Physical Disobedience: An Unruly Guide to Health and Stamina for the Modern Feminist

In this spirited mixture of fitness guide and self-help, personal trainer Coomer (Lightness of Body and Mind) argues that women can better fight injustice by keeping strong and fit, asserting that “taking care of our bodies is a form of political action.” Coomer shares her own experiences with body image; as a teen and college student she despised her body; her belief that at 155 pounds she was overweight resulted in an eating disorder, which involved bingeing and purging several times a day. Her struggle with body image led her to become a personal trainer, both to make peace with her own body and to help others learn that “skinny doesn’t make for happy.” Although Coomer covers a number of topics (e.g., beauty, alternative therapies, motherhood), one of her most compelling “rants” addresses the fashion industry. She encourages women to find their own style, based on clothing that makes them feel good. Likewise, food is not the enemy. Diet, she claims, should be based on healthy choices (not deprivation), and exercise on the goal of moving, enjoyment, and finding strength. Coomer ends with a useful appendix of charitable and social justice organizations, aptly capping off her unique and “unruly” manual for improving both oneself and the world. (Aug.)