This book provides everything girls need to know about puberty, including explanations of physical changes, emotional shifts, and social interactions. It covers topics such as breasts and bras, periods, hair growth, feelings, and friendships. The book is designed to be positive, judgment-free, and medically accurate, helping girls feel informed, empowered, and ready for the changes ahead.
This handbook brings together a diverse body of work from around the globe and across a wide range of Fat Studies topics and perspectives. It explores the epistemology, ontology, and methodology of fatness, with attention to issues such as gender and sexuality, disability and embodiment, health, race, media, discrimination, and pedagogy. Presenting work from both scholarly writers and activists, this volume reflects a range of critical perspectives vital to the expansion of Fat Studies and thus constitutes an essential resource for researchers in the field.
In this book, Sonya Renee Taylor invites readers to reconnect with the radical origins of their minds and bodies and celebrate their collective strength. Taylor argues that body shame and oppression are interconnected with various forms of marginalization such as racism, homophobia, and sexism, which she terms 'body terrorism.' The book emphasizes the need to acknowledge and challenge internalized body shame and societal norms, promoting radical self-love as a foundational tool for social justice and global transformation. It includes personal anecdotes, discussion questions, and reflective prompts to help readers embark on a journey of self-love and social change[1][4][5].
The Great Believers follows two intertwining storylines. The first is set in 1980s and '90s Chicago, where Yale Tishman, an art gallery acquisitions manager, navigates the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic on his community. The second storyline takes place in Paris in 2015, where Fiona Marcus, a secondary character from the first storyline, searches for her estranged daughter and grapples with the long-term consequences of the epidemic on her life. The novel explores themes of loss, betrayal, friendship, and survival, and it is known for its detailed portrayal of the emotional and social impacts of the AIDS crisis[2][4][5].
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
In 'Funny Story', Emily Henry tells the story of Daphne Vincent, a children’s librarian whose life is turned upside down when her fiancé, Peter, leaves her for his childhood best friend, Petra. Daphne moves in with Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak, a chaotic and laid-back winery employee who is the opposite of Daphne’s practical and buttoned-up personality. As they form a tenuous friendship and engage in a pretend-lovers plot, they navigate their emotional baggage, childhood traumas, and the complexities of love and relationships. The novel is set in the beautiful small town of Waning Bay, Michigan, and explores themes of self-discovery, meaningful friendships, and the growth of the characters.
Percival Everett's "James" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that reimagines the classic tale of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim. Everett's writing is both sharp and witty, blending humor and pathos to create a compelling narrative. The novel explores themes of race, freedom, and identity in a way that is both timely and timeless. Everett's unique voice and perspective offer a fresh take on a familiar story, challenging readers to reconsider their assumptions about race and American history. The novel's unexpected twists and turns keep readers engaged until the very end, leaving a lasting impression long after the final page is turned.
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“Radical self-love” — what it is and how to do it.
It is incredibly common for many of us humans, whatever our gender, to be at war with our bodies -- trying to live up to the people we see in the movies, on social media, or even the versions of ourselves in old pictures. This never-enough-ness can lead to an ambient level of self-loathing that can be incredibly destructive. That's where "radical self-love" comes in.
Our guest today is Sonya Renee Taylor. She is the author of three books, including The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love. She is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology. She has come to this work as a result of her own personal pain, as a Black woman inhabiting a body that she says does not conform to societal norms.
In this conversation, we talk about defining radical self-love (and why she believes it's our natural state), tools for cultivating radical self-love, and the connection between being OK with yourself and the larger society.
Full Shownotes: www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/sonya-renee-taylor-rerun
Additional Resources:
10% Happier with Dan Harris 
