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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
I absolutely love Aubrey Gordon, and I think EVERYONE who has either been hurt by or perpetuated toxic diet culture and anti-fat bias, even inadvertently (which would literally be ALL of us), needs to read this.
I also highly recommend the podcast "Maintenance Phase," hosted by Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes. I'd listen to them talk about literally anything (Hobbes also hosts the podcast "You're Wrong About," which is also fabulous) but this one focuses on "[debunking] the junk science between health & wellness fads, and decode their cultural meaning."
Read the book, and then check out the podcast.
I also highly recommend the podcast "Maintenance Phase," hosted by Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes. I'd listen to them talk about literally anything (Hobbes also hosts the podcast "You're Wrong About," which is also fabulous) but this one focuses on "[debunking] the junk science between health & wellness fads, and decode their cultural meaning."
Read the book, and then check out the podcast.
Cannot emphasize enough how much I need EVERYONE I know to read this book. Not only is it so well written, but it also beautifully combines memoir and cultural criticism to form a staggering indictment of the way we view fatness, wellness, and dieting in modern society. The science around dieting was shocking...I knew vaguely from the HAES movement that dieting doesn't work, but I don't think I knew just HOW MUCH it doesn't work and how much body size is determined by genetics. Really made me check in with myself about my anti-fat bias that I have inherited from my environment. wow wow wow.
I read the first two chapters of this book in March 2023 before all our moves and life changes and just picked it back up a week ago. I cannot believe I waited that long to dive into it. As the cover review says “required reading for absolutely everyone.” I will be telling every single person in my life to read this book. I cried, laughed, felt uncomfortable, and now feel empowered for global body justice.
This is a really interesting look at the way fat, and fat people, are viewed in society. It made me aware of the issues fat people face when it comes to things like travel, jobs, and health care, as well as general media portrayals. A concise and important read.
An illuminating perspective on what it is like to be fat in America capped off by a compelling push for us to be better.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
As a fat listener to her podcast Maintenance Phase, I knew a lot of what Gordon put into this book, since it’s the subject of the podcast, but a lot of it I didn’t! And a lot of things hit particularly hard, and some things left me in disbelief, just because our experiences are different.
100% worth the read, but it’s definitely a hard look at the world that makes it a difficult read.
100% worth the read, but it’s definitely a hard look at the world that makes it a difficult read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Fatphobia
Gordon details her own and her friends’ experiences with fatphobia, some of which are very hard to read.
Through listening to the Maintenance Phase podcast, which [a:Aubrey Gordon|20090927|Aubrey Gordon|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] cohosts, I've become aware not only of the deeply entrenched problem of anti-fat bias and stigma, but also of my own fatphobia. It seems like liberal politics has rallied behind justice for people of color, queer people, and other marginalized folks, but hasn't fully adopted or acknowledged the plight of fat people. This book was an eye-opening read for me, and highly recommend it to anyone who looks in judgment upon fat people and perhaps hasn't interrogated themselves about that yet.
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Aubrey is so damn eloquent and covers a topic a lot of people want to shy away from with unflinching honesty and vulnerability. I’d read anything she writes!