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A review by stephanieridiculous
Who Is Wellness For?: An Examination of Wellness Culture and Who It Leaves Behind by Fariha Róisín
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
The low rating on this book is a travesty.
This isn't an easy ready per se, but I did find it approachable. Roisin blends her personal story with examination on a larger scale. Her vulnerability is inspiring; inviting you into your own vulnerability as we all tentatively approach a better, more caring world.
Roisin's story is hard to hear, and while not overly graphic, she is frank about the abuse she endured (physical, emotional, sexual) and doesn't shy away from the realities of other suffering people. She also discusses self harm, and there are a few detailed accounts of it In short: be gentle and patient with yourself while reading.
I appreciate Roisin's insights into how things are all interconnected, and I particularly appreciated how thorough she is in connecting you to other sources for further exploration. Pulling in so many supporting works really highlighted for me the gravity and nature of the work. My two small critiques would be that 1) I don't know that the description of the book really preps you for the actual format. I was expecting a more systematic review of common/popular/big features of the Wellness Industrial Complex through the four sections, and this wasn't really that. I absolutely loved what it is actually, but I was a little confused as I settled in. 2) Not often, but occasionally, I thought the narrative got a little meander-y. Sometimes it felt like we were getting off track. It wasn't too bad, but it happened here and there.
I think this is a super worth while book for anyone interested in decolonization, examining capitalism/colonialism, and unraveling the impact of the West.
This isn't an easy ready per se, but I did find it approachable. Roisin blends her personal story with examination on a larger scale. Her vulnerability is inspiring; inviting you into your own vulnerability as we all tentatively approach a better, more caring world.
Roisin's story is hard to hear, and while not overly graphic, she is frank about the abuse she endured (physical, emotional, sexual) and doesn't shy away from the realities of other suffering people. She also discusses self harm, and there are a few detailed accounts of it In short: be gentle and patient with yourself while reading.
I appreciate Roisin's insights into how things are all interconnected, and I particularly appreciated how thorough she is in connecting you to other sources for further exploration. Pulling in so many supporting works really highlighted for me the gravity and nature of the work. My two small critiques would be that 1) I don't know that the description of the book really preps you for the actual format. I was expecting a more systematic review of common/popular/big features of the Wellness Industrial Complex through the four sections, and this wasn't really that. I absolutely loved what it is actually, but I was a little confused as I settled in. 2) Not often, but occasionally, I thought the narrative got a little meander-y. Sometimes it felt like we were getting off track. It wasn't too bad, but it happened here and there.
I think this is a super worth while book for anyone interested in decolonization, examining capitalism/colonialism, and unraveling the impact of the West.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Self harm, and Emotional abuse