When I first started researching body image, body positivity and anti-dieting, there were only a few great options. Today, there are SO MANY and while I haven’t read all of them, here are a few of my favourite body positivity books that I recommend to clients.

 

Here are my top choices for books on body image, body positivity and anti-dieting (Note: These are Amazon affiliate links, meaning I earn from qualifying purchases.):

Body Image Remix: Embrace Your Body And Unleash The Fierce, Confident Woman Within – By Summer Innanen (*My Book*)

The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love – Sonya Renee Taylor

You Have The Right To Remain Fat – Virgie Tovar (hear the podcast with the author)

Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls: A Handbook For Unapologetic Living – Jes Baker (hear the podcast with the author)

Body Positive Power – Megan Jayne Crabbe (@bodyposipanda) (hear the podcast with the author)

When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies: Freeing Yourself From Food And Weight Obsession – Jane R. Hirschmann and Carol H. Munter

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Are Used Against Women – Naomi Wolf

Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Get Wrong, Leave Out, and Just Plain Fail to Understand About Weight – Linda Bacon

Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight – Linda Bacon

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body – Roxane Gay

Body of Truth: How Science, History, and Culture Drive Our Obsession With Weight – And What we Can do About it – Harriet Brown

Intuitive Eating – by Evelyn Tribole M.S. R.D.

Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting and Got A Life (hear the podcast with the author)

Dietland – Sarai Walker

Fat! So? Because You Don’t Have to Apologize For Your Size – Marilyn Wann

Hot & Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love & Fashion – Virgie Tovar (hear the podcast with the author)

Other life-changing must-read books that get to the deeper layers of overcoming self-doubt and improving self-worth and confidence:

I Thought it Was Just Me (But it Isn’t): Making The Journey From “What Will People Think?” To “I Am Enough” – Brene Brown

Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message – Tara Mohr (hear the podcast with the author)

Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind – Kristin Neff  (hear the podcast with the author)

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re supposed to be and Embrace Who You Are – Brene Brown

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know – by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

These are my other favourite books on feminism:

I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual – by Luvvie Ajayi

So You Want to Talk About Race – by Ijeoma Oluo

We Should All Be Feminists – by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Shrill – Lindy West

The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness – Jill Filipovic

Sex:

Come As You Are – Emily Nagoski

Pussy: A Reclamation – Regena Thomashauer

Other Self-Help:

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life – by Mark Manson

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life –by Jen Sincero (TW: weight loss talk)

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck – Sarah Knight (hear the podcast with the author)

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking – Oliver Burkeman