The Message and the Messenger
on the making of an oddly shaped book
Have you ever stopped to think about what a book is, really? In an age dominated by 12-second TikToks and infinite scrolls, the choice to create a physical object—to set our message in paper, ink, and glue—is a profound act of embodiment. It’s a choice to be in the world in a specific, tangible way.
That intentionality is why I want to talk about the unusual, wonderful shape of Every Body Beloved: a Jewish embrace of fatness.
My book baby came out as a squat little square!
Here’s what happened. When I finished writing every word I wanted to write, it was clear: the text wasn’t terribly long. In fact, a number of you have written to say you read it in one sitting! I’ve grown to love this “portion size”—it feels just right for this work. But what I realized once the writing was done was that if it was printed in a more traditional format for a book of this sort, it would be quite…thin.
There is, of course, absolutely nothing wrong with thinness. I mean, some of my favorite people are quite thin. But as I prepared to send my message of embracing fatness out into the world, I knew that I wanted the messenger—the physical package of the book itself—to embody that embrace.
So, I asked my publisher if we could make Every Body Beloved smaller in stature than a standard paperback. And that’s how it came out square. It’s as wide as it is tall—a delicious, sweet little chonk of a book. When you hold it in your hands, you are, God willing, enjoying the feeling of holding a chubby, comforting little companion. You are literally practicing embracing fatness through grasping the object itself.
The Call for All Bodies
The core of Fat Torah’s message is the belief that every person is created in the divine image and that anti-fatness is a profound spiritual and moral error. That message needs to be carried by all of us.
And the messenger doesn’t have to match the message. God knows I want people of all sizes to bring this message of embracing fatness to the world. People who utilize their own thin privilege to lift up a message of fat acceptance are a wonderful and important part of building a world that embraces every body. Let’s face it—as enraging as this may be—those who aren’t physically marked by fat stigma are often more likely to be listened to in dominant culture. Their allyship is critical.
At the same time, I love the idea that my own story, with its call to action, is now out there in the world in such a sweet little chunky package. It gives me deep joy to see the physical book reflecting the words it contains.
p.s. that amazing cover
Speaking of embodiment, I want to leave you with a teaser about the gorgeous artwork on the cover. Next week I’m talking to Kat Max, the artist and mystic whose glorious image graces the book’s cover. I’m hoping we will cook up something wondrous to share with you.
Your Call to Action:
If you have already enjoyed holding and reading this delicious chunk of a book, please help it find other readers who might enjoy it too. I encourage you right now to think of a couple of friends—or communities—who need its message of fat acceptance and share it with them.