ratatouille1312's review against another edition
gonna read it later, i haven't got the time now
trillium9's review against another edition
5.0
Very detailed and extensively cited. Cataloging a radical history, in an academic tone which is still engaging and relatively accessible
tklassy's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Although I didn't agree to all the criticism's Cooper levelled at some other Fat Studies scholars, her acknowledgement of the multiplicity and complexity of activism, of the ability for multiple iterations of activism to exist at once, was refreshing and hugely influential to my PhD project going forward. Her section in the neoliberalism evident in Fat Activism will prove really invaluable. Academic but really readable, which is a change from many other academic projects turned books I have read previously.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood and Vomit
llunatikai's review against another edition
4.0
Very useful and helpful, especiallt for researchers and activists, but also for people who want to know more about the history of fat activism and what it is about. There's a lot of bibliography, too, which I'm grateful for.
amandaboyer's review against another edition
4.0
Heavy material and lots of good information. Wish there was more on what actions we can take/do next to help with this!
kylieqrada's review against another edition
4.0
3.75⭐s. A weirdly specific rating for a complicated book. Overall, I liked this alot. The author has a really unique and intersectional perspective on fat activism, and I enjoyed learning about the roots of the movement in queer radical and diverse spaces. However, I found some parts a little inaccessible, and had to re-read to understand. I actually put this down for a couple of months and just picked it up to finish it today. I think this is essential reading for fat activism, though, even if it is a little dense.
hallsifer's review against another edition
4.0
Read through my local radical library Rubicund
I wouldn't recommend this as a first dip into fat activism - it was mine and I felt myself getting a little lost in places and needing to backtrack. HOWEVER it is a fantastic book for anyone interested in an examination of fat activism and all the different forms it takes as well as touching on assimilationism and how it's not that great.
It also contextualizes a lot of experiences living as fat and trans and queer in a way that's both driving (other people have the same and are using it to fuel activism!) and almost disheartening (other people might feel as bad as I do). I do wish there was more research into/written about trans experiences, but I am glad it wasn't exclusionary!
Like I said, I do reccomend this 100% but maybe not as a first jumping off point.
I wouldn't recommend this as a first dip into fat activism - it was mine and I felt myself getting a little lost in places and needing to backtrack. HOWEVER it is a fantastic book for anyone interested in an examination of fat activism and all the different forms it takes as well as touching on assimilationism and how it's not that great.
It also contextualizes a lot of experiences living as fat and trans and queer in a way that's both driving (other people have the same and are using it to fuel activism!) and almost disheartening (other people might feel as bad as I do). I do wish there was more research into/written about trans experiences, but I am glad it wasn't exclusionary!
Like I said, I do reccomend this 100% but maybe not as a first jumping off point.