A Book to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body | A Review of “The Body is Not an Apology” by Sonya Renee Taylor
For a good portion of my life, I honestly didn’t question my rocky relationship with my body. It seemed like a given—like the price one pays simply for existing in a body. Reading “The Body is Not An Apology: Tools for Living Radical Self-Love'' felt like both a wake-up call and comforting validation. The author, Sonya Renee Taylor, explores exactly why struggling with the body is such a common human experience. In shedding light on this universal struggle, we can find healing. I can’t recommend this book enough for all humans and want to share with you some of my favorite things about it.
Art credit: @hayleydrewthis
Challenging Society's Beauty Standards
Taylor guides readers through questioning societal norms that compel us to feel ashamed of our bodies in the first place. Through her own stories, we can begin to recognize the ways in which beauty standards have shaped our own self-image. Although I’ve spent time reflecting on this in recent years, I was still struck by the expansive reach of these standards and the impact they’ve had on me.
Addressing Internalized Oppression
One of the aspects of this book that stood out to me most is its intersectionality. This book isn’t just about size or shape; it’s about the diverse human experience. Taylor weaves systems, like race, gender, and ability, into the conversation. It's a reminder that we can’t talk about healing the relationship with the body without acknowledging internalized messages of body shame tied to racism, ableism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Embracing Radical Self-Love
A core message of the book is the importance of radical self-love. Taylor offers practical tools to help achieve this through reflection questions and actionable steps (like participating in body-positive communities, engaging in movement or creative practices that celebrate the body, practicing self-affirmation, and developing routines for physical and emotional well-being). This allowed me to feel like I actually had a roadmap for dismantling body shaming narratives, beyond reading about it.
Fostering Empowerment and Advocacy
One more piece of the book I’d like to highlight is how Taylor inspires readers to become advocates for body liberation. She provides examples of how to start and continue the conversation with others, creating a ripple effect of positive change. She reminds us that body shame isn’t only an individual problem and explores how we can engage in activism, contribute to body-positive movements, or share our stories through different avenues.
My biggest takeaway of “The Body is Not an Apology” is that we all have a story to tell about our bodies. It’s rarely easy or comfortable to reflect on our vulnerabilities, but when we do, we can finally realize: the body is not something to apologize for; it’s a unique and beautiful home.
Check out this powerful resource here.
Interested in working with Lauren? Connect with her at Lauren@RoomToBreatheChicago.Com