's talented, thoughtful, intelligent, and has a life with problems that are relatable, but also experiences that most of her audience isn't familiar with, which adds excitement。All of that is in No Filter。 I never wanted to put it down, and always read with interest。 I was truly moved by some essays, and the direct honesty was always refreshing and, at times, gripping。The problem is that No Filter reads like a very good draft of a book that could have been much more had Paulina dug deeper into her topics and fleshed them out beyond her immediate feelings and simple, quote-ready conclusions。 She's writing about messy things like trauma, grief, sexual assault, and poverty, but presents them simply。 Maybe she sees them that way--but I feel a complexity, a sensitivity, and a real intelligence in her, as well as the will to fight that she's using now to blaze her career resurgence。 I ended almost every essay thinking: that's it? I want more! I hope Paulina keeps writing and gives us more。 She has a lot to say, and she says it well。 。。。more

Fred Klein

I read this because I like Paulina。 She’s beautiful and is trying to maintain a positive outlook on aging。 It’s an easy read, with Paulina writing about her life experiences and thoughts。 Sometimes she goes too far trying to express herself with symbolism。 If you like her, you’ll like the book。

The Reading Raccoon

Though provoking and touching

Elle

The parts of the book about the author's life are rather sad and sweet and heartbreaking。 Her adult life and especially her almost ex husband cutting her out of her will is also very sad。 The book jumps around a little too much for my taste, but the parts that about her life are sad。 I found that he constant need to have men find her desirable to be a product of a society in which young and beautiful women receive all the attention that they could ever want to the detriment of older or less attr The parts of the book about the author's life are rather sad and sweet and heartbreaking。 Her adult life and especially her almost ex husband cutting her out of her will is also very sad。 The book jumps around a little too much for my taste, but the parts that about her life are sad。 I found that he constant need to have men find her desirable to be a product of a society in which young and beautiful women receive all the attention that they could ever want to the detriment of older or less attractive women。 She was at the top of everything。 She has had men find her desirable her whole life。 What I have a problem with is her talking about her own beauty。 It was in the best case inappropriate and in the worst cases insulting and pathetic。 She surely earned a substantial amount of money thanks to her beauty in a world and especially a country that puts the highest premium of all on youth and physical beauty。 She was sitting on top of the heap。 Most women would have loved to have been that beautiful and most every man would kill just to have a coffee with her。 Don't tell us that you didn't enjoy the beauty of youth, you just wanted to be a 'wise older woman。' Come on。 The worst part is when she tries to reassure women that the signs of age on their faces should be worn as badges of courage (like "crepy skin looks like silk sheets," "lip lines are a sign of too much kissing")。 It is clear to look at Ms。 Porizkova's face that she probably gets her share of Fraxel, Vivace, Botox, lip injections, Voluma, Ultherapy and Novothreads。 It is hard to hear someone tell us that we should be happy aging graceful when she works as hard as she does to look as good as she does。 I found her thoughts about her beauty to sound spoiled and disingenuous。 。。。more

Melissa

I lost interest several times。 For a short book, it seemed to drag。 It felt very repetitive。 Even the stories about her marriage weren’t that interesting。 I appreciate her honesty relating to aging and beauty。 But I was kinda just waiting for it to be over。

Kim

Ms。 Porizkova is a gifted with her words。 However, I began this book with the thought that I would be reading an autobiography。 It would fit this description, but I felt it only checked this box from a macro sense。 I was looking for the micro version。 Who hasn't dreamed to read about the details of being a supermodel in the 1980's and then marrying one of the most popular rock stars of the 1980's?I realize the ending was not happy but I am sure there were some fun and juicy stories along the way Ms。 Porizkova is a gifted with her words。 However, I began this book with the thought that I would be reading an autobiography。 It would fit this description, but I felt it only checked this box from a macro sense。 I was looking for the micro version。 Who hasn't dreamed to read about the details of being a supermodel in the 1980's and then marrying one of the most popular rock stars of the 1980's?I realize the ending was not happy but I am sure there were some fun and juicy stories along the way。 I respect her desire to protect the reputations of those she met along the way。 Her collections of autobiographical stories were very nice to read, and very descriptive。 This didn't fit the bill as what I look for in an autobiography。I still respect Ms。 Porizkova and the thoughts she shared。 Perhaps I should have understood this would not be a micro approach autobiography。 。。。more

Sharon

Not my usual book but was recommended highly。 It’s written as a series of essays。 This might be why I found it uneven。 Some essays were better than others。

