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Rezensionen (3)
Kirkus-Rezension
A readable historical review of how American society has come to admire, even revere thin women--an account that tends toward hyperbole and throws a lot of good out with the bad. Seid, a historian, feels strongly that we are way off track: ""We have been victims, not of a conspiracy, but of a confluence of developments that created a taste for shrunken, fat-free bodies, and that unleashed a war on one of humanity's most basic needs and delights: food."" What we must do, she argues, is work ""our way out of this web of cultural myths and prejudices."" So saying, Seid sets about explaining how we arrived where we are. Defining the present, she attacks the ""New American Creed"": ""I Watch My Weight, Eat Right, and Exercise""--an example, she says, of ""how distorted our values and our beliefs about the body have become."" Seid traces the evolution of this creed from antiquity through to the turn of the century, when thin began to become a preference. By the 1950's, the ""War on Fat"" had begun; in the 1960's, this prejudice became myth, which then became obsession in the 1970's. We are now beyond obsession into a new religion, she thinks. Seid has sometimes mushy studies to back her up (references are cited, but ""On any day, 25 percent of us are on diets, with another 50 percent just finishing, breaking, or resolving to start one"" is a bit much); and she does dismiss a lot of what are legitimate public-health improvements along the way. She has a point about priorities, however: ""Our bodies, our fitness, and our food should not be our paramount concern. They have nothing to do with ethics, or relationships, or community involvements, or with the human soul or spirit."" A passionate argument, but Seid may have it backward. Is our major problem this ""obsession,"" which has appeared as a result of the other developments she cites? Or is one of these other developments--political, moral, whatever--of primary concern, and our obsession for thinness just its byproduct? Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Choice-Rezension
In this sociohistorical study of the influences that shaped the way women perceive their body image, Seid, a historian and author, demonstrates that the present obsession for thinness has not always been the physical standard for beauty. From antiquity to the 18th century, the plump and round body was admired. However, by the late 19th century, attitudes toward the body and fashion were changing. The author traces the beginnings of the preference for thinness by the early 20th century, followed by the change of this attitude to prejudice--prejudice becomes myth, and myth, obsession. Also discussed are the numerous sociocultural factors influencing these changes, forming a complex causative background for the present pathological obsession toward thinness, e.g., fashion, diet foods, economic changes, weight standards based on insurance data, calorie studies, weight-loss gimmicks, hunger studies, weight gain during pregnancy, and exercise. Restoring moderation is strongly recommended. A chapter, "Notes," includes references to both lay and professional sources. Recommended for academic and public libraries. -N. S. Springer, University of Michigan
Library Journal-Rezension
Two books with different approaches but a common theme: our obsession with thinness. Seid concentrates on the historical and philosophical currents that have contributed to the ``thin is healthier'' concept, while Gilbert emphasizes the psychological aspects of eating, overeating, and weight control. A clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders, Gilbert seeks to provide readers with an understanding of why people find dieting difficult and often impossible. She debunks the idea that successful dieters have more ``will power,'' arguing that long-term success has more to do with an individual's social and family circumstances and how a diet is managed. Seid chronicles and analyzes the growth and development of the current emphasis on diet and fitness, examining in depth the influence of the fashion, fitness, and food industries. She argues that the equation of thinness with fitness may be contributing to weight problems rather than counteracting them. Excellent titles both.-- Jodith Janes, Univ. Hosps . of Cleveland (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.