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Erin K, Reviewer

Reading Laymon's powerful memoir during recent events has made it even more incredibly timely. I don't check my white privilege nearly enough as I ought to, and the protests over George Floyd's death, accompanied by this man's story is a perfect reminder of how incredibly lucky white individuals are in this country. I wish this book felt out-of-date, that we had accomplished enough with the Black Lives Matter movement to have made Laymon's struggles a thing of the past. The unfortunate truth is that all of the racism and prejudice (both subtle and extreme) against African Americans is still occurring every single day in the US. What Laymon's writing allowed me to do was step inside that world and truly understand how pervasive and damaging this racism is. This book is filled with painful truths, and it seems I needed Laymon's heartwrenching honesty and willingness to look at his own pain in order to open my eyes.

The other remarkable thing about this memoir is that it provided parts I could relate to as well (yes, even as a white Jewish girl). Laymon's book (with the appropriate title) does focus on his struggles with his weight and size. As an adult, his struggles become so intense that they're a full-on eating disorder (even though he never uses those specific words). His recounting of his obsession with the number on the scale and his disgust of his own body was something I could completely relate to. And so, in spite of what makes us different, Laymon was still able to illustrate a world where I could recognize myself. I think this connection is what will help others move past racism - being able to connect with the parts of us that are the same and having empathy for the many parts that aren't.

It was truly an honor to read this book, and I thank Laymon for writing something that I'll be thinking about for a long time to come.
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