“You Just Need to Lose Weight”

If you've listened to Aubrey Gordon's Maintenance Phase podcast, which she co-hosts with Michael Hobbes, you probably don't need to read this book, as it covers pretty much the same territory. But if you're unfamiliar with her work and subscribe to the many myths about fat people e.g., they just need to consume fewer calories/find the right diet to become thinner; they are universally less healthy because of their fatness; being fat is an individual choice made by people without willpower - well, you need to sit down and let yourself get schooled by Gordon.

Although the podcast is arguably more entertaining, “You Just Need to Lose Weight” is informative and research-based without being dry. Gordon encourages readers to take the next step by including reflection questions and opportunities for action to engage in harm reduction in anti-fatness. Maintenance Phase completely changed how I view fat people and society's response to them; I hope the book will do the same for many other well-intentioned but clueless people like myself.