FAT!SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size [Paperback]

Marilyn Wann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

Fat? Chunky? Less than svelte? So what! In this hilarious and eye-opening book, fat and proud activist/zinester Marilyn Wann takes on Americas' biggest fear—worse than the fear of public speaking or nuclear weapons—our fear of fat.Statistics tell us that about a third of Americans are fat, and common sense adds that just about everyone, fat or thin, male or female, has worried about their appearance. FAT!SO? weighs in with a more attractive alternative: feeling good about yourself at any weight—and having the style and attitude to back it up. Internationally recognized as a fat-positive spokesperson, Wann has learned that you can be absolutely happy, healthy, and successful...and fat. With its hilarious and insightful blend of essays, quizzes, facts, and reporting, FAT!SO? proves that you can be out-and-out fabulous at any size.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-The pervasiveness and dangers of anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders are undeniable; recent articles on the subject have appeared in periodicals ranging from People to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Wann, a 5'4", 275-pound Californian, states unequivocally that America needs an attitude adjustment. Fear of fat, she says, supports a $40 billion a year diet industry, destroys both relationships and self-esteem, and engenders "loathing on a national level." Her revolutionary idea? Eat right, exercise, and stop worrying about weight. Being thin doesn't automatically equate with either health or happiness, the author reminds readers. She includes information from physicians, health experts, and medical journals to support her assertion that fitness contributes more to longevity than the "the f-word." The book, named after her Web site and her zine, is an engaging blend of fact and humor. Charts, graphics, photos ("visual counterpropaganda"), testimonials, quotes, ideas for sassy comebacks, and much more can help teens of all sizes reevaluate their view of the "flabulous." Fat! So? is irreverent and thought provoking, informative and fun.
Dori DeSpain, Herndon Fortnightly Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898159954
• ISBN-13: 978-0898159950
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REALLY SHOULD BE 10 STARS... BUY THIS BOOK NOW, September 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: FAT!SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size (Paperback)

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). :)

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my life!, November 17, 1999

By 

Jennifer Miller (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FAT!SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size (Paperback)

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.

56 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Fat Positive Book w/ Some Flaws, September 14, 2004

By 

S. Morales (Levittown, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: FAT!SO? : Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size (Paperback)

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.