My Body
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4.3 • 40 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"My Body offers a lucid examination of the mirrors in which its author has seen herself, and her indoctrination into the cult of beauty as defined by powerful men. In its more transcendent passages . . . the author steps beyond the reach of any 'Pygmalion' and becomes a more dangerous kind of beautiful. She becomes a kind of god in her own right: an artist."
—Melissa Febos, The New York Times Book Review
A "MOST ANTICIPATED" AND "BEST OF FALL 2021" BOOK FOR * VOGUE * TIME * ESQUIRE * PEOPLE * USA TODAY * CHICAGO TRIBUNE * LOS ANGELES TIMES * SHONDALAND * ALMA * THRILLEST * NYLON * FORTUNE
A deeply honest investigation of what it means to be a woman and a commodity from Emily Ratajkowski, the archetypal, multi-hyphenate celebrity of our time
Emily Ratajkowski is an acclaimed model and actress, an engaged political progressive, a formidable entrepreneur, a global social media phenomenon, and now, a writer. Rocketing to world fame at age twenty-one, Ratajkowski sparked both praise and furor with the provocative display of her body as an unapologetic statement of feminist empowerment. The subsequent evolution in her thinking about our culture’s commodification of women is the subject of this book.
My Body is a profoundly personal exploration of feminism, sexuality, and power, of men's treatment of women and women's rationalizations for accepting that treatment. These essays chronicle moments from Ratajkowski’s life while investigating the culture’s fetishization of girls and female beauty, its obsession with and contempt for women’s sexuality, the perverse dynamics of the fashion and film industries, and the gray area between consent and abuse.
Nuanced, fierce, and incisive, My Body marks the debut of a writer brimming with courage and intelligence.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Emily Ratajkowski is one of the world’s top models and an accomplished actor. So when she has thoughts about feminist topics like objectification and the male gaze, she’s talking from years of personal and professional experience. This makes her collection of essays weighty, candid, and deeply personal. Ratajkowski shot to fame in 2013 with her barely covered appearance in Robin Thicke’s controversial video for the song “Blurred Lines.” She reflects on that experience—in which she and the other models felt more like props than people—and on many others, thoughtfully exploring how her perspective on life in front of the camera has evolved. In one insightful anecdote, Ratajkowski remembers thinking it would be empowering to get paid for men to look at her—since they did that anyway—only to discover that no actual power came with the job. My Body is a fascinating and compelling look at the meaning of female beauty.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Model and actress Ratajkowski debuts with an intimate and accomplished essay collection that tackles big questions about internalized misogyny, the male gaze, female empowerment, and the commodification of sexuality. She describes her "defensiveness and defiance" when questioned whether dancing naked in the 2013 music video for Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" was "anti-feminist," and admits that her viewpoint on being a "so-called sex symbol" has changed in the ensuing years. Ratajkowski calls out men who have simultaneously taken advantage of and dismissed her, including Thicke, who grabbed her breasts without permission during the filming of the music video, and photographer Jonathan Leder, whom she accuses of sexually violating her during a photo shoot and then releasing a book of explicit images without her approval. Throughout, Ratajkowski reflects on her craving for men's validation "even when it came wrapped in disrespect," and examines the limits of succeeding "as a thing to be looked at." She also recounts an early sexual experience that she later realized qualified as stalking and rape, and documents her struggles to deal with her mother's serious health problems. Enriched by Ratajkowski's insider perspective on the modeling industry and her willingness to wrestle with the power of the male gaze rather than outright rejecting it, this is an astute and rewarding mix of the personal and the political.
Customer Reviews
A rise to riches story; the fame is costly.
After reading My Body, I have a deeper sense of compassion for women who must navigate ‘the scene’ in show business. As a highly sought after model, Emily comes to grips with being just another idea in another man’s mind. She entered a world that once seemed innocent and lucrative only for that same realm to become vile and morally bankrupt. The men claim her outright throughout the book. They touch her when she asks not to be touched. They kiss her when she tells them that she’s romantically involved with another. They go as far as to rape her. Throughout the novel, Emily is relatable. Emily is cool. Emily is informed. Emily is a hustler.
Regards,
J.W. Mars
Excited, only to be disappointed
I unfortunately found “My Body” quite disappointing. What I thought would be intellectual and introspective turned out to be mainly surface discussion literally about her body. I feel like anyone reading this book is a fan of Emily and aware of her body, yet it felt like I was just constantly reminded of how hot she is throughout the book, sans deep reflection on her experiences.
Combining sexuality with knowledge on topics such as art and politics is not new at all. Reading this felt like being pushed to feel impressed by a beauty who also has a brain.. don’t we all?
That said, the way Emily describes her mother’s values was incredibly relatable and invoked an unfamiliar feeling of not being the only person who loves their mother dearly yet constantly questions her perspective on the male gaze.