More than a body Your body is an instrument, not an ornament

As identical twins, authors Lexie and Lindsay had the unique experience of viewing their own bodies reflected in each other's shape. Early on, they became sensitive to their differences. Any time one of them grew an inch or gained a pound, someone (usually the other sister) would comment on it. (This constant mental monitoring of bodies is identified as "self-objectification.") As they grew, they began to question why women were so much more concerned about their physical image than men. Both women earned PhDs and conducted studies in media and body image, which inspired them to create the nonprofit Beauty Redefined to help people combat media and social pressures and redefine the meaning of beauty. The authors contend that the focus should be on our bodies as instruments rather than ornaments. This shift in focus requires a conscious effort to tune out media messages and tune into our body. Each chapter poses questions to help readers ponder and evaluate their own body image. The Kite sisters present a convincing argument for making the effort to achieve a healthier body-image paradigm.

A pertinent study of the countless, ever present misconceptions about female body image and why these delusions need to change. Anyone who pays the slightest bit of attention to modern culture is aware of the rampant objectification of women's bodies, which has become even more prevalent and insidious with the expanding reach and scope of social media outlets. In their attempts to obtain an "ideal" weight or body type, women embark on often fruitless diet, exercise, and beauty routines. Kite and Kite, identical twin doctors whose physical attributes have been scrutinized by others and each other all their lives, provide refreshingly straightforward advice to help women let go of impossible goals and learn to love their bodies regardless of their outward appearances. They provide engaging arguments against comparing oneself to the images on social media, and they point out the problems with relying too much on the body mass index metric. "Other ways to evaluate our own health (often with the help of a medical professional) include measuring internal indicators like heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and respiratory fitness," they write. "Blood tests can reveal much more about a person's metabolic health than their dress size can." With the authors' guidance and a commitment to self-acceptance, women will be able to ditch yo-yo dieting and costly beauty regimens. Perhaps more importantly, they will find the confidence to avoid jealous comparisons and even leave abusive relationships. "When you know…that you are more than a body," they write, "you will find that your sense of self, empowerment, and life possibilities are expanding. You will find out that the path to fulfillment and achieving your personal potential is bigger and better than simply forcing your body to fit a perfect mold." A fresh interpretation of a simple yet powerful lesson about self-liberation. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.