Customer Reviews

Fat! So? Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I've always loved the Fat!So? zine... and was extremely excited to find out there was a book. You need to buy this book.... but not just one copy. Buy one for all your friends (fat and thin... because we all know that the thin girls still think they're fat). Buy copies for your local libraries and schools. Give copies to teen-age girls you might know. (Does Amazon sell by the case?) This is the funniest, most self-empowering book I've read in my life. Oh... and before you go to bed tonight... thank God for giving us Marilyn Wann. If you're just beginning to try to accept your body, I recommend this book. I also recommend joining NAAFA and attending some of their events.... you'll find out that no matter what your size, somebody will think you're fabulous just the way you are (Heck, might even be too skinny for some guys). :)

Marilyn Wann is my new hero! This book taught me so much about fatphobia, and how I was looking at myself in the mirror. It is factual. It will make you cry. It will make you laugh hysterically. It gives you flabulous tips on how to fight fatphobia. It just plain rocks! I love this book more than you can imagine. I'm giving it as Christmas gifts to all my fat-fanny friends.

Marilyn Wann's Fat!so? is definitely one of the best fat positive books available today. Sure it's not as good as Wendy Shanker's "Fat girls guide to life" or as factually fulfilling as Paul Campos' "The Obesity Myth," but for all those fat people out there in need of a self esteem boost and true stories from real people, or thin ignorants in need of a kick in the ass and a dose of TRUTH, this book is definitely worth your money.
The first thing you'll notice about it is simply how different it's put together - almost like a Matt Groening "...Hell" book, or activities book. It contains about 5 pages of Hero and Villian trading cut-out cards, a cut-out spin game, a cut-out dress up of the Venus of Willendorf, in-depth quotes, cool comeback lines, eye popping facts, nice drawings of sexy fat women, and very colorful, warm, and easy to read layout. Now, the books starts out w/ Marilyn telling everyone to use the "F" word (or, Fat) to describe themselves and others who are fat. She's a healthy 270lb, 5'4" woman who works out 3 times a week w/ a personal trainer and eats a good variety of food and veggies (normal blood pressure, cholesteral, etc). She strongly encourages good excersize routines and the need for a balanced, healthy diet throughout the book (even 2 pages of her own recipes) where ones main focus is HEALTH and self-esteem and not, NOT weight loss. If you lose wieght doing so, fine, if you don't, fine still. She puts forth a better self esteem about body image than Wendy Shanker in her book but doesn't put forth as many life stories of her own (which I wanted more of, i didn't feel I knew her very well after the book was over, at least not like Ms. Shanker).
Wann goes on to give us good ideas and arguments going against diets, diet pills, expensive and dangerous weight loss surgery, self loathing, etc. She tells us about arguements made against her and the hate filled w/in them only confirming how much hypocrisy there really is out there, even from doctors whom we all put so much trust w/in (just cause they're doctors, doesn't means they can't wrongfully judge).
There are some writings by other people who have faced fat hatred in their lives and thier stories, a few poems, and interesting charts w/ some funny comparisons. That's another thing I liked, the humor. Sure, she's not as sarcastic and bitterly tounge-in-cheek funny as Ms. Shanker, but you'll get a laugh here and there.
What I thought brought the book down somewhat was the second half. While the first half had very interesting facts and good arguments, the second half turned more into tips and stories that really weren't as in-depth as I'd expected but still fun to read. There really wasn't much of an ending either, and the book is just too short (about 170 reading pages - quick read) which makes me feel like Wann didn't have enough research on her back to sustain a longer book. But it's ok, this book is very good and I had a smile on my face once I finished it. Here is a woman who's fat, sexy, healthy, active, funny, strong, and simply beautiful. And for all you guys out there who deny beauty in a woman who doesn't look like the "ideal" Cameron Diaz, Angela Bassett, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, a Maxim model, etc etc, i have one thing to say to you: grow a freakin penis! The full-figured woman is TIMELESS beauty, the thin emaciated woman is that of the newly corporate guided multi-million dollar televised media industry which only erupted during the age of capitalist social segragated greed, or the 1900's. Oh, but I forgot, this is AMERICA, we're the richest so we MUST be the smartest! Therefore, we know what REAL health is, unlike those other POORER countries out there who actually think fat women are beautiful and aren't weight obsessed, what do they know?? We're America, we're right! We're rich! ..... get over yourselves.
It would be equally amoung the best books out there but it's basically the length and general "cuteness" which kind of holds it back somewhat, yet this "cuteness" gives it a more readable approach than lots of other text-oriented self-help books. But it's cheap; at 12 bucks, it's worth every penny. I'm proud to have read this book. I encourage you to do the same.

From the moment I started reading her book, I loved FAT!SO? Marilyn Wann both educates the readers on fat prejudice and fat myths, and gives them a good laugh at the same time. Whenever I feel the need for an esteem boost, I read portions of Wann's book.

