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This Is Who I Am: Our Beauty in All Shapes and Sizes
Fifty-four portraits of women that are striking, beautiful, and real. The bodies in this book have been shaped by the full sweep of the feminine experience.
They belong to 54 women from all over the country, ages 19 to 95, of all sizes and shapes, ethnicities, and life experiences, who were willing to expose their naked physical forms in This Is Who I Am. They are ordinary women only in the sense that none is a professional model. They are in all other ways extraordinary—courageous, curious, thoughtful, speaking unflinchingly about their bodies, then allowing themselves to be photographed to inspire other women to make peace with their physical selves, "to glorify the real beauty of all women."
Certainly, the feminine nude form is not new to artists and photographers. But the portraits in This Is Who I Am, taken by award-winning photographer Rosanne Olson, with a steady, unjudgmental eye, speak loudly to the American obsession of feminine perfection—slim hips and full breasts, high cheekbones and tiny waists, taut skin and eternal youth—and even more loudly to the way real women, with real bodies and real lives, look.
By turns tender, personal, and moving, this tribute to contemporary womanhood is the perfect gift for mothers to give to daughters, daughters to cousins, cousins to friends.
They belong to 54 women from all over the country, ages 19 to 95, of all sizes and shapes, ethnicities, and life experiences, who were willing to expose their naked physical forms in This Is Who I Am. They are ordinary women only in the sense that none is a professional model. They are in all other ways extraordinary—courageous, curious, thoughtful, speaking unflinchingly about their bodies, then allowing themselves to be photographed to inspire other women to make peace with their physical selves, "to glorify the real beauty of all women."
Certainly, the feminine nude form is not new to artists and photographers. But the portraits in This Is Who I Am, taken by award-winning photographer Rosanne Olson, with a steady, unjudgmental eye, speak loudly to the American obsession of feminine perfection—slim hips and full breasts, high cheekbones and tiny waists, taut skin and eternal youth—and even more loudly to the way real women, with real bodies and real lives, look.
By turns tender, personal, and moving, this tribute to contemporary womanhood is the perfect gift for mothers to give to daughters, daughters to cousins, cousins to friends.
115 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 6, 2015
"This work of art, this study of anatomy, this book of prayers, this intimate memoir declares a unity
of beauty and power"!
54 woman with stories to tell that prove that beauty comes in all shapes and sized!
Gorgeous, gorgeous photographs!!!!
A lovely gift to give your sister - or close female friend.
Men will think this book is breathtaking - beautiful ... as much as women!
of beauty and power"!
54 woman with stories to tell that prove that beauty comes in all shapes and sized!
Gorgeous, gorgeous photographs!!!!
A lovely gift to give your sister - or close female friend.
Men will think this book is breathtaking - beautiful ... as much as women!
January 29, 2020
A beautiful and inspiring collection of fifty-four photographic portraits, each paired with a brief response about self-image and the body from the woman depicted. This Is Who I Am presents a diverse group, with women of African, Asian, and Euro-American backgrounds, and autobiographical comments ranging from positive confidence to insecure unhappiness. Many different kinds of bodies are represented, from very thin to very fat, young to old, healthy to ill.
I found much here to identify with, much to admire, and am grateful to the friend who pointed it out to me. Many of the stories were very moving, from Gretchen, a breast-cancer survivor who always liked the strength of her body and chose not to have reconstructive surgery; to Reachel, a two-time rape victim who is determined not to "live timidly, to be afraid or ashamed." Some of the responses were quite humorous, as when eighty-year-old Constance confessed that she dealt with some of her more insufferable male colleagues over the years by imagining them pregnant; or seventy-four-year-old Dee, who wondered how much she'd weigh if she still had her tonsils, adenoids, appendix, uterus, one ovary, and the two inches of height she lost to osteoporosis.
Loti, one of the African-American women surveyed, said she thought that body-image problems were part of a more Eurocentric world-view; but many of the Asian woman in the collection reported that American ideals of feminine beauty were not as stringent as those from their mother cultures. Whatever its cultural origin(s) however, the unhappiness caused by unattainable ideals of feminine beauty quickly becomes clear to the reader, as almost every woman surveyed was in some fashion dissatisfied with her body, even the very thin ones. This is an effective and timely reminder that an image-based sense of self is NEVER a secure one, because the ideal to which we are all meant to aspire is an illusion.
