The Tyranny of Thinness

“Bold, intimate, and philosophically rich, The Tyranny of Thinness is an essential guide to how the thinness ideal got its claws on us, and how to get free. Leboeuf conveys the pain of eating disorders, the punitive beauty norms of modeling, and the self-care that facilitated her recovery with lucidity and verve.”
—Kate Manne, professor of philosophy at Cornell University and author of Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia and Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny

“If you think philosophy has no relevance to life, read this book. If you think there’s nothing new to say about eating disorders, you’ll find, with delight, that you’re wrong. If you are a teacher trying to bridge the gap between ‘theory’ and lived experience, put this book on your syllabus. If you struggle with eating and body image issues and are tired of the same prescriptions—both from medical professionals and from the culture—that have been offered to you so far, I promise you will finish this book feeling refreshed and hopeful. I did!”
—Susan Bordo, professor of gender and women’s studies and Otis A. Singletary Chair in the Humanities at the University of Kentucky and author of Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body

“The Tyranny of Thinness is a clear and deeply humane account of why being slim still carries such power and how we might loosen its grip. Leboeuf’s approach is philosophically serious and tender. Moving effortlessly between memoir and critique, she offers ideas and practices that can help us see ourselves and others more lovingly. Vivid, nuanced, and gently radical, this timely and optimistic book is exactly the kind of guide we all need to revalue our values about bodies, beauty, and freedom.”
—Skye Cleary, PhD, MBA, philosopher and author of How to Be Authentic and Existentialism and Romantic Love and coeditor of How to Live a Good Life

“The Tyranny of Thinness offers an engaging look at the pressures cis women and girls face around body image and dieting. Leboeuf weaves personal stories with cultural critique to explore how society shapes our relationship with food and with ourselves. You’ll find historical context and feminist analysis alongside practical tips for building a healthier relationship with your body. It’s a valuable guide to breaking free from our culture’s obsession with thinness.”
—Carol Hay, professor and department chair in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and author of Think Like a Feminist

“Part memoir, part self-help, and part-philosophy, The Tyranny of Thinness confronts the reader with the reality of the overwhelming pressures to be thin in contemporary society. Pressures that are deep-rooted, almost impossible to resist, and yet often normalized. Leboeuf explains how the thin ideal has captured our minds and bodies, shares her experience of living with, recognizing, and overcoming anorexia, and offers solutions. She suggests practices to help us live from the inside out, including self-care, reclaiming pleasure, and communal resistance. This searingly honest book is a must-read for academics working on beauty, those suffering from and recovering from eating disorders, and anyone who has ever worried about their weight.”
—Heather Widdows, professor of philosophy at the University of Warwick and author of Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal