The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
- Downloads：2312
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-03-29 14:11:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Sonya Renee Taylor
- ISBN：1523090995
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
This pioneering bestseller has become a rallying cry for a movement of radical self-love--the second edition shows readers how to grow the movement from self to systems and includes empowering stories from Sonya Renee Taylor's travels around the world。
In a revolutionary departure from the capitalist-driven self-help and body-positivity movement， poet， author， and humanitarian Sonya Renee Taylor forges an inextricable bond between radical self-love and social justice。 The first step is recognizing that we have all been indoctrinated into a system of body shame that profits off our self-hatred。 This second edition includes stories from Taylor's travels around the world combating body terrorism and shines a light on the path toward liberation guided by love。 In a brand new chapter， Taylor confronts each of the "isms" and phobias， especially racism， sexism， ableism， homophobia， and transphobia， showing how radical self-love manifests in each space。 Radical self-love not only dismantles shame and self-loathing in us but has the power to dismantle global systems of injustice--because when we make peace with our bodies， only then do we have the capacity to truly make peace with the bodies of others。 Readers can also engage more deeply using the accompanying workbook， which builds on the ten tools and radical reflection and unapologetic inquiry exercises woven throughout the book。
In a revolutionary departure from the capitalist-driven self-help and body-positivity movement， poet， author， and humanitarian Sonya Renee Taylor forges an inextricable bond between radical self-love and social justice。 The first step is recognizing that we have all been indoctrinated into a system of body shame that profits off our self-hatred。 This second edition includes stories from Taylor's travels around the world combating body terrorism and shines a light on the path toward liberation guided by love。 In a brand new chapter， Taylor confronts each of the "isms" and phobias， especially racism， sexism， ableism， homophobia， and transphobia， showing how radical self-love manifests in each space。 Radical self-love not only dismantles shame and self-loathing in us but has the power to dismantle global systems of injustice--because when we make peace with our bodies， only then do we have the capacity to truly make peace with the bodies of others。 Readers can also engage more deeply using the accompanying workbook， which builds on the ten tools and radical reflection and unapologetic inquiry exercises woven throughout the book。
Reviews
Dr。 Pepper Ex-Fan
，
Even better than I thought it would be。 Get the audiobook， because there are parts that are hilarious。
Ann Douglas
，
This is the book I needed a decade ago， back when my relationship with my body could best be described as one of self-loathing。 （Yes， I was in a very dark place。） I've come a long way since that time， both personally and politically。 This book is very much in synch with the person I am now。 I particularly loved Sonya Renee Taylor's call to action （on pages 99-100）: "The most transformative element of radical self love is its ability to extend beyond our individual experience。 You are not only re This is the book I needed a decade ago， back when my relationship with my body could best be described as one of self-loathing。 （Yes， I was in a very dark place。） I've come a long way since that time， both personally and politically。 This book is very much in synch with the person I am now。 I particularly loved Sonya Renee Taylor's call to action （on pages 99-100）: "The most transformative element of radical self love is its ability to extend beyond our individual experience。 You are not only reading this book to heal your own fraught relationship with your body。 You are reading this book because you are called to pick up the needle and thread and add to the repair of our gorgeous but painfully tattered collective humanity。 Together we can create a web of love" -- a web of love that embraces all bodies。 。。。more
Vanessa Burnett
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Everyone should read this book！ I don't even have words to encompass my feelings after reading it。 It is spectacular and I am excited to dig into the challenging but ultimately necessary work of radical self-love。 Everyone should read this book！ I don't even have words to encompass my feelings after reading it。 It is spectacular and I am excited to dig into the challenging but ultimately necessary work of radical self-love。 。。。more
Johanna DeBiase
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Radical social justice manifesto that proclaims we must destroy body terrorism， body shame and all those that profit from it in order to create a world of equity。 We are bodies！ We don't just have bodies， we are bodies。 Our culture only approves of certain bodies， those at the top of the social heirarchy--white， able， cis， hetero， thin， etc。 The solution is within。 Love ourselves deeply as we are， so we can extend that love to all others。 A difficult but worthy fight！ Radical social justice manifesto that proclaims we must destroy body terrorism， body shame and all those that profit from it in order to create a world of equity。 We are bodies！ We don't just have bodies， we are bodies。 Our culture only approves of certain bodies， those at the top of the social heirarchy--white， able， cis， hetero， thin， etc。 The solution is within。 Love ourselves deeply as we are， so we can extend that love to all others。 A difficult but worthy fight！ 。。。more
