Customer Reviews

Unsqueezed: Springing Free from Skinny Jeans, Nose Jobs, Highlights and Stilettos

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This book revolves around a pretty simple premise. Margot wants us to stop thinking of our bodies as objects to be viewed and start understanding them as subjects with a purpose. She asks, what are bodies for?
And she states her answer pretty simply. Our bodies are meant for relationships, with God, and with one another. And yet, "Our culture has thoroughly and effectively marketed the myth that women's bodies exist for no higher purpose than to be viewed... As if we have no awareness that we've been made to walk with the Lord in a vibrant, living relationship of love and service, we live, and eat, and shop, and dress as if our bodies were meant for the visual enjoyment of others."
There are a host of problems with the common cultural perspective: "What is particularly sinister about our culture's fixation with beauty, and with my personal one, is that it keeps our eyes turned upon ourselves." Not to mention the fact that life tends to bring with it the impossibility of maintaining bodies that (from a purely objective perspective) visually please others. The thing is, though, bodies that are used for the service of others become beautiful. It's a different beauty than that of plastic surgery and supermodels. It's the beauty that comes from relationships rather than objectification. The beauty that comes from love.
So what is this body of mine for right now? It's for carrying a child into the world. It's for serving my family. It's for laughing and enjoying time with my husband and my friends. It's for thinking and writing and communicating. It's for becoming beautiful by being for other people.
For any Christian woman who wants to take a few steps away from all those self-critical thoughts about her appearance, Unsqueezed is for you.

Just imagine for a moment what it would be like to be more concerned about reaching out in love to someone rather than wondering what they think of you. Just imagine for a moment what it would be like to not feel inadequate because you don't wear the latest styles. Just imagine for a moment what it would be like to not feel horrible about adding two pounds. That is the world Margot Starbuck invites us into in her book, Unsqueezed: Springing free from skinny jeans, nose jobs, highlights and stilettos.

Yet, I'll be honest. I put this book on my desk, intending to read it but kept avoiding it. I had recently bought skinny jeans, my hair sports highlights and I would love to wear stilettos if I weren't so tall. As for the nose job, I finally grew into my too-big-nose. I instinctively knew Unsqueezed would squeeze my complacency and comfort zone and I didn't want to be uncomfortable.

When I finally gathered the emotional energy to reading Margot Starbuck's book, I was indeed challenged but I laughed all the way! Margot is a funny writer. A very funny writer. I'm not one to get easily humored by the written word. But Margot is truly funny...even as she punches you in the guts with truth and conviction.

Lest I scare you away though, Margot communicates a loving tone with a passion for drawing us closer to God's loving heart. In fact, her book was spiritually deeper than I thought it would be. She calls us to a heart level of seeing how the things of this world do not satisfy and only finding our contentment in Christ will truly bring the satisfaction we desire. She does not hit you over the head; she beckons you to search whether thinking how to lose 30 pounds will make you more desirable. Or wearing the latest fashions will make you acceptable to others. She calls you to think about your heart, not just your body image.

And did I mention? You'll laugh with joy as you consider how much God loves and accepts you unconditionally--expressed by Margot as only Margot can. Margot's purpose is to motivate us to view our body, not as an object to be worshiped, but as an instrument of God's love to others. That's why she communicates reasonableness. She doesn't say, "You're wrong to want to lose 30 pounds." She asks us to ask why it's so important to us and will it help us love others well?

And to help you get the point while you're smiling, she frequently includes a list of "Ten Best Things," like: "Ten Lies Advertisers Want You to Believe," "Stuff It Sort of Seems Like Bodies Were Made To Do," and "Ten Ideas for Food Discipleship" amongst many other thought-provoking yet funny views of life.

One of the most endearing and encouraging themes of Unsqueezed is Margot's wonderful ability to poke fun at herself. There's no "looking down her nose" in this book. She exposes her own struggles and temptations of being "squeezed" by our culture, and her sometimes inadequate ability of resisting.

I am so glad I read Unsqueezed. I was affirmed to hold on to godly motivations I already had, challenged to repent of lies I've believed, and motivated to make changes that draw me closer to God's loving heart. And I laughed and smiled through it all.

(Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IVP as part of their blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Okay, okay, I know it was written for girls but I don't care.

Margot gets into your head in this book. In a good way, not the creeper way.

Unsqueezed is filled with tons of truth. If women (and men) take to heart the truths written in it about our identity in Christ, the world would look different in a day.

Girls (and guys) should read this book.

Unsqueezed is another great read from Margot Starbuck. I loved her first book, Girl in the Orange Dress, and I like this one even more. Margot has a way of writing that draws me in, makes me laugh, causes me to think, and stirs some holy anger. As someone who has struggled with body image (and what woman hasn't?!), I particular appreciate her view of the body as not a canvas or something for decoration only. She repeatedly makes the point that our bodies were create to love and be loved, by a Heavenly Father who adored us enough to take on a human form--in all its glory and unglory.

Margot truly has a gift. Even though she asks tough questions and made me feel uncomfortable, I was never tempted to put down the book. Her gracious spirit and sense of quirky humor instead caused me to want to share a cup of tea with her, so I could talk to her in person.

I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially if you are part of a small group of women and can study the book (or ask your leader to facilitate a study) together. I don't think it's exaggerating to say that Unsqueezed could be a totally life-changing read for today's American women.

