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vickizliu's review against another edition
4.0
I am new to fat activisim and general anti fat bias discourse and I found this to be a very digestible, eye opening, and well structured read. I also had the pleasure of attending an online book launch and discussion by the author Aubrey Gordon and Virginia Sole Smith and their different perspectives really emphasized that there are even different levels of discrimination for every size/"level" of fat. The book seems very well researched and most if not all cited sources are primary sources. I also appreciated that at the end of each chapter were reflection questions and section for opporunities for action. It's uncomfortable to confront your biases and examine them closely and the book does help guide you in a way so as to not raise your defenses. I was also particularly impressed with her dedication to intersctionality--how anti fatness and anti-blackness can go hand in hand and she touched on how anti fatness harms other marginalized groups (trans, LGBTQ+ groups, indigenous, PoC, disabled). The last chapter in particular touches on systesm of oppresion and how we must actively fight against them.
laurenscholle's review against another edition
5.0
despite my parasocial relationship w Aubrey…..absolutely incredible and I ask EVERY SINGLE PERSON read this esp if you’re not fat
pickled_pisces's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.5
This book made a lot of really great points that really opened my eyes to how we perceive fatness within the US. However as a fan of the Maitence Phase podcast, many of the talking points I have heard before, and by the end of the book many things were repeated multiple times. I think this book would have benefited from being a littler shorter. Also not usually a non fiction reader so its was almost a force to keep reading.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
As an unabashed Aubrey Gordon fangirl who listens to Maintenance Phase religiously, has read Aubrey's What We Don't Talk about When We Talk about Fat, and who pre-ordered this book back in October, I cannot wait to read this. It's not overstating things to say that Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes have really reshaped my thinking and transformed my worldview. I wish I could make everyone in America read her books and listen to her podcast.
A lot of this will already be familiar to diehard listeners of Maintenance Phase, as I am. Regardless, it's an excellent primer on some of the biggest myths surrounding anti-fatness and debunks in a thoughtful, research-backed way--and this is one of the things I appreciate most about Aubrey Gordon's work. There are so many misconceptions about fatness that really need to be addressed in order to make the structural inequalities fat people face clear to those for whom they're invisible. I also appreciate that Gordon's work is always intersectional, pointing out the additional challenges that BIPOC, lgbtq+, and disabled people face. This book contains challenging questions that encourage readers to think deeply about their own anti-fat biases, as well as practical suggestions about what people can do to help dismantle systems of oppression. This book isn't always easy to read--getting into the weeds about any form of discrimination never is, but it is enlightening and empowering.
A lot of this will already be familiar to diehard listeners of Maintenance Phase, as I am. Regardless, it's an excellent primer on some of the biggest myths surrounding anti-fatness and debunks in a thoughtful, research-backed way--and this is one of the things I appreciate most about Aubrey Gordon's work. There are so many misconceptions about fatness that really need to be addressed in order to make the structural inequalities fat people face clear to those for whom they're invisible. I also appreciate that Gordon's work is always intersectional, pointing out the additional challenges that BIPOC, lgbtq+, and disabled people face. This book contains challenging questions that encourage readers to think deeply about their own anti-fat biases, as well as practical suggestions about what people can do to help dismantle systems of oppression. This book isn't always easy to read--getting into the weeds about any form of discrimination never is, but it is enlightening and empowering.
brittpetersonmarx's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
ljane44's review against another edition
4.0
The work of this book is incredibly important. It pointed out the ways that we can do better as allies and for the first time in my life made me realize how systemic this issue has been all along. Not five stars just because it falls into the trap that a lot of nonfiction does of repeating itself constantly. Then again at the beginning she tells you that the book doesn’t have to be read cover to cover and can be pulled apart. So this isn’t the most valid complaint in the world!
aclopez6's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent for folks new to learning about anti-fatness, and there are a few myths that I have certainly found myself feeding into. My only wish is that the text was longer and expanded further on certain myths, potentially including more details from the studies or graphics.
jordanian_reads_'s review against another edition
5.0
Aubrey Gordon for President!
Gordon continues to do absolutely essential work in anti-fat activism and education with her new release. Whereas her last book had a more personal bent, ‘You Just Need to Lose Weight’ comprises twenty non-fiction essays that bust anti-fat myths. The book is extremely well researched and organized – a full 18% of the ebook consists of citations! Though I may have enjoyed Gordon’s personal essays and podcast more, this is a terrific resource (and what I’ll be referencing when my extended family asks me why I haven’t lost the covid weight yet).
If you are already a big fan of Gordon’s work, a lot of the material in this book will be familiar to you. Even so, I continued to be surprised and angered by Gordon’s account of the drastic ways in which corporate greed has shaped our government and healthcare systems and fomented anti-fat bias. Highly recommend to anyone new to the topic and to fans of Maintenance Phase.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Beacon Press, and Aubrey Gordon for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Gordon continues to do absolutely essential work in anti-fat activism and education with her new release. Whereas her last book had a more personal bent, ‘You Just Need to Lose Weight’ comprises twenty non-fiction essays that bust anti-fat myths. The book is extremely well researched and organized – a full 18% of the ebook consists of citations! Though I may have enjoyed Gordon’s personal essays and podcast more, this is a terrific resource (and what I’ll be referencing when my extended family asks me why I haven’t lost the covid weight yet).
If you are already a big fan of Gordon’s work, a lot of the material in this book will be familiar to you. Even so, I continued to be surprised and angered by Gordon’s account of the drastic ways in which corporate greed has shaped our government and healthcare systems and fomented anti-fat bias. Highly recommend to anyone new to the topic and to fans of Maintenance Phase.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Beacon Press, and Aubrey Gordon for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.