Kirsten
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This could be completely paradigm-shifting if we let it into our lives wholeheartedly。 It shook me to the core and showed me the work I have to do for myself and for the world。 It's daunting work to do， but absolutely necessary。 And radical self-love is a worthwhile result。 This could be completely paradigm-shifting if we let it into our lives wholeheartedly。 It shook me to the core and showed me the work I have to do for myself and for the world。 It's daunting work to do， but absolutely necessary。 And radical self-love is a worthwhile result。 。。。more
Tracy
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This book is for everybody， particularly those who find themselves shocked by the cover， or cringing at the idea of something called "radical self-love。" But really， this is not a self-help book so much as a society-help book。 Taylor exposes all the ways in which we live in a culture that practices "body terrorism，" from fat-shaming to our ableist ways to racism and colorism。 They are all enacted on our physical bodies， and in order to not enact them on others' bodies， we must start with ourselv This book is for everybody， particularly those who find themselves shocked by the cover， or cringing at the idea of something called "radical self-love。" But really， this is not a self-help book so much as a society-help book。 Taylor exposes all the ways in which we live in a culture that practices "body terrorism，" from fat-shaming to our ableist ways to racism and colorism。 They are all enacted on our physical bodies， and in order to not enact them on others' bodies， we must start with ourselves。 This is a book I think I will return to many times。 Highly recommend for all bodies。 。。。more
Jessica
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It started off with spiritual insights from Marianne Williamson。 And then - you know how some people #tweet with #hashtags in every other #word to emphasize their #brand？ That's kind of how the use of the phrase radical self-love came across to me。 But these are just little irritations in a message that I overall support so I continued。 I think what really lost my attention is how there are so many ideas included in a really short book， when I was done it kind of felt like I'd just spent some ti It started off with spiritual insights from Marianne Williamson。 And then - you know how some people #tweet with #hashtags in every other #word to emphasize their #brand？ That's kind of how the use of the phrase radical self-love came across to me。 But these are just little irritations in a message that I overall support so I continued。 I think what really lost my attention is how there are so many ideas included in a really short book， when I was done it kind of felt like I'd just spent some time going down a Wikipedia rabbit-hole。 And again， this is a thing that some people might really enjoy！ And apparently do given the average rating。 But for myself， I wish I'd just re-read Radical Dharma: Talking Race， Love， and Liberation instead。 。。。more
Celine
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Wasn't expecting this content when I picked up the book but glad I did。 Learned about "body terrorism" and how all systems of oppression are really against the human body。 The journey to radical self-love isn't easy， but tips offered in the book are decent for starting your journey and along the journey。 Wasn't expecting this content when I picked up the book but glad I did。 Learned about "body terrorism" and how all systems of oppression are really against the human body。 The journey to radical self-love isn't easy， but tips offered in the book are decent for starting your journey and along the journey。 。。。more
Erin
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Absolutely everyone should read this book。
Camille Baker
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I can't wait to annoy my friends with my insistence on practicing radical self-love。 Definitely a book I'll have to revisit。 I can't wait to annoy my friends with my insistence on practicing radical self-love。 Definitely a book I'll have to revisit。 。。。more
Jamie
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3。5/4 stars。 There are many good messages here。 I wish all people actually took them seriously。
Amelia
