If You Loved What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat, Read These 7 Books
Explore more powerful, unfiltered voices on body image, weight, and self-acceptance with these thought-provoking reads.
Who these books are for
- Fans of memoirs and essays about body image, weight, and self-acceptance
- Readers seeking thought-provoking, unfiltered perspectives on fatness and society's biases
- Anyone looking for books that promote self-love, empowerment, and body positivity
What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat powerfully confronts societal fat phobias and body shaming. If you were moved by Sabrina Benaim's unflinching memoir, you'll find kindred spirits in these 7 books that boldly explore body image, weight, and self-acceptance. From memoirs to essays and social commentary, each offers a unique perspective on the complex, often fraught relationship between our bodies and the world around us.
The collection
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"You Just Need to Lose Weight" And 19 Other Myths About Fat People
"Break free from damaging myths with Aubrey Gordon's essential guide. "You Just Need to Lose Weight" shines a light on 20 pervasive falsehoods about fat people, arming you with facts and strategies to challenge bias and promote fat justice. Grounded in research and community organizing, this powerful book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and dismantle anti-fat discrimination."
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Belly of the Beast The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness
In "Belly of the Beast", Da'Shaun L. Harrison delivers a searing exposé of the intersections of Blackness, gender, fatness, health, and the systemic violence of policing. Through personal and historical analysis, Harrison reveals the pervasive, insidious ways anti-fatness manifests as anti-Blackness, from state-sanctioned murders to everyday discrimination and abuse. A vital call to dismantle denial and unlearn harmful cultural programming, this powerful work offers strategies for creating a world where Black fat individuals can thrive beyond the suffocating grip of oppression.
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Let's Talk About It The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)
In this groundbreaking graphic novel, Erika Moen tackles the complexities of adolescence with candor and expertise, addressing universal teen concerns like relationships, identity, body image, and more. Let's Talk About It serves as a comprehensive, go-to guide for navigating the challenges of growing up, providing thoughtful advice and insightful illustrations that empower readers to make informed choices about their lives and selves.
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Fat Talk Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture
In "Fat Talk", Virginia Sole-Smith piercingly reveals the pervasive, insidious influence of diet culture on children, from preschool to adolescence, and the trauma it inflicts on both kids and parents. Through gripping narratives of the daily shame and coercion kids face, and her own reporting and interviews, Sole-Smith offers a radical new perspective: that body size is not a measure of self-worth, and that instead of trying to "fix" our kids' weight, we must upend our harmful beliefs and teach them to love and accept themselves as they are. This groundbreaking book is an urgent wake-up call for parents and policymakers to rethink our society's toxic relationship with fatness.
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Thick And Other Essays
"In this profound and incisive collection, award-winning author Tressie McMillan Cottom blends personal narrative with incisive social critique, shedding light on the complex intersections of race, gender, capitalism, and politics. With humor, wit, and unflinching honesty, she dissects everything from the beauty industry to Saturday Night Live, offering provocative insights into black womanhood and American society. Brimming with critical dexterity and lyrical prose, Thick is a must-read for anyone seeking fresh perspectives on the personal as political, and the power of the essay form as a tool for social analysis and transformation."
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Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent
Begin essential conversations about consent with your little ones using this informative and engaging board book. With clear language, relatable illustrations, and interactive elements, "Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent" introduces young children to the concept of bodily autonomy and respectfully saying "No." By normalizing these discussions from age two, you'll foster self-awareness, self-esteem, and a more empathetic, empowered child.
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Bad Feminist Essays
In this sharp, witty, and deeply thoughtful collection, Roxane Gay reflects on her journey as a black woman, a feminist, and a cultural critic. With razor-sharp commentary on topics from pop culture to politics, Gay offers a refreshingly honest exploration of how we navigate our identities and society's expectations. Part memoir, part cultural critique, Bad Feminist is an inspiring call to arms for self-reflection and progress, delivered with humor and heart by one of the most astute voices of our generation.
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Fat Swim Fiction
Dive into Emma Copley Eisenberg's stunning collection, Fat Swim, where characters boldly navigate the complexities of bodies, queerness, power, and desire in a provocative and at times shocking exploration of modern life. With a brash voice that implicates the reader, these interconnected stories probe the contradictions and joys of a world shaped by looking, watching, and the hungers that both hijack and crack open lives. Prepare to be shaken by this radical and incisive work from the acclaimed author of Housemates, as a cast of unforgettable characters seek connections and experiences that affirm the un escapable reality of the human form.
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The Body Is Not an Apology, Second Edition The Power of Radical Self-Love
"Uncover the truth that your body is never the problem, but a tool of oppression used to control. In this powerful, updated second edition, activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor arms you with the knowledge and practice to transform shame into radical self-love. A must-read for anyone tired of feeling unseen, especially in fat, disabled, Black, and queer communities, this groundbreaking book is your liberating guide to unapologetic, unfettered living."
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We Make It Better The LGBTQ Community and Their Positive Contributions to Society (Gender Identity Book for Teens, Gay Rights, Transgender, for Readers of Nonbinary)
In this uplifting and inspiring book, Eric Rosswood shines a spotlight on the countless LGBT individuals and movements that have positively shaped society throughout history. From Bayard Rustin and Alan Turing to modern icons like Ellen DeGeneres and Tim Cook, discover the remarkable achievements and courageous fights for equality led by the LGBTQ community. A must-read for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and adults, We Make It Better is a powerful celebration of the community's enduring impact and a compelling call to embrace your authentic self.
Frequently asked questions
- Are these books autobiographical?
- Some are memoirs, while others are essays or social commentary, but all offer deeply personal insights.
- How do these books promote body positivity?
- Through frank discussions, humor, and self-acceptance, they challenge harmful fat stereotypes and encourage readers to love their bodies.
- Are the books easy to relate to, even for those outside the US?
- While some focus on American experiences, the themes of body shaming, self-acceptance, and the need for change transcend geographical boundaries.