I personally found their tone humorous, not offensive, but a) I do not have an eating disorder and b) I have a sarcastic sense of humor anyway. I think this book would be completely inappropriate for someone with an ED. However, does that mean it should not have been written? Must all literature be for all people?

I do, however, think that the authors completely abandoned the whole “health” thing for the “vegan” thing in no time flat, which was disappointing whether one is vegan or not. As one million other people have already observed, they spend a whole chapter on how refined sugar and artificial sweeteners are unhealthy, and yet their “shopping lists” are full of sweet vegan foods. Yuck.

All in all, This book helped me make some good changes. I would recommend it to some friends but not others. And as for a good vegan book, I would recommend voluptuous vegan or vegan with a vengeance over this one 100 to 1.

The physical journey toward Wellness/Fitness should be well balanced, taking into one’s account emotional, intellectual and spiritual wellness. Love yourself and love your body. Real knowledge is power. Would you attempt to build a computer or anything for that matter, without first knowing all the parts involved? Educate yourself! Get to know your body, it’s anatomy and physiology. Your body is a fuel efficient, adaptable therefore moldable machine. Learn what your body has the ability to become and how it responds to the environment.

All in all, bad book. Dangerous advice.

In college, I did the vegetarian thing (It was the cool thing to do), but I never went vegan. I don’t plan to go vegan either, but I will probably go vegetarian again after reading this book. ~

I found the book very tongue in cheek, and sarcastic. It was a tough love approach, and for some women, that is exactly the kick they need to feel motivated to start a diet.

Overall, read it. Take the advice you need, and ignore the rest.

I’m not pro-Skinny Bitch, but I just want to point a few things out that I believe are positive about the book.

First, the book starts with discussing how unethical the FDA and USDA are, how many products they’ve approved that are clearly sketchy, and how important it is to read labels, do our own research and be informed about our consumer choices. They specifically talk about how aspartame was denied FDA approval for food usage eight times. I don’t find anything about this tenet of the book to be insulting, anti-feminist or pro-eating disorder.

Another chapter is devoted to narratives from “Slaughterhouse,” a book about the cruelties in the dairy and meat industries. This chapter discusses how gross these industries are, and specifically connects that back to distrusting mainstream health information (and bad science) especially when studies are funded by these industries. This chapter sounds a lot like the logic employed by a recent online article by Bitch magazine about bad science used to reinforce sexist stereotypes.

I do find it ludricrous that the book contains a one page disclaimer at the very end of the book about how they’re ‘just kidding! The authors don’t really care about being skinny!’ Also, they do suggest an ideal eating plan that is extremely low in fat and calories, and mostly fruit and veggies. But every other vegan cookbook (healthy-moral-or-art-related) suggests the elimination of several food groups as well! That argument can’t only apply to Skinny Bitch. The book also says that exercise in moderation is good, but going overboard is a serious problem because its relationship with eating disorders.

P.S. These are great comments, ladies! I love this forum!

Hey, skinnybitch! I have the counter-point to your book. Go read my book, Embracing Your Big Fat Ass. (Simon and Schuster, June 2008) We say celebrate your fat ass, hang streamers on it. Take medication if you need to. And by all means, stop trying to get skinny. While you are attempting ‘skinny’ you become exactly like these to chicks – grumpy.

God, people like this are annoying. I can’t imagine how this would read to some woman who’s immobilized by cramps every month.

*waves hand*

I take fourteen pills a day, minimum, to be able to function — that is, you know. Shower semi-regularly, prepare my own meals, do some ridiculously small portion of the household cleaning, and work part-time. That’s without having any periods. I wonder what these folks think I’m supposed to do about the little problem of my endometrium growing outside my uterus. For that matter, I wonder what they think about “natural” when it comes to reproductive functions, period — they should be easy converts for the Quiverfull movement, shouldn’t they? Oh, wait.

And thank you.