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Reviews
Let's Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World by Danielle Friedman
znvisser's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
This audiobook seemed like an excellent choice for my runs and it was! What I love about these very specific pieces of history is how they tie into bigger societal dynamics. As a result, this book isn't just about excercise but also touches on (the history of) intersectional feminism, fashion history and Hollywood lore. Very interesting and just fun!
cathatrix's review
4.5
I’m surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. The final chapter was so impactful. I never considered access to exercise as a social justice issue, but I’m so thankful for that insight.
julschapman's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
jg12389's review
medium-paced
2.5
I learned a few things that were new to me, but was disturbed by how white and western focused this book is. It is very centered around white western women and pretty blindly praises fitness influencers without diving deep into their full lives and negative impact. The book mentions the Presidential Fitness Test but doesn't mention that it's garbage and how harmful it has been. The mention of bikram yoga included a pathetic almost-as-an-afterthought mention of, "oh by the way, the original creator was charged with sexual assault" which was honestly disgusting. And the yoga chapter in general featured maybe one person from India (where it was created) and mostly centered on white practitioners. I liked the parts where it did go into more intersectional and expansive topics but they were felt like they were tossed in as an afterthought. I was hoping for a lot more than basic white feminisn out of this book.
jphoffman's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
High level overview of the recent history of women in exercise. Interesting to me in particular as a girl growing up in the 80 & 90’s. I can remember many of the personalities and trends happening and how I would or wouldn’t want to participate? Or what my own mom was or wasn’t doing. And to reflect on messages we were fed and how that affects me still.