This is as much a memoir as about fighting itself. The subjects are woven together perfectly. She knows what she's talking about historically and experientially. Far better than The Gift of Fear or whatever is generally recommended in self-defense and women in sports. And less like a textbook (more of a narrative) than Real Knockouts - though it's a good one too.

There are good discussions on a variety of things - self-defense (myths, studies, she has the same misgivings I do), blood (period=bad; man's face bleeding=impressive; woman's face bleeding=unacceptable), tears, existing/working in male dominated spaces/sports.

Hilariously mentioned early on are writers that write passionately about boxing but don't really do it - Ernest Hemingway, Joyce Carrol Oates, Norman Mailer. Also there's a beneficial discussion of masculinity - the ideas of gyms or sports becoming diluted (by women's participation) and the idea that masculinity needs to be carefully guarded - if proof it shouldn't be preserved. 

Mental toughness is a great section set up by the question: "How are emotion, empathy, and vulnerability connected to the drive, focus, and aggression required of a fighter?" The three part definition of the term was useful too: the ability to understand yourself and your capabilities and to own them. 

I always appreciate calling attention to the knowledge gap in medicine - science/health research generally is one size fits all with male as the default. 

She takes a much needed swing at the transgender panic as well, exposing it as policing women's bodies. They test for xx chromosomes - she notes women are tested for testosterone but men aren't tested or banned for higher natural testosterone. Michael Phelps wasn't banned for his long arms and flexible joints or Ian Thorpe for his flipper feet.

Often seen as a weakness or loss of credibility in male dominated spaces, this is a better explanation of tears in training. 
Quote from von Duuglus Ittu  (of There is Crying in Muay Thai): "isn't a response to anything directly but more the general need for release after feeling quite pressured and bottled up by being ineffective in any varying degree for the past hour, minutes, days, weeks, years, whatever..."

The author is a kickboxer and boxer but i think all woman who do any combat sport for fun or professionally would enjoy and relate to much of it.

Yeah, this dry summary doesn't reflect how much I loved and related to this book, so the stars will have to do.