The book has ten chapters divided into three neat sections:
1. The True Woman versus the New Woman
2. Her Identity
3. Her Virtue
"All of [my] books [so far] have hinted at what woman is to be," writes Susan Hunt in the introduction, "but primarily have dealt with what woman is designed to do. Perhaps I had to progress to this life stage before I was ready to give reflective thought to being rather than doing. You can't really separate the two - we do what we be. But it has been invigorating to ponder the question: What kind of woman does it take to do what we have been designed to do? The answer: A true woman."
Each chapter looks at a different virtue of "the true woman" (e.g. domesticity, piety, submission) while contrasting that biblical view with today's "new woman." Before every chapter, there is a short testimony of a real life true woman who has remained firm through trial. For example, there's a woman who has a handicapped child, a woman who went through serious financial failure and a woman who's husband committed adultery. These testimonies don't glorify their sin or the sin that impacted them, but points all to Jesus who is the true woman's hope and joy.
What makes this book different is its gospel-focus. A lot of women books tend to lean too much toward our side of the equation. They slip into emotion-driven, me-centred, "what can I do better," while The True Woman is a Christ-driven, Christ centred, "this is what Christ has already done and so it should impact you" sort of book. That's what makes it excellent. Susan Hunt uses examples of women who don't want to make you feel better about yourself, but who want you to recognize your sin and need for a Saviour. Hunt doesn't shy away from pointing out sin in today's feminised "new woman," but does it graciously and with love. She always comes back to the gospel, though, and every chapter is set around Scripture.
I would recommend this book to any woman or teen girl who wants to know more about true, biblical womanhood!