I think it's fair to say that even without seeing the movie, pretty much everyone has a pretty fair idea of what a 'Stepford Wife' is. Regardless, this novel shook me to my core and deeply disturbed me. It's quite reliant on teh time period it is set in, and probably would have had more impact closer to it's publication, but Ira Levin has succeeded in making me stop and think, and I think that alone deserves praise. Moral of the story: live for yourself, not anyone else, and resist the efforts of others to change you into what they think you should be- it might just cost you your life.