Body Positive Power

I have never read a book so powerful and so inspiring. Megan awed me with her wit, story telling, and just amazing things to say. I am now a huge fan of hers and will read anything she writes!

This book is going to change lives. It should be a must-read for every young woman. Interesting topics and even more interesting story from the author’s personal life. Loved every second of it. Didn’t want it to end!

I’ve been aware of the body positivity movement for a few years now, but even with that history, this book was revelatory. I must have highlighted and annotated half the dang book. Simultaneously a takedown of diet culture, a rousing call to fight internalized and externalized fatphobia, and a tender manifesto for self-acceptance, Body Positive Power was filled with such research- and empathy-fueled passion that I plan to recommend it to just about anyone I talk about books or body image with - basically, all the women in my family.

That’s not to say that certain parts of the book weren’t heartbreaking to read. The earlier sections of the book, which discuss the harm caused by diet culture and the fixation on people’s weight, were both horrifying in their scope and in their personal relevance. The fact- and anecdote-studded essays making it clear how much the moralizing of fatness has hurt my loved ones and myself was emotionally wrenching. Despite that, Megan Jayne Crabbe wrote these sections gracefully and chose her diverse essay contributors well. Her tone was never condescending to the reader; it was instead consistently frank and warm.

My favorite portions of the book were the takedowns of fitspo (fitness inspiration) culture that’s currently trendy on the internet, the sections on intuitive eating and exercising, and the essays on how the medical industry treats its perceived-overweight patients unjustly. I loved how she consistently welcomed and boosted the voices of disabled people, queer folks, and people of color. (Side note - one of the things that drew me to the cover of the e-galley of it initially was the author’s beautiful hair, the colors of which reminded me of the bi pride flag! I don’t know if that’s what she was going for, but it made me happy.)

If I were to criticize anything about this book - and this is me really reaching for stuff to quibble about - it would be that some of the discussions (like about fitspo culture and some of the more internet-based topics) could have used a smidge more introduction for people less internet-savvy. The reason I even thought of that is because I actually called my mom on one of my lunch breaks spent reading this, telling her how much I liked it, and she mentioned that she might want to read it. And I would love it if she did, but I don’t know how much she’d connect to stuff discussing instagram, at least not without context.

On a final note: I wish I’d had this book as a teenager. It’s taken me a long time to accept my grown-afab-person body for how it is, and I think the journey would’ve been a million times smoother and less harmful to myself if I’d been surrounded with voices like this author’s telling me that, however I look and at whatever size I am, it’s okay. I hope this book is able to reach other folks who need a similar voice in their lives.

Positive message in a sweet, approachable tone. The author shares her personal journey to loving her own body, and offers encouragement for readers tired of dieting, weigh-ins, and the constant media onslaught to be Barbie-thin. I look forward to getting this into the hands of young women and patrons of all ages.

I haven't highlighted and shared this many quotes from a book in a looooong time. Megan Jayne Crabbe has a way with words, and really smart way of seeing things.

While this book covers some of the same ground that other recent body-positive books do, it also goes a lot deeper and deals with difficult but really important issues like eating disorders, mental health, and what to do if those you love participate in body-shaming you. I also really, really appreciated that Crabbe explicitly included people living with disabilities and chronic health issues, one group that is often left out of these conversations.

This is one of those books that I just want to buy 100 copies of and leave them places so that people will find them and read them and maybe we will start to change the world.

What a great book! I love the message that we should all be proud of ourselves regardless of our size or appearance.

This is one of those books that when you read it, it leaves a bigger mark on you as a person and as a women. I even recommended this book to my teenage daughters to read. I thought this book was fantastic and to me I think it should be a book that everyone should read. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and write about this book.

Society has always made those that lack the perfect body feel out of place and ashamed of who they are, but the author of this book wants the reader to love who they are no matter what size they are! I really enjoyed the positivity of this book! It is much needed for women of all ages!

I follow Megan Crabbe on Instagram and enjoy seeing her posts. I was thrilled when she came out with a body-positive book. It gave me the confidence to do yoga in a studio where everyone is skinnier than me. Megan's book compliments her Instagram account and goes more in depth of how to love your body and assures you that where you are now is beautiful.

This title archived the day after I was approved, so I had to buy it in order to read and review it. That said, I am so happy I bought the book because it’s one I will treasure. It’s positive, supportive, and enlightening, and the author is an endearing and motivating person. I hope everyone reads this book!

Love love love! She is amazing and this book is amazing. I feel like it was written for me. The sad thing is so many women feel this way and we shouldn’t. Megan is an amazing role model and I would recommend this book to anyone that has ever had issues with their body.

With her one million Instagram followers and colorful hair, clothes and personality, this young woman is singlehandedly dismantling the entire diet industry and the worlds perception of beauty.

She has amassed a group of like-minded individuals who all agree: we are worth more than how much we weigh.

Ms. Crabbe is probably significantly younger than I am, however she is much wiser and has completely changed my outlook on body image. As a former ballerina, I have struggled for years with the idea that “thin is best” which is a hugely falsified notion set up by the diet industry to perpetuate an ideal that doesn’t exist. Why? Money.

Megan breaks it down into specific points that will have you second guessing everything you ever thought was true.
I can honestly say that @bodyposipanda and this book have changed my life. And for that, I will be forever thankful.

Thank you to Perseus for my advance copy! This book is now available.

I love this more than words. It felt so very personal, but it was so very important. I will honestly cherish this book forever. I love Megan so much, and she is one of the brightest lights in this world.