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130th out of 761 books
—
736 voters
Fat! So?: Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size
by
Marilyn Wann
Fat? Chunky? Less than svelte? So what! In this hilarious and eye-opening book, fat and proud activist/zinester Marilyn Wann takes on Americas' biggest fear—worse than the fear of public speaking or nuclear weapons—our fear of fat.Statistics tell us that about a third of Americans are fat, and common sense adds that just about everyone, fat or thin, male or female, has wor...more
Paperback, 216 pages
Published
December 1st 1998
by Ten Speed Press
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I was conflicted over 2 or 3 stars here, but as a fellow zine-writer, I'll go with 3 (I love how Wann describes writing zines as a hobby that can change your life-- it's pretty true). Anyway, I think this is a valuable book for anyone who thinks dieting is a lifelong necessity just to achieve some "ideal" weight (which is lots of folks). I did come away with some new information about the diet industry and how diets work (not very well, apparently). The issue I had with Fat!So? was that it spent...more
we read this book for feminist book club. it was pretty awesome! i expected it to be good, but it exceeded my expectations. the only reason i'm not boosting it up to five stars is because a lot of the info, references, & issues in it were super 90s-centric. the book was published in the 90s & i bet that shit seemed timely & relevant then, but there are 25-year-olds in my book club who were totally baffled by some of it. (i liked the 90s shit though, because i am old.)
this is kind of...more
this is kind of...more
Are you tired of fatphobic misogynists harassing you? Tired of being told to go on a diet? Were you continually bullied and socially ostracized throughout your childhood because of your appearance? Still traumatized by this childhood bullying?
The eye-opening book Fat! So? will empower you to feel better about your size and shape and help you realize that fatphobia is a form of bigotry, like homophobia, misogyny, and racism. In this toxic society, we are constantly barraged with the message that...more
The eye-opening book Fat! So? will empower you to feel better about your size and shape and help you realize that fatphobia is a form of bigotry, like homophobia, misogyny, and racism. In this toxic society, we are constantly barraged with the message that...more
I picked this book off my shelf for a re-read, and coming to GoodReads to check out other readers' reviews has been part of the process -- my review is in part a response to other reviews.
For some reason, the Fat Acceptance movement has a tendency to ignore its roots and forebearers. Many of its leaders also have the bad habit of ignoring collective work and community input into the construction of its core ideas and principles. The current Big Names in the online-centric FA community really don...more
For some reason, the Fat Acceptance movement has a tendency to ignore its roots and forebearers. Many of its leaders also have the bad habit of ignoring collective work and community input into the construction of its core ideas and principles. The current Big Names in the online-centric FA community really don...more
I. Love. This. Book. I do. I'd heard about it years ago, and I figured it would be some silly self-help thing with secret you-should-diet messages in the back somewhere. However, I was more than excited to find out I was wrong. Not only does Ms. Wann (and her contributors) suggest that fat = beautiful, but they back it up with, yes, cheerleadery stuff, AND facts and figures. NO, being fat DOESN'T cause diabetes and other health problems. Dieting? Only works about 90% of the time. Did you know -...more
Sep 09, 2009
Sunshine Jeremiah
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
pastoral-care,
social-commentary-justice
This book has excellent information, is fun to read, and offers a new way to think about our current culture around Fat issues. Marilyn knows her stuff. I encourage everyone to read this, but especially those who struggle with their fatness and need to discover the truly flabulous beings that they are.
Learn the problems with medical concerns about weight.
Learn about the health dangers of diets and other weight intervention measures.
Learn to end thigh hatred.
End suicides, mutilation, and other se...more
Learn the problems with medical concerns about weight.
Learn about the health dangers of diets and other weight intervention measures.
Learn to end thigh hatred.
End suicides, mutilation, and other se...more
Recommended by a friend, a little cheesy and moralizing but also entertaining. As a fat lady it's hard to believe you're beautiful in a society that is constantly selling you based on your low sense of self worth. This is what I wished the book would have focused on, less silly self-aggrandizing and moreso on the advertising industry's brutal assault to sell you a better version of yourself.
Clever title and beautiful presentation. I love the flip book in the corner, a cute fattie doing burlesqu...more
Clever title and beautiful presentation. I love the flip book in the corner, a cute fattie doing burlesqu...more
LJ user cecilia_weasley says, "It's a book written by Marilyn Wann and it's a collection of experiences with being fat and the society's perception of fatness. It talks about HAES, and about the reports which scare people about obesity and such. It's a really good book, and it's a good book for beginner feminists because it shows how women's bodies are policed constantly, whether we realize it or not.
Also I liked how in the book, the author didn't spend all her time saying that skinny people sh...more
Also I liked how in the book, the author didn't spend all her time saying that skinny people sh...more
Fat!So? is now a decade-old book created from even older 'zines. But, the age of the book and its content has little to nothing to do with its very real approach to the issue of being fat in a BMI-obsessed world.
I would have given it five stars save for the obvious (to me) skewing of statistics, percentages, and Random Scientific Facts (tm) to turn the book more to the persuasive-writing side of things rather than just getting out there what needs to be out there about being a modern day fatso....more
I would have given it five stars save for the obvious (to me) skewing of statistics, percentages, and Random Scientific Facts (tm) to turn the book more to the persuasive-writing side of things rather than just getting out there what needs to be out there about being a modern day fatso....more
This book was suggested to me, which i suppose is okay, except it's doubtful even the most size accepting diva (and I am certainly not she) would probably have some kind of resistence to being offered this book. Either because she could write it herself or because she's still hasn't gotten "there" yet.
