Writer Jessica Valenti has been a leading feminist voice for years, and in a campaign season where a woman is poised lock up the Democratic presidential nomination, it's perhaps fitting that she would be releasing a new book.
But the focus of Valenti's new memoir -- "Sex Object" -- is inward, on her own rough and tumble journey through adolescence and early adulthood. She spares no details about drug use, relationship woes, abortions and the sexual harassment and indignities she has suffered both online and in person at the hands of men. It's an unflinchingly raw and emotional accounting of an imperfect, yet still inspirational life -- which is exactly what Valenti intended it to be.
MSNBC spoke to Valenti late last week about what has been described as her "most intimate and controversial book yet" about why this project, which hits book stores Tuesday, represents a sign of the times, and a personal benchmark for her.
"There's literally nothing else that anyone can target me on, there's nothing else that someone's going to find out or attack me with."'
Why did you decide to write this book?
"The truth is I don't handle things very well and I can be a bit of a mess."'