The Body Is Not an Apology, Second Edition: The Power of Radical Self-Love

by Sonya Renee Taylor, foreword by Ijeoma Oluo

The Body Is Not an Apology is a powerful, accessible introduction to radical self-love as both a personal practice and a collective act of resistance. In this expanded second edition, activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor explores how systems of oppression rely on body shame—and how reconnecting with our bodies is essential to healing ourselves and transforming the world around us.

Blending personal reflection, cultural analysis, and actionable insight, Taylor invites readers to examine how racism, ableism, fatphobia, sexism, transphobia, and other interlocking systems distort our relationships with our bodies. Rather than framing self-love as individual positivity or self-esteem, this book positions radical self-love as a tool for liberation, rooted in accountability, community, and justice. The result is a book that feels grounding, affirming, and deeply motivating without being prescriptive or preachy.

At just under 200 pages, this is a thoughtful read that works well for both first-time readers and those returning to the work as their understanding of embodiment, pleasure, and identity evolves.

Why I recommend this book

This book is often where my work with coaching clients begins. I recommend The Body Is Not an Apology because meaningful pleasure work has to include body liberation. This book gives language to the ways shame is taught, reinforced, and normalized, and offers a framework for unlearning it that goes far beyond “just love yourself.” I often suggest this book to people doing healing work around desire, disability, gender, or self-worth, because it helps anchor personal growth in something bigger than the self. Radical self-love isn’t indulgent—it’s necessary—and this book makes that truth both clear and actionable.