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29th out of 35 books
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9 voters
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This Is Who I Am: Our Beauty in All Shapes and Sizes
Fifty-four portraits of women that are striking, beautiful, and real. The bodies in this book have been shaped by the full sweep of the feminine experience.
They belong to 54 women from all over the country, ages 19 to 95, of all sizes and shapes, ethnicities, and life experiences, who were willing to expose their naked physical forms in "This Is Who I Am." They...more
They belong to 54 women from all over the country, ages 19 to 95, of all sizes and shapes, ethnicities, and life experiences, who were willing to expose their naked physical forms in "This Is Who I Am." They...more
Hardcover, 115 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by Artisan Publishers
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Community Reviews
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108)
Abigail
rated it
Recommends it for:
Anyone Interested in Issues of Women's Self-Image
Shelves:
photography,
womens-studies
A beautiful and inspiring collection of fifty-four photographic portraits, each paired with a brief response about self-image and the body from the woman depicted. This Is Who I Am presents a diverse group, with women of African, Asian, and Euro-American backgrounds, and autobiographical comments ranging from positive confidence to insecure unhappiness. Many different kinds of bodies are represented, from very thin to very fat, young to old, healthy to ill.
I found much here to ident...more
I found much here to ident...more
I loved participating in this project, and I'm honored to be one of the dozens of women from so many walks of life, from all backgrounds and body sizes, in this collection.
This is the kind of book I'd want to give to my daughter, if I had one.
This is the kind of book I'd want to give to my daughter, if I had one.
Wow. Every woman is so beautiful.
I originally got this book for ideas for when my honey and I take photos, but it turned out to be so much more than an idea book. There are photos of women of all shapes and sizes.
The photos are a wonderful tribute to the woman body - no effort is made to degrade these women by taking away their flesh. The photos are all stunningly beautiful and they aren't posed in a way to make them look sexy. The text next to each woman is a candid ac...more
I originally got this book for ideas for when my honey and I take photos, but it turned out to be so much more than an idea book. There are photos of women of all shapes and sizes.
The photos are a wonderful tribute to the woman body - no effort is made to degrade these women by taking away their flesh. The photos are all stunningly beautiful and they aren't posed in a way to make them look sexy. The text next to each woman is a candid ac...more
Photographer Olson started approaching her women friends with the idea of publishing a book of nudes of women of all ages, shapes and sizes with their comments on their feelings about their bodies. The result is a collection of stunning photographs and a range of commentary from the expected painful stories of anorexia and other body hatred to mentions of the softness of skin in the small of the back, and delight in strength and fitness. It was interesting to note which parts of their bodies wom...more
Rosanne Olson, This Is Who I Am: Our Beauty in All Shapes and Sizes (Artisan, 2008)
When someone releases a book of photographs of unclothed women, the usual machinery starts up. Some people will want it kept off library shelves. Some people will think “ooh, naked chicks!” and go trying to find scans of it on the Internet. Etc. In the case of This Is Who I Am, all of those pieces of machinery will probably be frustrated, because this is not your typical book of pictures of unclothed wom...more
When someone releases a book of photographs of unclothed women, the usual machinery starts up. Some people will want it kept off library shelves. Some people will think “ooh, naked chicks!” and go trying to find scans of it on the Internet. Etc. In the case of This Is Who I Am, all of those pieces of machinery will probably be frustrated, because this is not your typical book of pictures of unclothed wom...more
This was so much more moving than I ever expected, even though I didn't necessarily agree with all of the women. I have such great admiration for all of them and now firmly believe that if I were asked, I would participate in a similar project.
There were things in many of the personal essays that resonated with me, but perhaps none more than the comments from the pregnant woman (who apparently gave birth a day and a half after the shoot!) She spoke about her toddler daughter and how...more
There were things in many of the personal essays that resonated with me, but perhaps none more than the comments from the pregnant woman (who apparently gave birth a day and a half after the shoot!) She spoke about her toddler daughter and how...more
I think my initial instinct was to give this book a 3. It's so great conceptually, the idea of looking at women as they really are. And I enjoyed the individual write-ups about each person. But too many of the models were modestly draped, and while it made for nice (not great, but nice) art, it interfered with the concept, I felt. Give me Jamie Lee Curtis completely nude! Show us what women really look like, particularly the saggy, the middle aged, the old, the less than perfect!
