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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I typically read audio books mostly while sewing or commuting/travelling, but the audiobook is well worth the listen for how Gordon's reading shapes the stories and facts. It adds a layer I'm not sure would be there with the text alone, but either way this is a book I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who breathes.
I've really been enjoying the Maintenance Phase podcast with Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes, and I'm excited to read Aubrey's new book, so I thought I'd catch up and read her debut book first. I was very, very disappointed that she didn't narrate, because her voice has become so familiar during the podcast, but... I totally get it. Being an author doesn't make you a voice actor, or someone who has time to be a voice actor. On the whole, this was a really informative and helpful introduction to fatphobia and the really problematic ways our society dehumanizes fat folks. It was also humbling; despite years of body image issues, and gaining weight with age, I'm 'straight-sized,' meaning that I can buy clothes at most stores in the US. I never imagined a world where you could only buy clothes online or custom-tailored, and with limited choices, at that. I have certainly never had strangers feel the need to take food out of my shopping cart, or give me unsolicited advice on nutrition or exercise. Gordon offers a science-based but very personal view of the life of someone who is "very fat" (her words) including appalling stories of the lack of healthcare available to most people who weight more than 200lbs. If, like me, you've never really thought about what life as a truly fat person is like in the US, this smart, honest, and heart-felt work is well worth reading.
a wonderful primer for anyone interested in examining diet culture, body positivity, fat studies, or desirability politics
If you've been around the body acceptance movement for a while, there's not a lot in this book that is new or radical or surprising, but Aubrey Gordon is definitely an important voice in this world and in this work. I appreciated her vulnerability and wisdom in crafting this exquisitely written book. There were places it started to feel a bit repetitive and left me wondering whether there was some minimum page count she was aiming for ... but honestly? I can't fault that. Sometimes you gotta say the same thing over and over and over again before people start to listen/believe you.
This book did exactly what it should for someone of my body type. I was uncomfortable throughout and faced with my own bias, but came away feeling like there were things to be done. Aubrey is an excellent writer (I particularly enjoyed her dry self deprecation) and I look forward to her new release.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
extremely informative; helped me understand fatphobia on an emotional level and an informational one. everyone should read this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia
Mandatory skinny ppl reading!! I recommend this book, so insightful and vulnerable.
“We can build a world that doesn’t assume fat people are failed thin people.”
“Any free space belonged to the thin”
“Let go of the magical thinking of thinness. Stop believing that a thinner body will bring us better relationships, dream jobs, obedient children, beautiful homes. Stop waiting to do the things we love until we’ve lose 10/20/50/100 pounds. Come to truly believe what we already know, and what so much of data tells us: the vast majority of us don’t lose significant amounts of weight, and the few who do, don’t maintain weight loss in the long term.”
“Thinness is not an accomplishment.”
“We can build a world that doesn’t assume fat people are failed thin people.”
“Any free space belonged to the thin”
“Let go of the magical thinking of thinness. Stop believing that a thinner body will bring us better relationships, dream jobs, obedient children, beautiful homes. Stop waiting to do the things we love until we’ve lose 10/20/50/100 pounds. Come to truly believe what we already know, and what so much of data tells us: the vast majority of us don’t lose significant amounts of weight, and the few who do, don’t maintain weight loss in the long term.”
“Thinness is not an accomplishment.”