Trisha V。V。

I read this book in one afternoon。 Paulina is direct and clever at the same time。 She focuses on her strength, positivity, and creativity。 Her alliance with Maria Shriver is highlighted and this book takes you through the psychological terrain of two very different personalities。 A solid fine。

Zandria

She repeats herself a lot in her various essays。

Dawn

If you enjoy the "lady who cries on Instagram," (her quote, not mine), you're sure to enjoy this short collection of essays by Paulin Porizkova。 If you're not familiar with her––beyond Sports Illustrated and countless other magazine covers, or the sense that you would never measure up to her years ago, she covers all of that in this book。 Porizkova is a sensitive, insightful writer who comes at things honestly and thoughtfully。 There is some repetition and the familiar, "I didn't think I was spe If you enjoy the "lady who cries on Instagram," (her quote, not mine), you're sure to enjoy this short collection of essays by Paulin Porizkova。 If you're not familiar with her––beyond Sports Illustrated and countless other magazine covers, or the sense that you would never measure up to her years ago, she covers all of that in this book。 Porizkova is a sensitive, insightful writer who comes at things honestly and thoughtfully。 There is some repetition and the familiar, "I didn't think I was special" themes, but she also addresses beauty, insecurity, love, loss, grief, and aging, in an articulate and compelling collection of stories and essays。 It's not a deep dive, but a fun read none the less。 。。。more

Mary T

Just checking up on another parallel universe。

Susan

This book surprised me。 Paulina's writing had a depth that I didn't expect。 She has gone through a lot of trauma, since childhood even, which made me understand all the more her posts after Ric died。 I hope she writes more, I'll read it。 This book surprised me。 Paulina's writing had a depth that I didn't expect。 She has gone through a lot of trauma, since childhood even, which made me understand all the more her posts after Ric died。 I hope she writes more, I'll read it。 。。。more

Ew Lake

Until I got to the last 30 pages, I was all set to say, "Meh。 The essays that I've read in the past perked my interest, but this was repetitive, flimsy。" Another reminder of why I choose to stick with a book and read it through to the end。 Until I got to the last 30 pages, I was all set to say, "Meh。 The essays that I've read in the past perked my interest, but this was repetitive, flimsy。" Another reminder of why I choose to stick with a book and read it through to the end。 。。。more

Ruth

I liked that she chose to write about her life in essay form。 She give you just enough without going on and on。 I recommend the audio which she narrates herself。

Tina

This book was not what I expected。 It tended toward essays about Paulina's life rather than a memoir。I am rating this a 4 star because I felt it took bravery to write so much from the heart。 Some essays really touched me and to be honest, this book is about outer appearance -vs- inner feelings often colliding。I did find it irritating that she always refered to the men in her life as "my husband" or "my boyfriend'。At times, I do admit that I struggled to understand her situation and that removed This book was not what I expected。 It tended toward essays about Paulina's life rather than a memoir。I am rating this a 4 star because I felt it took bravery to write so much from the heart。 Some essays really touched me and to be honest, this book is about outer appearance -vs- inner feelings often colliding。I did find it irritating that she always refered to the men in her life as "my husband" or "my boyfriend'。At times, I do admit that I struggled to understand her situation and that removed some of my interest, but overall, this was written with honesty and that is all we can ask。 。。。more

Susie Schnall

Honest and revealing。 Really enjoyed。

Kay

This book was difficult to rate。 After all, it was her own feelings and thoughts and how can anyone judge that? Having said that, I did find the book to be somewhat boring and it was a challenge to keep reading。 I do understand how she felt betrayed and blind sided however it doesn’t seem like enough solid material to write an entire book around。

Beth Tomkiw

I follow Paulina on Instagram and admire her commitment to aging gracefully。 Had I not red this book, I would have always considered her a gorgeous woman of privilege who lived a charmed life。 I still think she is gorgeous, but she is like most of us: a woman who faces insecurities and lots of emotional ups and downs。 Paulina bares her life and soul in this book。 Gratefully, through her “filter,” I find it easier to be kind to myself and appreciate my beauty as I approach my 60th circle around t I follow Paulina on Instagram and admire her commitment to aging gracefully。 Had I not red this book, I would have always considered her a gorgeous woman of privilege who lived a charmed life。 I still think she is gorgeous, but she is like most of us: a woman who faces insecurities and lots of emotional ups and downs。 Paulina bares her life and soul in this book。 Gratefully, through her “filter,” I find it easier to be kind to myself and appreciate my beauty as I approach my 60th circle around the sun。 Thank you, Paulina。 I wish we could meet so I could thank you in person。 We are all beautiful。 And there is liberation in becoming invisible。 。。。more

A

I enjoyed this book。 Entertaining。