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This book is great for beginners of body positivity which isn’t a bad thing and it’s clearly who this book is for however as Someone who’s been around the body positivity community for almost four years I didn’t learn anything new。 HOWEVER this book helped me feel a lot better and reaffirm these beliefs。 I’ve seen a plethora of disgusting things about body’s more so then ever lately probably because of how popular body positivity has gotten over the past 6 months ish （？？？？） and this book really This book is great for beginners of body positivity which isn’t a bad thing and it’s clearly who this book is for however as Someone who’s been around the body positivity community for almost four years I didn’t learn anything new。 HOWEVER this book helped me feel a lot better and reaffirm these beliefs。 I’ve seen a plethora of disgusting things about body’s more so then ever lately probably because of how popular body positivity has gotten over the past 6 months ish （？？？？） and this book really helped to reaffirm my beliefs and not feel disgusting and stupid。 I think this book was beautifully written and could help so many beginners and even people who just need to refresh themselves。 。。。more
Diana
，
So good！ Loved it！Gave me Untamed vibes😍 Similar vibe of relatable， funny， heart wrenching， challenging， inspiring。
Samarium Gibson
，
Very good read。 Brings up good points of how we perceive ourselves and how we are a victim society’s standard of “normal。” Must read for all。
Charity P。
，
So many Black women out there working so hard for everyone。 What a great book， which I specifically timed to read while convalescing。 None of our bodies are apologies。 I can't wait to move this one on to a friend！ So many Black women out there working so hard for everyone。 What a great book， which I specifically timed to read while convalescing。 None of our bodies are apologies。 I can't wait to move this one on to a friend！ 。。。more
Rae Slezak
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A beautiful book！ No one is free until we all are。
Emily
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I really enjoyed this。 So eye opening and inspiring！
Sarah
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Required reading！ My copy is heavily highlighted and lined with notes。 I have some more reading and listening to do now， using her recommended books and podcasts :）
Beth
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I’ve followed Sonya for several years on Instagram and have been meaning to read this book， but kept putting it off， as one sometimes does with books you know will be challenging。 When it was picked by my feminist book club to discuss I finally had my push。 So glad I read this！ Every word rang with Sonya’s warmth and it felt like a personal “call-in” rather than a “call-out”。 I felt challenged， but never defensive or shamed。 I’ve been doing the work for a few years， but can freely acknowledge ho I’ve followed Sonya for several years on Instagram and have been meaning to read this book， but kept putting it off， as one sometimes does with books you know will be challenging。 When it was picked by my feminist book club to discuss I finally had my push。 So glad I read this！ Every word rang with Sonya’s warmth and it felt like a personal “call-in” rather than a “call-out”。 I felt challenged， but never defensive or shamed。 I’ve been doing the work for a few years， but can freely acknowledge how much more work I need to do， personally and within my community。 This book gave me a sense of purpose and change in perspective。 The idea of radical self-love beyond ideas of self-acceptance and body-positivity felt so true and necessary。 Talking about body-terrorism as a system of oppression connected so many different things - racism， ableism， queerphobia， xenophobia， transphobia - in a way that just clicked！ The importance of interrogating our own role， privilege， and indoctrination in these systems is incredibly important。 And I love how the answer is radical self-love！！ I took something away from almost every page of this book and will likely re-read for continual inspiration。 Can’t wait to discuss with my friends and recommend to others！ 。。。more
Lisa Citron
，
provocative and empowering， gives a forward path to radical inclusion
Mich Likes Books
，
Will definitely revisit！ With one listen （and none of the written activities， will circle back lol） I feel I'm already gaining new language to gently combat others' learned body shame with radical self-love。 Will definitely revisit！ With one listen （and none of the written activities， will circle back lol） I feel I'm already gaining new language to gently combat others' learned body shame with radical self-love。 。。。more
Gracie
，
This book really didn't hit me。 There were a lot of words in this book that I felt didn't say that much。 For such a short book， it was quite repetitive and gave more assurances that I was "divine" and that we were "on a transformative journey together" than actually helping me work through any body dysmorphia or achieve any "radical self-love" （I understand that isn't something that happens from reading a 130 page book and Taylor does articulate that it is a life-long process of work， but this d This book really didn't hit me。 There were a lot of words in this book that I felt didn't say that much。 For such a short book， it was quite repetitive and gave more assurances that I was "divine" and that we were "on a transformative journey together" than actually helping me work through any body dysmorphia or achieve any "radical self-love" （I understand that isn't something that happens from reading a 130 page book and Taylor does articulate that it is a life-long process of work， but this didn't even make me that excited or give me a concrete place to get started）。 I do appreciate Taylor's inclusive vision of what the "body" is: her book makes you consider how race， age， gender， abilities， etc。 are all part of the body， not just the weight or shape of a body。 It did make me realize how much of my own body dissatisfaction （past and present） is rooted in racism and ableism， not just fatphobia。 。。。more