I found much here to identify with, much to admire, and am grateful to the friend who pointed it out to me. Many of the stories were very moving, from Gretchen, a breast-cancer survivor who always liked the strength of her body and chose not to have reconstructive surgery; to Reachel, a two-time rape victim who is determined not to "live timidly, to be afraid or ashamed." Some of the responses were quite humorous, as when eighty-year-old Constance confessed that she dealt with some of her more insufferable male colleagues over the years by imagining them pregnant; or seventy-four-year-old Dee, who wondered how much she'd weigh if she still had her tonsils, adenoids, appendix, uterus, one ovary, and the two inches of height she lost to osteoporosis.
Loti, one of the African-American women surveyed, said she thought that body-image problems were part of a more Eurocentric world-view; but many of the Asian woman in the collection reported that American ideals of feminine beauty were not as stringent as those from their mother cultures. Whatever its cultural origin(s) however, the unhappiness caused by unattainable ideals of feminine beauty quickly becomes clear to the reader, as almost every woman surveyed was in some fashion dissatisfied with her body, even the very thin ones. This is an effective and timely reminder that an image-based sense of self is NEVER a secure one, because the ideal to which we are all meant to aspire is an illusion.
February 9, 2011
Rosanne Olson, This Is Who I Am: Our Beauty in All Shapes and Sizes (Artisan, 2008)
When someone releases a book of photographs of unclothed women, the usual machinery starts up. Some people will want it kept off library shelves. Some people will think “ooh, naked chicks!” and go trying to find scans of it on the Internet. Etc. In the case of This Is Who I Am, all of those pieces of machinery will probably be frustrated, because this is not your typical book of pictures of unclothed women, and as Captain Peacock was wont to say, “thank heaven for that”.
Your average book of unclothed women is populated with the same kind of unclothed woman: barely out of her teens (if that) and unhealthily skinny. This is the opposite, though there is one unhealthily-skinny teenager in here. The thing is, she's posing with her mom, who is much more the norm for this book. The age ranges here are from infancy (in some of the family portraits) to ninety-five. The weight range is far wider, and you can bet that anyone skinny is going to be talking about how they're recovering from anorexia. But as Olson's subtitle tells you, this is a book about accepting that stretch marks, wrinkles, and surgical scars can all be beautiful. Not just for those who posed for the pictures, but for those who are looking at them, as well. And thus it seems to me that the same people who are usually lobbying to makes sure the “ooh, naked chicks!” crowd can't get copies of the big new Kate Moss photo book in their libraries should be lobbying to make sure this one's not only on the shelves, but prominently displayed. (Unfortunately, I do realize that people aren't that logical.) This is a wonderful, wonderful book, and it deserves as wide a readership as it can possibly find. ****
When someone releases a book of photographs of unclothed women, the usual machinery starts up. Some people will want it kept off library shelves. Some people will think “ooh, naked chicks!” and go trying to find scans of it on the Internet. Etc. In the case of This Is Who I Am, all of those pieces of machinery will probably be frustrated, because this is not your typical book of pictures of unclothed women, and as Captain Peacock was wont to say, “thank heaven for that”.
Your average book of unclothed women is populated with the same kind of unclothed woman: barely out of her teens (if that) and unhealthily skinny. This is the opposite, though there is one unhealthily-skinny teenager in here. The thing is, she's posing with her mom, who is much more the norm for this book. The age ranges here are from infancy (in some of the family portraits) to ninety-five. The weight range is far wider, and you can bet that anyone skinny is going to be talking about how they're recovering from anorexia. But as Olson's subtitle tells you, this is a book about accepting that stretch marks, wrinkles, and surgical scars can all be beautiful. Not just for those who posed for the pictures, but for those who are looking at them, as well. And thus it seems to me that the same people who are usually lobbying to makes sure the “ooh, naked chicks!” crowd can't get copies of the big new Kate Moss photo book in their libraries should be lobbying to make sure this one's not only on the shelves, but prominently displayed. (Unfortunately, I do realize that people aren't that logical.) This is a wonderful, wonderful book, and it deserves as wide a readership as it can possibly find. ****
April 19, 2008
This was so much more moving than I ever expected, even though I didn't necessarily agree with all of the women. I have such great admiration for all of them and now firmly believe that if I were asked, I would participate in a similar project.