Some people have felt that her humor somehow trivializes people's experience with fat prejudice. That was not her intention. Her intention was to give the readers a reason to feel good about themselves and to give them an uplift. I've read interviews with Marily Wann, and believe me, she has felt the sting (more like the stab) of fat prejudice as much as other fat people.

Wann also cites studies that show how other natural differences in humans, such as men's height and left-handed people, have demonstrated higher percentages of health problems--and the same health problems--attributed to fat. But did the researchers of these studies say that being a short man or being left-handed was the cause of their health problems? No, they attributed it to cultural prejudice (Western societies have traditionally looked down on short men, as men are expected to be tall, or at least taller than women, and left-handers receive prejudice due to old superstitious beliefs that being left-handed somehow makes the person evil or unlucky).

If you can read this book and still feel that fat people "choose" to be fat, and/or deserve to receive prejudice because of being fat, I suggest reading Dr. Edell's book, EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY, Laura Fraser's book, LOSING IT: AMERICA'S OBSESSION WITH WEIGHT AND THE INDUSTRY THAT FEEDS ON IT, and W. Charisse Goodman's book, THE INVISIBLE WOMAN: CONFRONTING WEIGHT PREJUDICE IN AMERICA. Dr. Edell and his staff have for years searched for and continues to sift through current research and recommend the best, most valid amongst it (no, I'm, afraid not all medical research is high-quality). Fraser, a journalist, conducted an in-depth study on the origins of America's desire for thinness, the diet industry, and obesity research and how the researchers are connected to the diet industry, thereby having their research affected by the industry. Goodman (I wrote a review on her book as well) details the discourse of weight prejudice in America and successfully illustrates the similarities between Anti-Semitism and weight prejudice (Goodman is Jewish).

However, after reading these books as well, you STILL insist that fat people deserve prejudice, "choose" to be fat and should lose weight at all costs, then you're just a plain bigot who needs a scapegoat.

Back to Marilyn's book, EVERYONE, fat or thin, who has esteem issues with their body should read it. It's a definite uplifter, with a complete bibliography, and personal accounts from contributors to the book. It also has a piece written by Wann's personal trainer.

Let's see. The author tells her story as a healthy, active fat woman. A person doesn't believe her and instead decides that she's all sorts of horrible things. Then he wraps up by accusing the author of reinforcing all of these negative stereotypes? Huh?

Don't believe the inevitable backlash from people who do not want a different voice to be heard on fat issues. This is a fantastic book. Its a fun, easy read while also doing a lot of educating along the way. If people find her positions so threatening as to launch into these kind of cruel unfounded personal attacks to discredit her, you know the book is worth reading. This is a provactive book, no doubt, and you should experience her story for yourself. Not from people who are outraged that she's telling her story at all.

For 1998 Fat!So? may have been revolutionary but a lot of the subject matter has been discussed ad nauseam in some form or other. Which confirms two things: it's important to women and there are still too many people not listening.

What started off as a zine, Fat!So? has been one of the bibles for fat acceptance for a number of years. It shows no sign of waning. Marilyn started the zine after her boyfriend said he was embarrassed by her weight and the insurance company said she was a liability. Anyone over 160 pounds can probably relate. From there, Fat!So? grew into a popular website community and equally popular book.

The majority of Fat!So? is divided into four anatomy lessons: The Butt, The Belly, The Chin and The Upper Arm. Within these lessons everything about women and the plus size body is discussed via the ABCs. We even get to see pictures of naked bellies, chins and bums.

Like most advocates of fat acceptance she wants people to "embrace the F-word." The 3 letter word not the 4 letter one so "no one can use it against you ever again." Previous surgeon general C. Everett Koop, his close relationship to the diet companies and a brief timeline of Prescription diet drugs for the last hundred years are discussed. She doesn't like him. She also addresses childhood obesity, how to educate teachers about fat prejudice and making exercise fun, not a punishment.

There's an awesome essay titled Fat Kills by Betty Rose Dudley. In it she discusses her experience of visiting a doctor for a cough only to have the doctor deter to the topic of weight loss. Every time. You can read the essay at the Fat! So? website. There are many other essays by women of volume. Without the contributors Marilyn Wann wouldn't have had a book. The insights and experiences of others is what makes Fat! So? so good. Readers are able to see bits of themselves in others as well as learn what other fat people have dealt with.

Another favourite section of mine is the -Yeah, Right!- area. If you ever wished you had a comeback for a snide comment directed toward you this area will give you lots of ideas. Skip to this section for an instant boost.

