Reese D. reviewed FAT! SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size on + 10 more book reviews
A very fun and self-affirming book.
Barbara K. (wordybird) reviewed FAT! SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size on + 52 more book reviews
A little over the top at times, this book is about accepting yourself..however much you weigh over what the weight charts say you should.
Andrea T. (ajane) reviewed FAT! SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size on + 49 more book reviews
I just have to say that this is a GREAT book!
Maritza M. (kafechic) reviewed FAT! SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size on + 17 more book reviews
Very funny book!!!
Maranda B. (maranda) reviewed FAT! SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size on + 6 more book reviews
It's no wonder there's 19 members on the waiting list for this book... unfortunately there's no way I'm giving up my copy! Inspirational, uplifting, and humorous in all the right ways. This book will change your views of yourself and the world and media around you.
Bridget O. (sixteendays) -
A "just ok" introduction to fat acceptance. Try to keep in mind that it was written over 15 years ago, when fat acceptance and fat studies basically didn't really exist yet. Back then, this would have inspired the crap out of me. Reading it now, there are some definite issues.
Wann tends to completely ignore intersectionality. One one page it says "hey remember that other groups get oppressed to, maybe fight for them as well!" There might be two other quick references to how healthy food is kept out of the hands of the poor (who are often POC due to systematic institutional and environmental racism) due to cost.
Also, much of this book goes on about how it's totally possible to be fat and healthy (true!) but then repeatedly says BUT YOU SHOULD EXERCISE FOR YOU JUST BECAUSE JUST TRUST ME YOU SHOULD. It felt really preachy and pushy. Because it's okay to be fat and not exercise if you don't want to! That's totally fine too! But Wann seems hell-bent on us all exercising and eating broccoli. (Honestly the broccoli thing gets a little weird.)
There is also one really weird page with a letter from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. Wann calls this letter "inspirational". The letter is from a guy who is fat and says that his life turned around when he started beating people up that made fun of him. Quote: "I beat them up real bad. I have been arrested three times because of it, but that is okay because I sent those people to the hospital." At the end it calls for all fat people to learn how to fight because "People that call us names need to be beaten up." If the letter is some sort of joke or has some hidden meaning then I am missing it. It is presented without comment by Wann, and overall it made me incredibly uncomfortable.
All of that being said, there is some really important facts and commentary in here. The biggest and most important thing I took away from this book was the fact that I can refuse to be weighed at the doctor's office. The thought hadn't even occurred to me that I could say no! Just thinking about it made me feel really powerful.
Wann tends to completely ignore intersectionality. One one page it says "hey remember that other groups get oppressed to, maybe fight for them as well!" There might be two other quick references to how healthy food is kept out of the hands of the poor (who are often POC due to systematic institutional and environmental racism) due to cost.
Also, much of this book goes on about how it's totally possible to be fat and healthy (true!) but then repeatedly says BUT YOU SHOULD EXERCISE FOR YOU JUST BECAUSE JUST TRUST ME YOU SHOULD. It felt really preachy and pushy. Because it's okay to be fat and not exercise if you don't want to! That's totally fine too! But Wann seems hell-bent on us all exercising and eating broccoli. (Honestly the broccoli thing gets a little weird.)
There is also one really weird page with a letter from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. Wann calls this letter "inspirational". The letter is from a guy who is fat and says that his life turned around when he started beating people up that made fun of him. Quote: "I beat them up real bad. I have been arrested three times because of it, but that is okay because I sent those people to the hospital." At the end it calls for all fat people to learn how to fight because "People that call us names need to be beaten up." If the letter is some sort of joke or has some hidden meaning then I am missing it. It is presented without comment by Wann, and overall it made me incredibly uncomfortable.
All of that being said, there is some really important facts and commentary in here. The biggest and most important thing I took away from this book was the fact that I can refuse to be weighed at the doctor's office. The thought hadn't even occurred to me that I could say no! Just thinking about it made me feel really powerful.
