Embrace: My Story from Body Loather to Body Lover

by Taryn Brumfitt

A warm, frank and funny account of Taryn Brumfitt's journey from hating her body to being a free-thinking exponent on the value and power of a positive body image.

Raises important questions about the pressures society puts on women to conform to a certain body shape, and asks what we can do to prevent this having a negative effect on the next generation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Feminism

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

A lover of life, people and most of all, her husband and three children, Taryn Brumfitt is the founder and infectious voice behind the Body Image Movement – a global movement to shift the way women think about themselves, and in turn, feel about their bodies.

Writer, speaker and free spirit, Taryn is an internationally recognised positive body image activist rubbing shoulders with the likes of Beyoncé and Kate Moss in Brigette magazine’s acclaimed ‘Women of The Year’ awards and with her powerful message reaching over 100 million people worldwide via social media.

A keynote speaker and presenter, Taryn is most passionate about creating a generation of empowered women through delivering her seminar Developing Daughters and Supporting Sons and her online program Unstoppable.

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eigentlich hätte ich gerne den Film ausgeliehen, doch unsere Bibliothek hatte nur dieses Buch an Lager. Auf den ersten Blick sah die deutsche Ausgabe aus, wie das entsprechende Sachbuch, mit Informationsangaben, Daten etc. auf dem Cover.

"Leider" handelte es sich dabei "nur" um die Biographie von Taryn Brumfitt selbst. Was natürlich nichts Schlechtes ist, da ihr Leben ein gutes Beispiel für die Entwicklung des eigenen Körpergefühls ist. Blöderweise war es nur aber nicht das, wonach ich gesucht habe. Wie gesagt, ich wollte die Fakten. Das Schwarz-auf-Weiss. Details und Zahlen.

Die kommen im Buch zwar auch vor, aber nur so nebenbei. Wir erfahren dafür, was Taryn alles durchgemacht hat und wie es dazu kam, dass sie sich begann dafür einzusetzen, dass in unserer Gesellschaft endlich ein gesundes Körperbild und -gefühl an die stelle des Schlankeitswahns tritt.

Brumfitt ist dabei sehr aufrichtig und wahrscheinlich gibt es sehr viele Frauen (und auch Männer), die ihre Gefühle und Gedanken gut nachvollziehen können. Es ist so, so wichtig, dass wir als Ganzes endlich akzeptieren, dass Menschen aussehen wie Menschen und das dies viel gesünder ist, als sich von einer Modediät in die nächste zu stürzen.

Als kinderlose Frau fühlte ich mich jedoch ein wenig ausgeschlossen, da sich die Autorin als mehrfache Mutter, deren Körperbild erst nach der Geburt zu schwanken begann, auf diese Zielgruppe fokussiert. Auch die Tipps, die die Autorin uns mit auf den Weg gibt, sind für mich zu oberflächlich und vor allem eher für eine extrovertierte Zielgruppe brauchbar. Brumfitt selbst gehört, zumindest wie ich die Biographie interpretiere, dieser Gruppe.

Taryn Brumfitt ist eine wichtige Person und genauso wichtig ist das Warum hinter ihren Taten. Deshalb ist auch dieses Buch wichtig, auch wenn es für mich persönlich weniger das war, wonach ich gesucht habe oder was ich bauchte. Dennoch hat es meinen Blickwinkel erweitert und meine Überzeugung für ein positives Körperbild einzutreten vertrieft.

[Warren Gossett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a one day read. Couldn't put it down. It deals with a topic we have all thought about or obsessed about: body image. Taryn Brumfitt, Adelaide mother of three in her 30's, has developed a simple positive message about women's (and men's) body image. It is worth it and really necessary to care more for our health and our inner beauty than the socially prescribed versions of exterior looks. The message is spreading around Australia and around the world.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring reminder to love what we have, told with compassion and wit. I've been following BIM for sometime and it was great to be able to delve into the inception of a movement aiming to change worldwide perceptions. Go Taryn, and keep up the sparkle!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taryn Brumfitt had some serious body issues after having her kids. And no wonder. It let her down pretty majorly. I won’t say how cos one is actually pretty funny, or at least the lead up to it is. (Poor Taryn, I’m sure it wasn’t funny at the time)! She couldn’t deal with the changes in how her body looked or behaved. She then went on a mission and became obsessed with having the perfect body and yet the sacrifices she made to attain it meant she still wasn’t happy. Eventually she realised that her body, despite its shortcomings was her vehicle to her best life and she’d better love the heck out of it. This is the story of how she accomplished that and how she started the Embrace movement.
I did expect there to be more strategies for how to love your body then there were but then this is not a self help book. It’s one woman’s very personal story of how she managed to get over her body hang ups and finally love her body as it is.
I highly recommend this book, especially to all new mums.

