Real Women Don't Diet!: One Man's Praise of Large Women and His Outrage at the Society That Rejects Them [Hardcover]

Ken Mayer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There have been books and magazine articles asserting that our society is dangerously obsessed with a single standard of female beauty, namely that of the thin body. Mayer's book stands out because it is written by a man and is a paean to what he regards as real beauty; strong, large women (preferably well over 200 pounds). Expressing heartfelt pain over tortures that overweight women endure (many were prescribed diet pills by alarmed doctors in their early teens), the book will offer comfort to any woman who falls outside the waif-like ideal. Mayer, a "large-size" fashion photographer and freelance writer, rallies facts and figures that verify that "overweight" women are not unhealthy and promotes the sensible idea that if a woman feels healthy, she probably is. Along the way, he throws in a lot of his own extraneous philosophy and practical tips (for instance, on how to reduce the cost of a home loan), and a veritable diatribe against this country's medical establishment and the destruction of the environment. However, with its arresting title and cover (a beautiful, 200 plus-pound woman, obviously pleased with herself and enjoying life), this book will have wide appeal. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Mayer is in line with writers like Naomi Wolf ( Beauty Myth , LJ 4/1/91) who severely criticize our society's standards of feminine beauty. He focuses on body size or weight, arguing that big is not only beautiful but also healthy and takes to task the fashion and diet industries and physicians for encouraging women literally to harm themselves in order to be thin. The early chapters take the form of a personal journal about Mayer's coming of age and attraction to big women. Later chapters critique society's values in general to show that our obsession with body shape is just another flawed value. Mayer is correct that big is beautiful, but he loses some credibility when he argues that only big is beautiful. Still, any big woman who needs encouragement to accept herself will find it here, and other readers may be sensitized to the issue.
- John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 190 pages
• Publisher: Bartleby Press (November 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910155275
• ISBN-13: 978-0910155274
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,282,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Great Book!, October 4, 2002

By 

Michael A. Newman (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Real Women Don't Diet!: One Man's Praise of Large Women and His Outrage at the Society That Rejects Them (Hardcover)

This book opened up my eyes to what our society is like! Since I read it I can no longer stomach looking at some of the sick looking models that do jean commercials. Why would anyone look like that? What about some of the really beautiful larger women? Someone like Camryn Manheim? How come they never do those commercials.

I happen to be a workout fanatic and eat and exercise to feel good. Looking good should not be starving oneself and have a frame that looks like it will snap in two.

I admire women of all shapes and sizes. A pretty face and shapely body (not a pencil thin one)is what I like in looks. Usually, a warm and cheerful personality makes the face beautiful (not tons of make-up). People need to stop falling for advertising by people that are trying to sell you a false bill of goods.

Bravo Mr. Mayer!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Intelligent Read!, January 17, 2000

By 

KA (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Women Don't Diet!: One Man's Praise of Large Women and His Outrage at the Society That Rejects Them (Hardcover)

Good short stories and antecdotes make this discussion of our society's expectation of women an easy read. The basic theme is that we, as a society, are wasting a precious resource by keeping women's energies focused on living down to the supermodel ideal of a small package with nothing in it. The author offers a man's perspective on why so many in our society find abundant women so threatening, and calls for the end of weight prejudice. A great book! Very positive for women. If you like this one, I'd suggest "No Fat Chicks," for look at the same theme from a woman's perspective.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its Great, June 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Real Women Don't Diet!: One Man's Praise of Large Women and His Outrage at the Society That Rejects Them (Hardcover)

Its nice to see a book out that shows and tells the stories of plus size women, the pictures are the best, they show the womens true beauty. It also talks about the pressure put on men in society to date and marry that size 6 woman. I think women will like it for the fact that there are men out there that like them for how they are and not the way society claims they should be.