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speculativebecky 's review for:
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
by Sonya Renee Taylor
The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor is one of those books that I was already planning to re-read the minute I started it. This book is a treatise on “Radical Self-Love”, a way to approach yourself and your world that goes beyond self-confidence or body acceptance, towards real healing from the trauma of the way we’re taught to view our bodies. From the powerful beginning where Taylor describes the revelatory idea that we don’t need to apologize for the way our bodies exist in the world, through chapters digging deep into how to practically apply this mindset, this book is a mind-opening treasure.
I was especially struck by her emphasis on our negative ways of viewing not only our own bodies, but the bodies of others. It’s often easy to make ourselves feel better about our bodies by comparing them to others’ we find less desirable, or by feeling superior by putting more effort into our body maintenance, but a positive view of oneself that relies on a negative view of others is ultimately detrimental to the self and the world. The exhortation to become comfortable with others’ differences, and to radically love all bodies is a powerful transformative concept. Another huge takeaway for me is her argument that we are not our thoughts, an impacting encouragement to untangle the shame we feel about having internalized negative body messages and move beyond them.
This book is a level beyond what it might seem from first glance, because Taylor’s ultimate message is not only about transforming the way we see ourselves, but actually transforming the world. This book is constantly intersectional in its approach, discussing race and sexuality and disability and how oppressive systems link together, and I appreciated that so much. I have a ton that I’m thinking about after finishing this read, and I’m excited to continue to chew on these words and revisit these concepts in many future re-reads. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to think more deeply about how to have a better relationship with yourself and/or a better world.
I was especially struck by her emphasis on our negative ways of viewing not only our own bodies, but the bodies of others. It’s often easy to make ourselves feel better about our bodies by comparing them to others’ we find less desirable, or by feeling superior by putting more effort into our body maintenance, but a positive view of oneself that relies on a negative view of others is ultimately detrimental to the self and the world. The exhortation to become comfortable with others’ differences, and to radically love all bodies is a powerful transformative concept. Another huge takeaway for me is her argument that we are not our thoughts, an impacting encouragement to untangle the shame we feel about having internalized negative body messages and move beyond them.
This book is a level beyond what it might seem from first glance, because Taylor’s ultimate message is not only about transforming the way we see ourselves, but actually transforming the world. This book is constantly intersectional in its approach, discussing race and sexuality and disability and how oppressive systems link together, and I appreciated that so much. I have a ton that I’m thinking about after finishing this read, and I’m excited to continue to chew on these words and revisit these concepts in many future re-reads. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to think more deeply about how to have a better relationship with yourself and/or a better world.