[Laura Ghory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Embrace documentary and recommend it to everyone. This book fell a little flat of my expectations from Taryn. I feel like I got an edition that hadn't been edited or proofread at all. There were so many spelling/wording mistakes it was distracting. I also didn't feel like she really went into how she became a "body lover" and the story line didn't seem fluid with that change in acceptance. I still love her and the Body Image Movement but after the Embrace documentary blew me away I think I expected more from the book.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good memoir! This is something all people should read- we are being controlled as to how we feel about ourselves by the beauty and diet industry and it needs to stop! It covers lots of topics: body image,'diets, aging, motherhood and more. A must read... we are more than how we look

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to…. But I felt that as a person who has struggled with weight and self image my whole life I could not relate to this person who only struggled with body image once she started training for body building. I don’t know… I just couldn’t even finish it.

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perfect book for mums... Since I will never have children, I often found it hard/impossible to relate.

[Becci Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring story!
Thanks Taryn for sharing your story to encourage women all over the world to love their body!!

[Jordyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful and honest book! Loved it.

[Nicole Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, quick and impacting book. Raw and real -worth a read.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is life changing! Read it!
It is possible to love yourself as you are right now. Dieting and the thin ideal is nothing but a sales pitch.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

More memoir than social commentary

[Jess Cap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the message but execution needs improvement. Writing in desperate need of editing and proofreading.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I supported the Kickstarter campaign for the documentary and I have completed the Unstoppable programme. I feel like I was reading a book by a good friend, even though I've never gotten to meet her. It reads in a very free form, stream of conscious way and when I was reading, I'd become immersed and feel like I was listening to her talk. My only criticism is that the editor/proofreader did not catch some pretty obvious errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Looking past that, Taryn's bubbly and energetic personality shine through. A very enjoyable read and a very positive message throughout.

[Tiffany M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to get my hands on this book. The content and message are really great, but I couldn't get past the writing style. It didn't flow for me... to many tangents and editing flaws and probably more details about her personal life than I wanted to know. I was expecting a self help style of book but it was mostly her autobiography. However, I am hoping to view her documentary at some point, as the whole notion of Embrace and the Body Image Movement are very important and Taryn Brumfitt is definitely being an influence for good in the world.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, I was really excited for this book. The content and message certainly lived up to expectations, but I couldn't get past the writing style. I often felt as though I were reading a blog with tangents, editing flaws, and an overuse of exclamation points. I just wanted her to get to the point sometimes! That being said, I definitely look forward to her documentary, as the whole notion of embrace and the Body Image Movement are very important. Would give it 2.5 stars if possible.

[Pandora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I support Taryn's ideas and I wish her all the best with her Embrace movement and documentary, but I couldn't get further that the first chapter, as the writing was so.. I guess, 'amateur'? Just an awful, blog-level style that was painful to try and read. Sorry.

[Helen Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile read. It's unlike me to read a book with swearing in it but the overall message is great. Counter cultural. A different voice to the mainstream pushing beauty and youth at any cost. Rather Brumfitt wants everyone to know that a positive body image is their right.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing the body loving message, Taryn! ❤️

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could rate this book higher because Brumfitt's message is so great, and I loved her Ted Talk, etc.
However, I couldn't get past the writing style. The book could have benefited from some serious editing help.

[Brooke Davis]

This is a very important book for any woman to read, especially any woman who struggles with her body image. I will definitely be recommending it to most of my female friends.

[Selena Willows · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I fully support Taryn in her message the writing in this book was just terrible. I had a very hard time getting over the many spelling and grammatical errors and the lack of flow was awful. It was very hard to read and I certainly did not get into it at all.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good common sense approach to accepting your body as it is. (Needed proof reading though).