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Amazing stories and beautiful photos from women and how they feel about their bodies. It still saddens me how many women believe they are only as loveable as their bodies are beautiful. But it also made me smile to see a few women so full of love for themselves regardless of their size....it showed in their eyes. This author is a local Seattle photographer.
In a culture where a negative body image is the norm this book stands out as a light of reason, hope, and beauty. Filled with pictures and accompanying stories this book explores many women's views of body image and their experiences. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever struggled with a negative body image.
A beautiful book about the naked truth of how we women feel in our bodies. I think that anything that can help promote a healthy understanding, acceptance, and eventually developing a protective feeling about the body is of value in its benefit to the emotional, mental, and physical well being of women.
When I read the exceptionally positive reviews of this book, I ordered it for the library and put it on hold for myself. It's kind of shocking, at first, to see pictures of so many naked women, but they are tastefully done--and the women are refreshingly normal. I spent the evening reading the testimonies of the women, ranging in age from 16 to 95, and I feel enriched by all of them.
We all have so much to celebrate! Each of these women (or maybe all women?) spent years learning ...more
We all have so much to celebrate! Each of these women (or maybe all women?) spent years learning ...more
This outstanding book should be read by all women, young and old. Courageous women of all ages, shapes, and sizes posed nude (or nearly) and talked about their bodies - what they love, what they hate, their body issues. Very tastefully done. Absolutely phenomenal!
This is a beautiful photography book with essay by women about their bodies. I think I'll have to read it a few more times before I feel okay about my own body, but it's a start.
Fantastic book!
Beautiful portraits of a wide variety of female forms. Plus each one's personal body-story. Very moving and inspiring.
I'm glad my Public Library owns a copy.
Beautiful portraits of a wide variety of female forms. Plus each one's personal body-story. Very moving and inspiring.
I'm glad my Public Library owns a copy.
This book was really fascinating. Women talking about their complicated relationship w/ their body, was great to get a variety of perspectives.
This is one of my all time favorite books. In fact I just ordered it. It will be our new coffee table book. The photos are breathtaking.
Briana
rated it
Recommends it for:
everyone!! =)
Recommended to Briana by:
In-House =P
Shelves:
nonfiction
An amazing piece of art. The stories are touching and the photos are stunning. Every woman should read this book.
Guy Baryo
added it
Excellent stories from awesome women. Every man should read this.
Amazing.
Real women + real stories = reality
Every woman young and old should pick up this book. It is a quick read and you won't put it down until you've read cover-to-cover. As a young adult I know far to well how easy it is to get lost in the "ideal" bodies pictured in magazines and TV, and emphasized by celebrity/media figures and fashion models. The women captured in Olsen's book are true role models.
Every woman young and old should pick up this book. It is a quick read and you won't put it down until you've read cover-to-cover. As a young adult I know far to well how easy it is to get lost in the "ideal" bodies pictured in magazines and TV, and emphasized by celebrity/media figures and fashion models. The women captured in Olsen's book are true role models.
This is a stunning, powerful book about the way in which women's bodies affect their self esteem. Different women are photographed and then state how they feel about themselves. I found it to be very empowering--and sad at the same time. EVERY woman should read this (it's a fast read) and so should the men who love them--or want to understand women better.
Why do i find it so easy to identify beauty in other women of all shares and sizes and yet i cannot see it in myself? But while i search for my own beauty there are books like this to remind me that even if i don't like what i see in the mirror it is there, discovered by others, just waiting for me to catch up.
Excellent book! Real stories about real people. It's amazing how different and alike we all are. So different on the outside. Different shapes, sizes, colors - everything! But so many of the same thoughts, insecurities, struggles and so on. Very quick read and wonderful pictures.
Completely fabulous view of our diversity both in body and thoughts on our bodies. I always thought I new the meaning of "don't judge a book by it's cover" but from the very first image and essay, I realized I did not. Highly recommend this self-esteem body image book.
this book was a gift from the most beautiful librarian EVER! thank you Ginnie. the only thing i can say about this book that everyone else hasn't already said...Take one and pass it down NOW!
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I love this book. It would make such a great gift for so many women that I know. Thanks Christina.
Rhiannon Waddell
marked it as to-read
Carlos Bourgeon
marked it as to-read
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