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A review by avidlyreading
The Ministry of Thin by Emma Woolf
5.0
[b:The Ministry of Thin|17973601|The Ministry of Thin|Emma Woolf|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369384442s/17973601.jpg|25197383] is the second book I have read by [a:Emma Woolf|5758710|Emma Woolf|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg]this year, the first being her memoir [b:An Apple a Day: A Memoir of Love and Recovery from Anorexia|13497613|An Apple a Day A Memoir of Love and Recovery from Anorexia|Emma Woolf|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330024307s/13497613.jpg|19041935]. This book is an intelligent and critical analysis of the destructive affects of the pursuit of bodily perfection. Woolf is unrelenting in her look at the various industries that control the looks and emotions of the women who invest their time and money in them. The Ministry of Thin looks at how the fitness, cosmetic and diet industries are able to tap into the insecurities of the population to persuade them they need to look and maintain their youthful looks for as long as possible.
Woolf explores in detail and with insight the paradoxical behaviours exhibited by women in their desire to become a slimmer and perceived better version of them. Part of what makes this book so readable is that she goes right under the surface of the various ministries (how she refers to various industries that have an agenda to promote) to expose what makes them such a dark pervasive force that contributes to an individual’s warped self image. Woolf writes with conviction as being both an outsider and participant in some of these ministries she is in a unique position to comment on the devastation caused by trying to live a perfect life. She makes occasional reference to her previous anorexia, which rules to live by she states were clear and simple to follow when she had the illness, to highlight and contrast how messy and complex the rules people follow are and how it causes an unnecessary self loathing of oneself.
The pursuit of perfection perpetuates and the enormous pressure from peers and the media are making normal civilian life hell in trying to attain an image of perfection that ultimately cannot last. Woolf’s point remains consistent throughout; if people accepted and liked their body shapes they would not have to undergo a lot of mental anguish and disappointment for failing to be something they are not. [b:The Ministry of Thin|17973601|The Ministry of Thin|Emma Woolf|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369384442s/17973601.jpg|25197383] is worth reading to learn that having achieved female emancipation in many areas just how much further female sexuality has declined somewhat in modern times and the disturbingly high control direction it could moved in if people are not educated about the manipulation they are exposed to.
Woolf explores in detail and with insight the paradoxical behaviours exhibited by women in their desire to become a slimmer and perceived better version of them. Part of what makes this book so readable is that she goes right under the surface of the various ministries (how she refers to various industries that have an agenda to promote) to expose what makes them such a dark pervasive force that contributes to an individual’s warped self image. Woolf writes with conviction as being both an outsider and participant in some of these ministries she is in a unique position to comment on the devastation caused by trying to live a perfect life. She makes occasional reference to her previous anorexia, which rules to live by she states were clear and simple to follow when she had the illness, to highlight and contrast how messy and complex the rules people follow are and how it causes an unnecessary self loathing of oneself.
The pursuit of perfection perpetuates and the enormous pressure from peers and the media are making normal civilian life hell in trying to attain an image of perfection that ultimately cannot last. Woolf’s point remains consistent throughout; if people accepted and liked their body shapes they would not have to undergo a lot of mental anguish and disappointment for failing to be something they are not. [b:The Ministry of Thin|17973601|The Ministry of Thin|Emma Woolf|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369384442s/17973601.jpg|25197383] is worth reading to learn that having achieved female emancipation in many areas just how much further female sexuality has declined somewhat in modern times and the disturbingly high control direction it could moved in if people are not educated about the manipulation they are exposed to.