jodi brooks
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loved it！ Spoke to the genuine need for self love as the first step to wider understanding。 Sometime uncomfortable， sometimes emotional， painful and beautiful just like being a human。
Savana Schubert
，
Ok this book had a lot of amazing insight and was super helpful for me during my own personal body posi journey。 I liked that it wasn’t too preachy， but more encouraging。 Overall a good one， and great on audio！
Jeanna Aarhus
，
In the foreword to the second edition Ijeoma Oluo discusses her journey to radical self-love and questions whether we're expected， by society， to live in our bodies， hate those bodies， then just die。 This is something I've wondered as well， especially since the pandemic put 10 years of aging on my face and I can't manage not to obsess over it， and I've often thought how much my life would improve were I to take my daily internal self-hate monologue and put it towards a better use。 Fortunately I In the foreword to the second edition Ijeoma Oluo discusses her journey to radical self-love and questions whether we're expected， by society， to live in our bodies， hate those bodies， then just die。 This is something I've wondered as well， especially since the pandemic put 10 years of aging on my face and I can't manage not to obsess over it， and I've often thought how much my life would improve were I to take my daily internal self-hate monologue and put it towards a better use。 Fortunately I discovered this book and hope to find out。If you have a body you should read this book。 If you've wondered how you can be more inclusive to bodies that are not like your own， you should read this book。 If you've wasted chunks of your life looking in the mirror and hating what you see， then get this book， friend！ You owe it to yourself！ 。。。more
Alex Hoeft
，
Good， but the messages did feel a touch repetitive after a bit。 Still， it’s a message that travels across so many topics: We just need to love。 Love others and love our planet and love ourselves。 There were some powerful takeaways for me personally， like seeing shame in others’ bodies is merely a projection of my own body discomfort。 And I loved the idea of teaching children to not shy away from bodies different from their own。 Rather， encourage their curiosity （in a polite way， of course）。The a Good， but the messages did feel a touch repetitive after a bit。 Still， it’s a message that travels across so many topics: We just need to love。 Love others and love our planet and love ourselves。 There were some powerful takeaways for me personally， like seeing shame in others’ bodies is merely a projection of my own body discomfort。 And I loved the idea of teaching children to not shy away from bodies different from their own。 Rather， encourage their curiosity （in a polite way， of course）。The audiobook itself had a few errors， where sequences were repeated or words completely mispronounced， but overall， loved having the author read her own words。 。。。more
Bri （readingknitter。com）
，
This book was trying to be a lot of things at once， which made it fall a little flat for me。 I was unfamiliar with the author before reading and I enjoyed her overall message。 I think I would LOVE to see her speak in person， but the delivery here wasn’t a fit for me。 It’s part manifesto， part light skim of research （without diving deep）。 The overall message about appreciating your body and learning to withhold judgment and love the bodies of everyone is A+。 If I was in a place where I hadn’t alr This book was trying to be a lot of things at once， which made it fall a little flat for me。 I was unfamiliar with the author before reading and I enjoyed her overall message。 I think I would LOVE to see her speak in person， but the delivery here wasn’t a fit for me。 It’s part manifesto， part light skim of research （without diving deep）。 The overall message about appreciating your body and learning to withhold judgment and love the bodies of everyone is A+。 If I was in a place where I hadn’t already done this self-work， this book may have been a godsend （especially with the companion workbook， which was not yet released when I read the book）。 。。。more
Anna
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Read this book just sassily yessing to myself the whole way through。 Hits the nail on the head and helps you to explore your own relationship to your body and the bodies of other people。
Joanna van der Berg
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I loved the message of this book。 I appreciated how practical it is。 Some might be bothered by the very casual writing style （lots of exclamation marks and casual expressions） but I appreciated how this style makes the book accessible and easily read and understood by anyone who would pick it up。 It’s short and sweet and to the point。 I found parts of it cheesy and repetitive， but overall I’m glad I read it。
Risa
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