A new book by women, for women, is also attracting furtive interest from men, according to its authors. What Women Know, co-written by Galway GP and author Juliet Bressan and lecturer Michelle Jackson, is a "post, post-feminist" compilation of the experiences and musings of women from around the world.

"It's not anti-men; we cherish men and should be free to support each other," explains Jackson, who says she is getting feedback from female readers that husbands and fathers are also sneaking their copy from the coffee table. But we know there are things we know men don't know, as Donald Rumsfeld might coin it, so what are the 'known unknowns' the book reveals?

"We have the experiences of everyone from the med student in Libya to the lawyer in Canada, and the universal priority of women is love, family and companionship," says Jackson. But as another 'knowing women'-related matter reared its head last week, could Stephen Fry have contributed a chapter to the book too?

"There is no way a man can know what a woman feels like, and vice versa. I feel sorry for Stephen Fry's equation of sexual fulfilment with kerb-crawling; women don't need to do that," says Jackson. She says there is an alternative high profile male out there with much more insight into how women get in the mood after a hard day's multi-tasking.

"Sting is a fantastic example of a man who has explored this area through his Tantric sex practices. That's something that we in the West could all look in to.

"If people were free to talk more openly about sexual needs, it would take some of the focus away from the sex industry. As a teacher by profession, as well as a novelist, I think issues such as sexual fulfilment, parenting and friendship are subjects that should be taught in school."

Apart from love and sex, there are chapters on friendship, health, beauty, work and spirituality. So does the book fall ideologically somewhere between Germaine Greer and Candace Bushnell? Jackson believes that both writers are past their best. A woman doesn't need to be defined by her Manolo Blahniks, nor by burning her bra, she says.

And while Cheryl Cole is having a moment as something of an icon for younger women, an over emphasis on looks and showing off doesn't necessarily make anyone happy.

"That all belongs to the Celtic Tiger years," says Jackson. "We need to nurture each other, both men and women. We have to stop thinking about the bloody builders and bankers and employ some creative and positive thinking. When men are happier, we will all be happier."

We know what you mean.

Cover stories

Women's books that defined generations

A Vindication on The Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft (1792) - They had feminism back then? A first on gender equality

The Second Sex by Simone du Beauvoir (1949) - Feminist perspective – but that 'open marriage' to Jean-Paul Sartre was more equal for him than her

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (1963) - Genuinely desperate housewives

The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer (1970) - Incendiary classic on football, sports cars, model railways, sound systems... (just testing)

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong (1973) - Liberated woman on journey of fulfilment (he may have read this)

The Women's Room by Marilyn French (1977) - Definitely for the Sisterhood only

The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf (1991) - Liberation from lipstick, etc

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray (1992) - For the woman, (and man), who doesn't take him/herself too seriously