You've never read anything like this. Believe me. Margot's premise is so far afield from the American attitude toward our bodies, that you will be...yes, thrilled! The body's singular purpose to love God by serving Him may sound like nothing new. Wrong! Be prepared for glimpses of how we fool ourselves with spin-talk that puts our emphasis on looking good instead of serving fully. I'm all in for God. He's my hero and lord, but Unsqueezed reinforced my conviction that I'll fall short of love for others unless I surrender my body for the needs of others, more than grooming, dressing, and fancifying it for appearances. I found myself saying "Ouch" through chapters that are so bright with truth that I squinted. I loved Margot's humor. It helped me "get it," and her vernacular that's so this decade. But the best result? I sense a greater freedom to fulfull the heart of what Jesus taught us to do---use my body for service to others. Like Margot says, "That's what a body's to do."

At first, I purchased this book because I found it on a suggested reading list and was under the impression that it outlined how to be liberated from consumerism. However, once I received the book (and saw the red stiletto on the front cover), I realized that its intended audience was for women. I debated over some options, such as returning it, exchanging it, or giving it to someone else. Eventually I decided to give it to my mother who leads a women's small group. But since I wasn't going to see her for a while, I chose to read it and I would just stop if it wasn't my cup of tea.

That being said, I found myself enjoying the book and reading it completely.

Margot Starbuck accurately pinpoints our own superficial and worldly tendencies and the conflicting truths that expose these underlying principles of these tendencies as lies; often while reading, I think, "Yes, that is how it is and this how it should be and now I have some concrete words to those ideas." I think one of the faults of today's church culture is that certain sins and/or vices are viewed as gender-specific. I believe that is not true as it can ostracize within Christian community or leave sin unspoken and untouched; this book gives me more reason why. The first section of the book deals with "The Problem" and I found myself resonating with most of the topics, specifically temptation, judgment and gluttony. Her chapter on gluttony in particular contains several one-liners that bring on enough conviction to make me cringe if I am honest with myself. I found her personal anecdotes to be entertaining and funny, yet she is also very real and humbly shares her shortcomings. Often, her chapters have these top 10 lists that either give helpful suggestions of alternative living or hint at some of the rationalization we find ourselves cooking up to justify our actions.

The main fault I would find in this book is the lack of strong Scripture in each chapter to back up some of the truths that the author brings up. When the author introduces a worldly lie/vice and counters with truth, often I find myself agreeing with that truth or her proposed alternative, yet yearning for a Scriptural basis. However, her concise exegesis of Luke 11:27 early on in the introduction was very powerful. I had never looked at that Scripture that way, yet I believe it set the tone of the book for what we should be devoting ourselves to. Also, the chapter on objectification was too short (only 4 pages!) for my preference. Although the author revisits the subject in her chapter on function, I still believe that there is more to be said on that topic.

Although perhaps as a male I wouldn't be able to absorb all the nuances of the book (I even googled Lycra and I still don't really know what it is) and don't experience certain issues to the same degree, this was an eye-opening, edifying, and pertinent read. Hopefully, I can be content with how God created me and His purpose for me as well as be an advocate to others not to buy into the world's lies. I will pass it on to my mother with my recommendations and ask her what she thinks of it.

Christian women, take off your stilettos. . . because you are going to want to run, not walk, to your nearest bookseller and BUY THIS BOOK. Or let your fingers do the walking and order it here. But choose expedited shipping. You want to get it as soon as you can.

This is not just another book about body image. Believe me--I've read plenty of those, and this one is different. Margot Starbuck will challenge you to think about your body in a very different way--a way that is at once freeing and challenging.

If you're interested in developing more of a Christlike mindset in all aspects of your life, you need to read this book. Your whole self--body, mind, and spirit--will thank you.

After you've read it, you'll want to take off your shoes again. You'll know you're on holy ground.

I am in LOVE with this book. I have always been tall and blonde and though that may seem really fortunate, it's not always what it's cut out to be, especially when the family you come from also expects the hips, tummy, and legs all to match the blonde hair and height. And boy have mine never matched that in the way that's expected. As I attempted to explain, my hips are similar to those of African Women. This is a GREAT gift to Childbearing which I am sure is part of God's plan for my life. This book has reminded me of the things and the lessons I learned about my body when I first came to know God, as well as the acceptances I received in Him as I am.

I echo all of the other reviews. Margot has an amazing way of making you laugh at yourself at the same time you are feeling deeply convicted. One point in the book actually almost brought me to tears as I sensed her deep mercy and compassion for me as a woman who is worth so much more than how I look. I continue to ponder over the ideas of age and appearance that she describes so well. I have been wholeheartedly recommend this book! And it will definitely be a re-read for me too.

I love this lady! She's so...REAL! And she understands that we don't have to get our nails done and floss first before leading someone to Jesus. Whew! What a relief!!! Because if that were the case, I'd be in serious trouble in the evangelism department. (I had my nails done once because I was getting ready for a TV tour and my sweet husband thought it would be nice to actually have fingernails--or the facsimile--while being interviewed. Couldn't wait to get them off when the tour was finished! How in the world do people type or do dishes with them on???)

Yeah, I know. There's nothing wrong with them, and frilly chicks enjoy them. Good. Go for it! But for those of us who would rather watch a football game than go shopping (SERIOUSLY!), it's refreshing to have someone like Margot (rhymes with Fargo) Starbuck come along and tell us we don't have to be squeezed into that mold. (And with the extra pounds I've put on since I officially left middle-age behind and moved into those so-called "golden years," that's really good news because I'm having trouble squeezing into anything these days!)

If you'd like to spring free from "skinny jeans, nose jobs, highlights, and stilettos"...in other words, if you have thighs and are actually considering plastic surgery in order to finally feel good about who you are--SAVE YOURSELF A BUNCH OF MONEY AND GET THIS BOOK INSTEAD!