Nevertheless, I think the book, despite this rather creative use of stats, medical journal entries and such is really interesting. I realize it was started as zine and so the writing is not as refi...more
Nevertheless, I think the book, despite this rather creative use of stats, medical journal entries and such is really interesting. I realize it was started as zine and so the writing is not as refi...more
Jun 09, 2008
Needleroozer
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who thinks fat people are unhealthy and disgusting
Shelves:
fatliberation,
based-on-zines
This is fat liberation 101. This is a must read for anyone living in our fat phobic world, and that means you!
I wrote the following review for the Summer 1999 issue of the Minnesota Social Responsibility Round Table Newsletter:
There is no weight minimum required to delight in this book; fatsos of all sizes will find it a pleasure.
Based on a zine started in 1993, Fat!So? is fun and informative. Its history as a zine is apparent in its bold graphics, enlightening sidebars, and cool extras such as...more
I wrote the following review for the Summer 1999 issue of the Minnesota Social Responsibility Round Table Newsletter:
There is no weight minimum required to delight in this book; fatsos of all sizes will find it a pleasure.
Based on a zine started in 1993, Fat!So? is fun and informative. Its history as a zine is apparent in its bold graphics, enlightening sidebars, and cool extras such as...more
Before there was Lessons from the Fat-o-sphere Quit Dieting and Declare a Truce with Your Body there was FAT!SO? Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size. This was a fun, lighthearted read covering the basics of fat acceptance. The author wrote a zine back in the 90s, but the book doesn't say if all entries are from the zine or if they were written new for the book. Either way, I still enjoyed it.
The one thing that I was annoyed about was that the copy I borrowed from the library had se...more
The one thing that I was annoyed about was that the copy I borrowed from the library had se...more
I've been vaguely working on a zine about female body image this summer, so it seemed fated that I'd find this zine compilation at the local used book store. I really enjoyed this book, both for its place in zine history and the body positivity movement Plus, it really did make me question certain standards and feel better about myself-- awww, cheesy. I left it out on our coffee table for a few days and caught people constantly leafing through it, including some of the scrawny boys I live with.
This was such an awesome book!!! I am a big fan of just being healthy and happy regardless of weight. If all my test come back fine (blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol ect... ) and I am eating healthy and getting enough exercise and sleep then why should I worry about being overweight??? So many people don't see that in this day and age!!! I am so glad I have read this book!!!!!!
This is a cute book, with funny little anecdotes and phrases encouraging people to accept their bodies and stop dieting (don't miss the dancing fat lady in the corner.) It's probably an okay introduction to fat acceptance, but it's definitely aimed at a white, middle-class, able-bodied audience, and there are a few flinch-worthy comparisons made with other social justice struggles.
I think this had a lot of good information however much of it is starting to be dated.
I think that as another reviewer said, it appears to come from what someone started on a zine and so articles are often very short with little substance. I often found myself wanting more.
I think that as another reviewer said, it appears to come from what someone started on a zine and so articles are often very short with little substance. I often found myself wanting more.
I loved it!!! What a wonderful book Marilyn Wann has written. It made me realize how I have been prejudiced against fat people and completely changed my perspective about fat. We are all born different shapes and sizes and we are taking the word fat back. Super duper book.
This book is awesome and empowering. I agree that it should be a required read for people everywhere of all body types. It's okay to love your body, no matter what society tells you! I think most people forget that, but Marilyn Wann does a great job of reminding us.
This book is a mix of essays and articles by and about fat people. It's a mix of sass, activism, and fabulosityt hat I adore. A great read for any majestically sized people, as well as the less than flabulous.
What a great book! It was so refreshing to hear someone tell you to eat healthy and exersize because you want to, not to meet some arbitrary number on a scale. Love yourself no matter what size!
Apr 28, 2012
Missy Langlois
added it
Love, love, LOVE this book! Made me laugh out loud! Wann makes so many valid points about our body-obsessed society that it's almost hard NOT to feel awesome after reading it!
Love this fat-loving book. I think I will read it for a third time someday. I'd enjoy reading an updated version of this book. (I believe it was published in the late 90s). Overall a very entertaining yet informative read. Great for anyone who struggles with their weight.
Though it is dated to the 90s I still recommend it. This book has given me hope to love and embrace myself for who I am. I use what I learned in this book daily!
Sometimes too cheer-leadery, still has a lot of good information and a good message. Still, I preferred "Lessons from the Fat-o-Sphere," since it was less peppy.
Good look at fat acceptance, size discrimination and health myths that say fat people are unhealthy. Told in a tone of brutal honesty and attitude, I like how the author outlined her book and connected themes down to how people treat people in society as a whole. Highly suggest this for people in health care and women's groups like body image programs.
I'm out of touch without internet at home and no cable so I really had no idea there were people who were fat and didn't really give a shit. I'm one of those.
Feb 08, 2010
Santosjessica13echs
is currently reading it
I HAVE LEARN NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT YOUR SIZE OR YOUR WEIGHT BECAUSE U LOOK GOOD EVEN IF YOU NOT THIN.
Excellent book! I'd like to see it updated for the 21st century, because some of the facts in the book are old (although still valid).
Definitely a NSFK book, but it had me laughing out loud in many places. :)
Oct 01, 2011
Arianna
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any woman who's felt the pressure to be thin
Fun, empowering, raunchy at times, but overall an excellent message.
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Creator of the zine Fat!So? and author of the book of the same name, Maryilyn can be found on her site www.fatso.com along with a wonderful support community for the entire fat acceptance movement. Full of humor,resources and a positive chat space, Maryiln has created a flabulous place for all of us delightful fatties.
More about Marilyn Wann...
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25 de Dic 06:41