More of You

“Beck’s life-affirming attitude, no-nonsense style, and mantras of self-love (‘I have the right to take up space,’ ‘My body is a trustworthy storyteller’) make this a superlative volume. This is an outstanding addition to fat positivity literature.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This book will touch your heart and help you heal your body image problems.” –New York Journal of Books

“Existing in a world that constantly tells you what you should be, what you should do, and how you should look is hard, frustrating, and terrifying, especially if you exist in a non-normative, fat body. Beck’s More of You gives readers the language and tools to reframe our bodies not merely as objects designed to get us from point A to point B, but as sacred creations, designed for existing in relationship and with love and passion for justice for all bodies. Following this field guide helps readers to understand fat within the context of oppression, accessibility, and disability and reframe the discussion in important ways.” –Dianna E. Anderson, author of Damaged Goods, Problematic, and In Transit

“In More of You: The Fat Girl’s Field Guide to the Modern World, Amanda Martinez Beck sets out to give the reader a knapsack of tools to navigate a world that is often an unsafe and unjust place for fat people. With her characteristic wit and empathy, Martinez Beck gives an excellent overview of the history of fat activism, as well as vital key points, or touchstones, that she has gleaned about her body and her life, including her signature line, ‘All bodies are good bodies.’ This book is a must-read for anyone with a body.” –Jessica Kantrowitz, author of The Long Night, 365 Days of Peace, and Blessings for the Long Night

“Beck’s religion informs her writing as she reconciles being a person of size with being one of faith, taking up space in a society that wants fat women to shrink and mingling the body’s inherent goodness with pain and discrimination. This book is a fat liberation manifesto that recognizes the gains of the past–and the fights of tomorrow.” –Lindley Ashline, body acceptance photographer and activist

“Intricately weaving personal storytelling and pieces of the Christian Scriptures, this book meets us at the intersection of the fat liberation movement and our faith, opening our minds and hearts to this truth: God’s love isn’t contingent on your weight, body size, or body shape.” –Patrilie Hernandez, body liberation advocate and founder of Embody Lib

“Practical and straightforward with beautiful prose and a message of hope and freedom. Beck offers helpful tools for navigating a world designed to exclude fat people. She weaves together the strands of self-advocacy, history of the fat liberation movement, intersectional justice, and compelling memoir to provide a guidebook for all of us who want to live in such a way that we are at home in our body and in this world.” –Nicole Morgan, author of Fat and Faithful: Learning to Love Our Bodies, Our Neighbors, and Ourselves

Amanda Martinez Beck is a fat activist and body peace coach specializing in the intersection of human dignity, body liberation, and religion. She is the author of Lovely: How I Learned to Embrace the Body God Gave Me and the co-creator and cohost of the Fat & Faithful podcast. She began the @your_body_is_good Instagram account to teach herself and others that the purpose of the human body is connection, not perfection. Her writing has been featured in various outlets, including Christianity Today and America Magazine. She lives in Texas with her family.