There were things in many of the personal essays that resonated with me, but perhaps none more than the comments from the pregnant woman (who apparently gave birth a day and a half after the shoot!) She spoke about her toddler daughter and how her daughter is so unselfconscious about her body. The mom said it gives her great pain to think about the day that will change. It's so true. I fear for my own children's self-image, boy and girl, and although I teach them of their physical and emotional beauty, there will come a point when my words will only be that of a mother. That's devastating. All I can do is hope those words will be a strong enough foundation to keep my children strong.
Please read this, share it, buy copies for the women AND men in your lives.
There were things in many of the personal essays that resonated with me, but perhaps none more than the comments from the pregnant woman (who apparently gave birth a day and a half after the shoot!) She spoke about her toddler daughter and how her daughter is so unselfconscious about her body. The mom said it gives her great pain to think about the day that will change. It's so true. I fear for my own children's self-image, boy and girl, and although I teach them of their physical and emotional beauty, there will come a point when my words will only be that of a mother. That's devastating. All I can do is hope those words will be a strong enough foundation to keep my children strong.
Please read this, share it, buy copies for the women AND men in your lives.
July 24, 2008
I think my initial instinct was to give this book a 3. It's so great conceptually, the idea of looking at women as they really are. And I enjoyed the individual write-ups about each person. But too many of the models were modestly draped, and while it made for nice (not great, but nice) art, it interfered with the concept, I felt. Give me Jamie Lee Curtis completely nude! Show us what women really look like, particularly the saggy, the middle aged, the old, the less than perfect!
At first, I thought it was great reading reviews that said every woman should read this book. Now I'm becoming disgusted with that. Every MAN or BOY should read this book. One of the first things I did was to share it with my sons. If I'm trying to raise boys who will respect women for who they really are and what they really look like, shouldn't they see more in this world that the airbrushed beauties they see every time they turn their heads?
At first, I thought it was great reading reviews that said every woman should read this book. Now I'm becoming disgusted with that. Every MAN or BOY should read this book. One of the first things I did was to share it with my sons. If I'm trying to raise boys who will respect women for who they really are and what they really look like, shouldn't they see more in this world that the airbrushed beauties they see every time they turn their heads?
February 1, 2009
Wow. Every woman is so beautiful.
I originally got this book for ideas for when my honey and I take photos, but it turned out to be so much more than an idea book. There are photos of women of all shapes and sizes.
The photos are a wonderful tribute to the woman body - no effort is made to degrade these women by taking away their flesh. The photos are all stunningly beautiful and they aren't posed in a way to make them look sexy. The text next to each woman is a candid account of that woman's relationship with her body, and the women who are thinnest aren't always the most comfortable in their skin.
I originally got this book for ideas for when my honey and I take photos, but it turned out to be so much more than an idea book. There are photos of women of all shapes and sizes.
The photos are a wonderful tribute to the woman body - no effort is made to degrade these women by taking away their flesh. The photos are all stunningly beautiful and they aren't posed in a way to make them look sexy. The text next to each woman is a candid account of that woman's relationship with her body, and the women who are thinnest aren't always the most comfortable in their skin.
December 5, 2008
Photographer Olson started approaching her women friends with the idea of publishing a book of nudes of women of all ages, shapes and sizes with their comments on their feelings about their bodies. The result is a collection of stunning photographs and a range of commentary from the expected painful stories of anorexia and other body hatred to mentions of the softness of skin in the small of the back, and delight in strength and fitness. It was interesting to note which parts of their bodies women chose to display or cover through their poses.
January 4, 2009
Amazing stories and beautiful photos from women and how they feel about their bodies. It still saddens me how many women believe they are only as loveable as their bodies are beautiful. But it also made me smile to see a few women so full of love for themselves regardless of their size....it showed in their eyes. This author is a local Seattle photographer.
May 28, 2008
I loved participating in this project, and I'm honored to be one of the dozens of women from so many walks of life, from all backgrounds and body sizes, in this collection.
This is the kind of book I'd want to give to my daughter, if I had one.
This is the kind of book I'd want to give to my daughter, if I had one.
November 9, 2009
Excellent book! Real stories about real people. It's amazing how different and alike we all are. So different on the outside. Different shapes, sizes, colors - everything! But so many of the same thoughts, insecurities, struggles and so on. Very quick read and wonderful pictures.
Read
August 4, 2011Excellent stories from awesome women. Every man should read this.