As for the negatives there weren't many. Since its printing in 1998, some of the links are now expired but that's to be expected. At times Wann came across as promoting weight gain which I don't think is any better than promoting weight loss. Also the similarities of phrenology (using callipers to measure bumps on the skull) and bariatric medicine (the study of obesity) was a bit tedious and hard to follow. Lastly she encourages fat sex but there is no mention of safe sex. Fat people need to be aware of safe sex too. Especially since the book isn't directed toward adults only. Direction to more information would have been a nice addition to this area.

Fat!So? isn't all about the seriousness of being fat, fat acceptance and standing up for ourselves. Wann likes to have a little fun and it shows in a few of her mock essays, bountiful women cartoons from various artists and other extra goodies that take you from reading to interactive play.

There are with two cut'n paste projects; 17 fun things to do with your bathroom scale and, my favourite, the Venus of Willendorf Paper Doll. Remember those little flip books you had as a kid? You would flip through the pages and the image would appear to be running or jumping. Well in the top right hand corner is the cover diva shaking her groove thing. It's adorable. I like surprises. It took me until page 49 before I even realized it.

Another gem, almost unnoticed at the bottom of every page in very small print is -154 Ways to be a fatso-; like fill your home with fat positive art or refuse to apologize for your size. It's like an added bonus mini book.

Although Fat!So? is not the exclusive bible for fat acceptance that it use to be, it's a good read and shows what women have been trying to say for years: Accept me as I am. (...)

In the course of the mere two days it took me to read it, this amazing, empowering book helped me to realize that I need to stop feeling like a "defective" human being for being fat. Marilyn Wann uses humor and style to help nurture a sense of self-esteem much greater than anything you'd get from dropping twenty pounds... she reminds her readers that it's okay -- even encouraged! -- for them to love themselves exactly as they are. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with a weight issue, whether you weigh 135 or 335. Marilyn, you rule!

Fat, fat, fatty, fat, fat! With shame, for years I've searched for just the right euphemisms to describe myself. But like many of the tiny clothes in the stores, nothing ever quite fit. But now, I just say fat. Sometimes it catches people off guard. But it usually puts them at ease after awhile, because they see there's no longer any need for pretense. I've chosen to take the word that many have used to cause harm and taken the sting out of it. The only other term I find useful to describe myself is BBW (big, beautiful, woman).

I liked Marilyn's pared down, in-your-face attitude. It's about time somebody stood up for the fat people of the world. It's time to shatter the myths and stop believing the hype about diets and weight loss. Last time I checked, thin people die too, and many times they die of the same diseases that the medical community has labeled as "fat diseases."

I learned a long time ago that fat is not always about one person eating more than someone else. There are thin people who can eat fat people under the table. Individuals may deal with their weight differently, but as a whole, fat people should not be made to diet, or pressured to do anything they don't want to do to lose weight.

Hooray for Marilyn Wan! She has encouraged me in many ways; and through her readers, maybe she can educate our society.

Thanks to Fat?So!, the next time someone asks me "Should you be eating that?" I'm going to pause, look at them knowingly, and with a wink and a nod, say "I was, but I think you need it more than me."

Read about the mysterious disease that has started attacking fat people who become famous, get tips on personal trainers, find out why flirting is like any other martial art. And not only can you learn snappy comebacks for rude people, you also get handy pre-written blurbs for you to use on a date, when someone is rude, on a job interview, and in the doctor's office. Discover what Marilyn Wann did that the people at Weight Watchers found offensive, why she dies her hair hot pink (and why you should too!), and why people call her "Hank." See what practical advice Aunt Agony has for the woman whose jeans keep wearing out between the thighs. Learn the principle of "wash and chop," see pictures of naked fat bellies, arms, chins, butts; get bowling advice, medical references (it is more health threatening to be short than fat), and cool facts (fat women are twice as likely to enjoy sex and to reach orgasm). There's a recipe for Cottage Cheese Surprise, instructions for dealing with those annoying bright yellow "lose 30 pounds in 30 days" signs on the side of the road, a flabulous paper doll, trading cards and a list of 17 fun things to do with your bathroom scale that don't involve weighing yourself.

Fat!So? is powerfully enlightening. Thank you, Marilyn Wann, for your bold statement that fat people are cool. I propose that Crayola add a new color in honor of Wann--Fat!So? Pink!

This is the only book that has ever changed my life. I was a junior in high school and had been wearing the same outfit for a year because I didn't want to buy "fat clothes" after I had gained weight the year before. I had never heard a fat-positive word before Marilyn Wann came into my life. I'm willing to bet there are a good many fat high-school girls in the same situation, and I hope that they will be lucky enough to discover this glorious book. I dove head-first into the fat movement after reading Fat!So?, and though I've enjoyed a number of other informative books, Fat!So? is still my fat bible. Definatley a great starting point for anyone willing to identify as fat (and fabulous!) and join the fat revolution! Don't be scared, though, it's really just great all around, funny and personable, a great conversation starter, and perfectly suitable to give to your daughters.