Reviews

Happy Fat: Taking Up Space in a World That Wants to Shrink You by Sofie Hagen

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anothersarah's review against another edition

5.0

My best friend is seriously body positive and also obese- it has been mind alternating to be lucky enough to be her best friend for that last decade. I've never been her size, yet somehow spent years on constant and varied diets (often with friends) to have a society celebrated body size. At one point in our friendship she laughed and told me that she thinks she has 'reverse body dysmorphia' -she is constantly looking at herself and feeling like she is better looking than she even imagined. I've also hugged her while she cried because a stranger yelled mean things at her from cars while she was walking down the street. This book is AMAZING, it is everyone else's chance to have a window my lucky experience having a bff like I do. Please read it! (And then feel better about yourself, just as you are, there's nothing healthy about hating your body)

launb's review against another edition

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4.0

This is an unapologetic commentary on fatphobia and how to question societal norms that harm us. It's refreshing approach helped me get past even my most steadfast fatphobic thoughts. Thank you.
Capitalism is unpicked to explain how the weight-loss industry is only in it for financial gain and is masquerading as concerned about our health and well-being.
I was in a supermarket some days into reading the book and was offered a give-away diet product goody bag - without thinking I handed it back and said 'I don't believe in dieting'. Success!

shannon_bailey's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

mekowaletti's review

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funny informative fast-paced

4.75

nickyd80's review against another edition

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challenging funny informative medium-paced

4.0

borrowedbooks's review

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challenging funny informative slow-paced

3.0

I really enjoyed the mix of personal experience and professional research that was included; along with the three interviews Sofie had with other "fattys" that gave a broader view of what it is like to exist and work within the world as a fat person and in the movement.
I did not like the interjections the author included because she was narrating her own book. I have this issue with many books that are narrated by those that wrote the book, I love that they are voicing their own works, I don't like the feeling I get that I'm not consuming the book in the way that it was written.