September 22, 2017
The photos of every woman in this book are incredibly beautiful. They range in age from 16 to 95 and portray every body type and shape imaginable. My only disappointment was that there are not more women in the 60-90 age range. Most are in their 30's. The photo of each woman is accompanied by an essay written by her about how she feels about her body and her appearance in general. For me, the saddest part is that all but 2 or 3 of the women either do not like their bodies as a whole, or parts of their bodies, and all have things they would like to change about their bodies. This book is a perfect accompaniment to a "learning to love your body" workshop I am currently taking. It is, alas, proof that the vast majority of women have major issues with their bodies, no matter how thin or in-shape they are.
July 4, 2019
A stunning and honest black and white photographic exploration of women and their bodies. The women shown are from 19 to their early 90's with a few children with mothers. This is a great representation of bodies from the very large to the very small with a decent racial and ethnic mix, though predominant white. The poses are tasteful and varied from front to rear, sitting to standing and many of the frontal shots have a gauzy cover. There's wrinkles, tattoos, and every range of hair and bone and skin.
The mini biographical statements on each person are heartfelt. Overall, I loved the affirmation of women who aren't photoshopped, made up, and made into sexual objects, but rather existing in their own bodies and lives. I wanted to give this to women to celebrate a sense of self and who we are. This is reminder and art and statement and Rosanne Olson
The mini biographical statements on each person are heartfelt. Overall, I loved the affirmation of women who aren't photoshopped, made up, and made into sexual objects, but rather existing in their own bodies and lives. I wanted to give this to women to celebrate a sense of self and who we are. This is reminder and art and statement and Rosanne Olson
September 14, 2018
Powerful, beautiful and illuminating. This book is for all human beings. For women, the stories and images represent a non-judgemental and wondrous spectrum of real women and their bodies. The stories are joyful, heartbreaking and inspiring. For men, the book presents an unfiltered, non-patriarchal view of women worth inculcating, admiring and celebrating All in all, this book is a positive countercultural message that challenges the unrealistic beauty standards of the media and body shaming from religious subcultures.
March 1, 2022
I love this book. Aside from the beautiful photography, it is a heart-felt and revealing voice for body awareness, self-acceptance and self-love. Roseanne Olson shows the beauty in women at all ages, shapes, sizes and life circumstances. She shows the true beauty in vulnerability and courage and presents women with such compassion and dignity. It is a very empowering book honoring women and authenticity.
January 14, 2022
Incredibly moving.
February 25, 2012
*Untouched portraits, touching stories*
_This Is Who I Am_ captures a true portrait of the feminine experience where women yearn to make peace with their bodies while living in a society that constantly wages a war against them. Although the 54 women featured in this book are of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, shapes and sizes, they all share the courage to expose both their inner and outer secrets. From the 29-year old who once struggled with anorexia and is now trying to reclaim her body, to the 35 year old who has learned to become comfortable in her own skin, despite being considerably overweight, to the 44 year-old whose self identity hinges on the size of her stomach, to the 95 year-old who has achieved an appreciation for the vitality of her body, each of these women struggles and strives to make peace with their bodies. The underlying theme of the book seems to be captured quite poignantly in the advice that a 42-year old mother bestows to her two young daughters: "I see the intense pressure in our culture to be beautiful and sexy and thin, and I see so many women and girls who reject their bodies because they don't fit this mold. Try to remember that all of this is an illusion. It doesn't define you...You have been gifted with life in a body. Open your heart to the wonder of that" (page 46).
_This Is Who I Am_ is a work of art, a reflection of contemporary society, and a catalyst for self acceptance.
_This Is Who I Am_ captures a true portrait of the feminine experience where women yearn to make peace with their bodies while living in a society that constantly wages a war against them. Although the 54 women featured in this book are of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, shapes and sizes, they all share the courage to expose both their inner and outer secrets. From the 29-year old who once struggled with anorexia and is now trying to reclaim her body, to the 35 year old who has learned to become comfortable in her own skin, despite being considerably overweight, to the 44 year-old whose self identity hinges on the size of her stomach, to the 95 year-old who has achieved an appreciation for the vitality of her body, each of these women struggles and strives to make peace with their bodies. The underlying theme of the book seems to be captured quite poignantly in the advice that a 42-year old mother bestows to her two young daughters: "I see the intense pressure in our culture to be beautiful and sexy and thin, and I see so many women and girls who reject their bodies because they don't fit this mold. Try to remember that all of this is an illusion. It doesn't define you...You have been gifted with life in a body. Open your heart to the wonder of that" (page 46).
_This Is Who I Am_ is a work of art, a reflection of contemporary society, and a catalyst for self acceptance.
