The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love

by Sonya Renee Taylor

Book Overview

New York Times bestseller To build a world that works for everyone, we must first make the radical decision to love every facet of ourselves. . . . 'The body is not an apology' is the mantra we should all embrace.
--Kimberl Crenshaw, legal scholar and founder and Executive Director, African American Policy Forum

Humans are a varied and divergent bunch with all manner of beliefs, morals, and bodies. Systems of oppression thrive off our inability to make peace with difference and injure the relationship we have with our own bodies.

The Body Is Not an Apology offers radical self-love as the balm to heal the wounds inflicted by these violent systems. World-renowned activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor invites us to reconnect with the radical origins of our minds and bodies and celebrate our collective, enduring strength. As we awaken to our own indoctrinated body shame, we feel inspired to awaken others and to interrupt the systems that perpetuate body shame and oppression against all bodies. When we act from this truth on a global scale, we usher in the transformative opportunity of radical self-love, which is the opportunity for a more just, equitable, and compassionate world--for us all.

This second edition includes stories from Taylor's travels around the world combating body terrorism and shines a light on the path toward liberation guided by love. In a brand new final chapter, she offers specific tools, actions, and resources for confronting racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia. And she provides a case study showing how radical self-love not only dismantles shame and self-loathing in us but has the power to dismantle entire systems of injustice. Together with the accompanying workbook, Your Body Is Not an Apology, Taylor brings the practice of radical self-love to life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1523090995
• ISBN13: 9781523090990
• Release Date: February 2021
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book

This writer breaks down the cultural ideologies and systems, with citations, that lead to everyone having issues with how their bodies naturally are. It is truly an enlightening read and one I recommend for everyone.

Everybody Who Has A Body Should Read This

I was recommended this book by a TikTok video and I am SO glad that Libby had it so I didn't have to wait to buy it. Everyone who has a body should read this book. It's not about self image, or confidence, or just feeling good. This is a total breakdown of what has been a historical and systemic creation of a false sense of hatred for our bodies. In reality, our bodies are beautiful 💖 Depending on your beliefs, you may call the body made in the image of God. Yet we spend so much time, and money, loathing our bodies and how they look. It's almost the ultimate sin: hating the image of God. But we can't just acknowledge that we should love and adore our bodies for the beautiful piece of art and construction that it is, and expect our minds to change. So this book goes piecemeal by piecemeal how to change the indoctrination of body hatred, and learn how to radically love it through good times and bad. I will say that disabled people especially should read this book. It's so hard to love bodies that fight against you, and this book goes into that. It's not just validating to be seen, it's healing. I had a lot of "aha!" moments reading it, and I've put the paperback on my wishlist, because this writer is so elegant and real in her easy instruction of how to radically love yourself. 10/10 recommend

Incredible resource for self love and compassion

Life changing work by Sonya Renee Taylor. This book is beautiful, moving, honest, encouraging, challenging, and an absolute must read. Highly recommend. Particularly helpful for anyone who’s struggled with feeling like their body is in any way “wrong” or “bad” or “less than.”