Happy Fat

Taking Up Space in a World That Wants to Shrink You

By: Sofie Hagen

Narrated by: Sofie Hagen

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

I am a fat person and I love my body. I feel lucky to be able to say that it has taken a lot of work and a lot of time. I want to tell you what I have learned and how I got here.

In Happy Fat, comedian Sofie Hagen shares how she removed fatphobic influences from her daily life and found self-acceptance in a world where judgment and discrimination are rife. 

From shame and sex to airplane seats, love and getting stuck in public toilets, Sofie provides practical tips for listeners, drawing wisdom from other Fat Liberation champions along the way. 

Part memoir, part social commentary, Happy Fat is a funny, angry and impassioned look at how taking up space in a culture that is desperate to reduce you can be radical, emboldening and life-changing.

©2019 Sofie Hagen (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"Perfect, kind, hilarious and persuasive." (Lena Dunham)

Beautiful, informative, moving.

This book was absolutely a pleasure to read. I'm a fan of Sofie's work and think she's marvelous and hilarious. So I read this for that reason and also because as a thin person myself, I have observing some of my bigger and fat loved ones struggling with their weight and hating their bodies. I wanted to learn more about what it's like to move through the world as a fat person and how I can better support these people in my life. This book really opened my eyes to the many ways fatphobia causes very serious harm to so many people on many different levels. Some of Sofie's anecdotes are really heartbreaking! Additionally, it gave me concrete ideas on how to be a better ally, and I found the self-love advice to be helpful, even though it is (rightfully) aimed at helping fat people love their bodies, not something I struggle with. Overall, very well done and great storytelling. I'm impressed with the scope of this book, which ranges from personal anecdotes, research, interviews with a diverse group of people, and political commentary.

Actually life changing, and also funny!

The laughs weren't super frequent, but when I laughed I laughed pretty hard. And I felt a lot happier after reading it, which is a pretty good outcome for reading a book.

So comforting

Love love LOVED this book ❤️ I burned through it in one weekend. Sofie is funny and insightful and comforting. I'd highly recommend to anyone who struggles with weight, body image, and self-love.

Amazing

This book is for anyone who has suffered from fat shame. Sofie talks about all of the things that we know and have experienced but are too ashamed to talk about with others. She offers a perspective, resources, and reclamation of FAT and her experiences on moving through this shame to be happy fat and advocate for yourself and your needs regardless of the comfortability of others around your own body. The body politics, privilege, and resources/lack there of are addressed in a manner that is positive and self-affirming. Definitely recommended for anyone struggling in a society that polices the ways in which we should look, feel, see, and be seen!!!!

Finally, a book that actively accepts me.

For the first time , I feel welcomed and accepted for being me. Encouraged to be me while laughing. The author reads the book herself, at times she goes off script... but always for the benefit of the listener. It’s brutally honest, hugely loving (as long as you’re a fat person), and asks you to open your eyes and hearts to acknowledge the oppression fat people face.

Excellent

The author is so charming and funny. Very authentic. I’ve listened to this many times and really enjoyed it.

This will change your life.

I really have a new perspective on life and myself. Also, Sofie is hilarious! :)
Trigger warning: weight and weight loss
I've always hated my body and thought that it was a fact being fat will kill me one day. I envisioned all of my future dreams happening after I lost the weight. I'm 150 pounds "over weight". I never knew how I'd lose my weight but I knew I had to! I knew I had to lose half my weight before I could do ANYTHING with my life... The thing is: I have a great blood pressure, I'm able to walk everywhere I need to go, my weight doesn't stop me from doing anything! This book is the first place I've ever heard that maybe being fat isn't going to kill you. This is the first time I heard someone suggest that maybe the problem isn't me? Maybe people hate fat people and it isn't justified. Maybe it's okay to be my size and it's okay to love my body!
if you're on the fence about this book, just listen to it. It's a great lesson for everyone, no matter your size or identity. Thank you Sofie Hagen!

Funny and inspirational

Sofie had me laughing out loud a few times over the course of this book. This was really fun to listen to, and very interesting. I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to hear a refreshing perspective on body acceptance

Required reading for everyone!

Excellent book and should be required for everyone! Funny, heart warming, witty Sofie gets down to the matter at hand in each chapter without mincing words and manages to make you want to keep learning more. Love her fresh and kind hearted approach.

Absolutely refreshing and thought provoking!

I am beyond impressed. This book is inclusive, informative, and REAL. Her emotion and wit makes this book FUN- even when battling your own inner demons or bias.