More Than a Body - Read It!

You guys! This book! You'll be hearing a lot about in it the upcoming weeks, I'm sure. And no, it's not a book about murder as my daughter shot me a wary look and commented when I pulled it from its box. lol

Usually I'll wait until I've finished a book before reviewing it, but I didn't even make it through the first chapter before I knew I had to share it as I go along.

First a couple of reviews then a few quotes (And trust me, I'm exercising great restraint sharing only a few quotes.)

From Linda Bacon, PhD, researcher and author of one of the most powerful books on the body Health at Every Size -

"As an expert in this field for decades, it is rare that I come across writing that causes me to reflect differently on my own body - but More Than a Body does so powerfully. The Kite sisters' work is not trite self-help or body-positivity cliches; it is masterfully crafted research and real-life experience that represents a crucial step forward in our culture's understanding of bodies and beauty ideals. The world needs this book."

From a comment on @beautyredefined social media from @therapywithcaitlin -

"This book is to body image what Brene Brown's work is to shame and vulnerability. Pure gold."

From the Introduction, pg 10 -

"...we aim to destabilize the normalness of seeing and being seen as objects in order to provide a more empowering path toward positive body image - starting with our framework for understanding not only the problem but also the solution: body image resilience."

From Chapter 1, pg 24 (my comments in italics) -

"When we keep attempting to fix an internal, mental problem with outside, physical solutions (lose the weight, get the cosmetic surgery, use all the anti-aging serums, etc), those quick fixes will never really solve our problems, nor will they prepare us to respond effectively to future body image disruptions."

From Chapter 1, pg 30 -

"When body ideals and sex appeal are factors in women's evaluations by their employers, clients, students, doctors, family members, romantic prospects, and every stranger who passes by on the street or on the internet, women suffer. The burden is unbearable. That is truly a harsh reality of the objectifying culture we live in. Our recommendations for how people can respond to these disruptions and difficulties do not hinge on top-down solutions from government or other overseeing agencies (though we would love it if those things happened), because we have little faith that those avenues will be successful. Instead, our research-based methods for personal body image transformation count on all of us experiencing the sea of objectification and its associated stressors and then using those degrading painful experiences as motivators to tap into our own power to rise with resilience regardless of whether or not our environment changes to meet us there. Through our individual and then collective action, we can gradually create a better safer environment not only for ourselves, but for everyone else who deserves to see and be seen as more than a body."

I've followed and been a fan of the work done at Beauty Redefined for quite some time now. I first found them from their TEDx Talk. Not only do they shine a spotlight on a huge problem in our culture, but more importantly, they offer solutions - solutions based in our own personal actions and attitudes that aren't dependent on external cultural changes.

The world is full of groups and individuals shouting from the rooftops, flooding the internet, and rioting in the streets to express frustration and anger about various injustices. But railing about conditions "out there" can't even begin to match the power to effect change that comes through individuals recognizing a problem, assessing exactly where their personal power to address that problem lies - regardless of external conditions beyond their control, - and then taking action to correct that problem in their own personal, usually internal world.

This book and all the work they do an Beauty Redefined does just that. It shines a light on the far-reaching problem of body objectification and rather than spending their time blaming society and dreaming of what it would be like if government, media, the beauty industry, or any other entity fixed it, they give us tools and practices to "rise with resilience" and change our own personal world.

You can find their website with links to their social media HERE, their TEDx talk HERE, and their book HERE. If you're an audiobook person, they've got you covered. More Than A Body is available not only in hardback, but in audiobook, and CD formats.

Go grow!