3 Recommended Books for Exploring Body Image
The Body is Not An Apology, Sonya Renee Taylor
This core text from Sonya Renee Taylor establishes meaningful foundational conversations for diverse communities. Taylor challenges us to think beyond self-acceptance and self-confidence and establish practices of radical self-love. She delves deep into the societal standards of beauty. Her book invites readers to consider their intersecting identities within radical self-love and connect the internal work to self in community or interdependence; the process of individual transformation also seeks systemic changes. Taylor’s book provides excellent prompts and thoughtful anecdotes to connect the practice of radical self-love. She often collaborates with adrienne mariee brown to offer insightful workshops. Check out her Instagram @sonyarenneetaylor
The Art of Body Acceptance, Ashlee Bennett
If you want to combine creative expression with exploring body image, "The Art of Body Acceptance" by Ashlee Bennett is an excellent choice. Bennett, a clinical art therapist, blends her experience in mental health, art and exploring personal body relationships to create practical tools and exercises for nurturing body acceptance. This book is valuable for encouraging creativity and embracing your body journey. Also, Ashlee has a beautiful practice in ceramics and transforming clay into lovely sculptures, which I'm particularly fond of. Check out their Instagram @abennettartist.
The Body Liberation Project, Chrissy King
Chrissy King's book is a powerful tool for unlearning and building on a critical understanding of systemic violence and racism in health and fitness cultures. She offers more perspective on building towards collective liberation, again emphasizing that reckoning with the pressures on bodies goes far beyond the individual relationship. King's work is a significant addition to the ongoing process of unlearning and reimagining, particularly in our understanding of systemic violence of racism and other oppressive forces. The book includes practices, reflections, and narratives illuminating the challenges, possibilities, and necessary work of body liberation. Check out her Instagram @therealchrissyking
