Shrill Women Are Funny, It's Okay to Be Fat, and Feminists Don't Have to Be Nice

A very necessary book. Feminism inspired me to read it, however, much more inspires me to recommend it. On a very basic level, the message is, "Don't be such an asshole," and as I said, this is a very necessary message, especially in the context: West delves into the struggles of being fat; a fat woman; a comic; a woman comic; a blogger; a woman blogger; (etc.); a woman. Not only is it entertaining, but it's very well-written and comes full-circle in its cause. I am sure that I am better for reading it, and I will be better in the future because of it, and that is precisely the point. As West puts it "We're all building our world, right now, in real time. Let's build it better."

When the personal is political, it is also universal. West writes with humor, kindness, but most of all, honesty. I’d like every thin and fat and everyone in between to read this book, and come to terms with the awful and harmful ways we have been taught to associate with fat people.

A very quick and enjoyable read. She's preaching to the converted here, but she's funny, smart and talks the truth. Lindy expands on essays that have already been published online and some work (like the Dan Savage story) but others feel a bit too much like an addendum...."this is what I meant to say/should have said". Recommended.

Lindy West delivers her writing in such a way that makes me feel like she's next to me. Her style is easy to read, even when the conversation topics are heavy, and she maintains an, "I'm just fucking up my way through life and pretending I'm not until someone notices," vibe throughout. I am here for it. Fat women advocating for love and acceptance of fat bodies? We love to see it.

A great fast read. If you are aware of and follow Lindy's writing this will have some stories you've seen before but with the added context of history and the process in bringing these works to life. Empowering about bodies, feminism, standing up for oneself, love, death. I cannot recommend it enough not only to my female friends but all my friends.

This is one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. I have never read something so close to my own experience of whirlwind when it comes to heartbreak as The Tree. Parts of this book feel like Lindy West was in my brain, thinking my own thoughts.

A sane, well-reasoned and funny book about owning our stories, our bodies, our lives. The author does a brilliant job of explaining why we must call out the misogynistic comments of politicians, co-workers and comedians (among others) in order to (slowly but inexorably) change the narrative.

loved this book!! It is funny, insightful, and incredibly lovely to read💖💖

Abandoned - not my cup of tea

I couldn't love this book more if I tried. It's a statement, it's an eye opener, it's charming and brilliant and funny and heartbreaking. It helped me see privileges I didn't know I had and it reinforced so many of the strong feminist values I believe and fight for.

This started off really funny, and it carried the humor through the end, but West touches on some traditionally controversial topics so it's not all laughs. But her writing is RAW and heartfelt, and honest, and self-aware, and I really enjoyed reading it on a whole. Not going to lie, she's very involved in comedy-verse and I'm not so whenever she would go more in depth about some of the happenings in that world (I have a particular essay in mind - but as I write this I don't remember, and I already returned my book to the library, bleh) I skipped. *shrug* But I still highly recommend for anybody that enjoys reading essay collections with loud and wonderful feminist and body-positivity points to make.

If you are a woman, you must read this. Then give it to your husband, boyfriend, best friend, best friend with benefits to read it. It's one of those books that makes me proud to be a feminist.

About 50-75 pages into this book, I set it aside in favor of "The President's Club," more drawn to the latter due to the timing of the presidential inauguration. I found it easy to set this book aside because at that point, West had not really drawn me into the book in a way that I would find it difficult to set aside. I had enjoyed her chapter on the weird phobia many have about talking about menstruation as well as just how weird menstruation actually is. However, beyond that, I had not identified with her. I could not figure out the trajectory of the book. Part of me kept thinking at first that West was a comedienne; she does have a sardonic sense of humor that I quite appreciate. Once I finished "The President's Club" and returned to this book, I got over the stumbling block of uncertainty and into the meat of the book, her campaign to hold people (men usually) for the utterly egregious things they say about women while claiming humor, among other things. Wow. Powerful. Read this book. Read it with an open mind. Don't get defensive if you have fallen prey to acting the way that some people she describes did. Realize the power of your words and the affect they have on other people.

A fantastic listen. West does an amazing job narrating her essays, which are at turns humorous, smart, scary, and important. this is an especially timely read in the current political climate. Thank you to an awesome colleague for recommending this to me.

Reading this is like wearing a suit of armour while simultaneously receiving the warmest hug.

One of the most important books you can ever read. READ IT READ IT READ IT NOW!