August 10, 2008
When I read the exceptionally positive reviews of this book, I ordered it for the library and put it on hold for myself. It's kind of shocking, at first, to see pictures of so many naked women, but they are tastefully done--and the women are refreshingly normal. I spent the evening reading the testimonies of the women, ranging in age from 16 to 95, and I feel enriched by all of them.
We all have so much to celebrate! Each of these women (or maybe all women?) spent years learning to love her body with all its imperfections. Me too! I felt so thankful and free after reading this book. I hope other women will read it and be empowered to love themselves.
Not sure what men would think. And to have the book in the library? It will probably get stolen.
We all have so much to celebrate! Each of these women (or maybe all women?) spent years learning to love her body with all its imperfections. Me too! I felt so thankful and free after reading this book. I hope other women will read it and be empowered to love themselves.
Not sure what men would think. And to have the book in the library? It will probably get stolen.
November 30, 2012
I come from a conservative background, meaning; naked bodies were equated with seductive intent. This book enabled me to see that nakedness has many faces, one of which is simple transparency. The women in this book bare their souls which is much more revealing then their unclothed bodies as they discuss the love/hate, acceptance/rejection they've experienced from themselves and others in relation to their body size and shape. I strongly recommend this book for men and women to assist them in embracing the human experience of truly seeing and accepting people as they are beyond as they appear.
May 28, 2013
The concept of this book is brilliant: real women and their stories. Some of them were incredibly touching. All of the women were beautiful.
My sadness is that the stories lacked a central theme. Rather than present a wide perspective, I found it discordant. Some of the photos were equally confusing to the central message. Women wrapped with yards and yards of guazy material seem to be highlighting how much they are hiding.
Finally, I wondered if the photographer tried to find any women with a body that is different from the way she was born. Having family members that have struggled with their bodies because of birth defects made me wish this book had their voice too.
My sadness is that the stories lacked a central theme. Rather than present a wide perspective, I found it discordant. Some of the photos were equally confusing to the central message. Women wrapped with yards and yards of guazy material seem to be highlighting how much they are hiding.
Finally, I wondered if the photographer tried to find any women with a body that is different from the way she was born. Having family members that have struggled with their bodies because of birth defects made me wish this book had their voice too.
June 24, 2012
I got this book because I wanted to have something around the house that had pictures of REAL women. My kids are exposed through media to images of spectacularly thin women who meet the Hollywood ideal for beauty, and I wanted them to be able to see beauty of all types. This book, full of pictures of nude or partially nude women was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. Each full page picture is accompanied by a paragraph or two written by the women in the picture explaining how she feels about her body. Very cool
July 2, 2008
This is a stunning, powerful book about the way in which women's bodies affect their self esteem. Different women are photographed and then state how they feel about themselves. I found it to be very empowering--and sad at the same time. EVERY woman should read this (it's a fast read) and so should the men who love them--or want to understand women better.
May 6, 2013
I really loved what Rosanne Olson did. It is comforting to know I am like all women who have a mixed love-hate relationship with their body. And although I have been more happy with my body than not for most of my life, it helps to be reminded of that as I deal with it aging. I so hope my daughter can grow up with a true appreciation for her body and it uniqueness.
August 1, 2010
A beautiful book about the naked truth of how we women feel in our bodies. I think that anything that can help promote a healthy understanding, acceptance, and eventually developing a protective feeling about the body is of value in its benefit to the emotional, mental, and physical well being of women.
April 30, 2011
In a culture where a negative body image is the norm this book stands out as a light of reason, hope, and beauty. Filled with pictures and accompanying stories this book explores many women's views of body image and their experiences. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever struggled with a negative body image.
March 30, 2009
Completely fabulous view of our diversity both in body and thoughts on our bodies. I always thought I new the meaning of "don't judge a book by it's cover" but from the very first image and essay, I realized I did not. Highly recommend this self-esteem body image book.
May 21, 2010
This outstanding book should be read by all women, young and old. Courageous women of all ages, shapes, and sizes posed nude (or nearly) and talked about their bodies - what they love, what they hate, their body issues. Very tastefully done. Absolutely phenomenal!
June 8, 2008
this book was a gift from the most beautiful librarian EVER! thank you Ginnie. the only thing i can say about this book that everyone else hasn't already said...Take one and pass it down NOW!
February 6, 2009
This is a beautiful photography book with essay by women about their bodies. I think I'll have to read it a few more times before I feel okay about my own body, but it's a start.
July 14, 2009
Amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews