If I were to give this book a one-word review, it would simply be "Wow". I've read many mental health-focused books in my time and this was one of the best I've ever read, if not the best. The author touched on many facets of what makes up our bodies and the social and environmental impacts. I am a white, afab person, so there were several parts of this book that I couldn't relate to in my personal life, but I am certainly better for knowing regardless.

Reclaiming the Black Body is a nonfiction book that weaves in personal experience, scientific information, and client testimonials to show the broader tapestry of dieting and easting disorders, especially within the Black experience. Despite being data driven, it's written very well and easy to understand. It's also very personal and so it often reads like a memoir or personal essay. Even if nonfiction isn't really your thing, it's informative but easily digestible. I think it's a great self-help read regardless of race if you're someone who has struggled with diet culture or ED. And I would especially recommend that every psychology program use this book to have Black voices and experiences in the curriculum!

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a powerful book that speaks to a variety of experiences — while I do not share these experiences, I recognize the insights of the author, and I believe this book would be a strong addition to a classroom shelf, public library, and personal library. This seems to be the kind of book that could bring healing and reconciliation for readers who share the identities and experiences represented therein.

Reclaiming the Black Body is a book about a closely regarded secret often held within the black community about disordered eating. It's not a topic that I've seen made available to the masses via colloquially retellings and or documentary filmmakers as with other nationalities. As with most things disordered eating affects all communities and can be culturally significant in a variety of ways depending on the experience.

A bit repetitive here and there I think it was effective in making the connection between the societal implications of cultural practices and their contributions to disordered eating.

While this was not a compendium or even a clinical tool for disordered eating it does provide awareness and exposure which could help people seek help and that is worth the effort.

There are many things I enjoyed and learned from this book. My main issue with it though is that after a while is seemed a bit repetitive in info. I like how it has practices and questions to ask yourself at the end of each chapter for those who want it, but they seemed to be a bit long and many seemed unnecessary and/or not very helpful.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. I originally picked it because of the subject matter and the cover. The entire pushed under the rug black women disordered eating hits home for a lot of ADOS families. It was actually very eye opening for me. Some of the impacts of our society I had completely not even thought about making the connection but when McCullough did it was quite surprising, it makes so much sense. I took my time with this book and enjoyed this read.

An accessible exploration of disordered eating in the Black community. The author does a wonderful job addressing this topic holistically, beyond mental health framing. She touches on generational trauma, systemic racism, environmental racism and so much more that contribute to disordered eating but also how we heal.

This was a really informative and super insightful read. I loved that the author was able to provide culturally relevant explanations for so many patterns related to disordered eating.

“Reclaiming the Black Body” is very informative and thought-provoking. I’m one of the many who’ve never considered the different types of eating disorders nor their causes and effects, especially on Black women.

The author does so much with this book. It’s almost as if you’re having a personal therapy session with her. It’s easy to read, digest, and restorative to your mental well-being.

I was sent a copy of this book and started reading without any real idea of what it was about, but I’m so glad I did.

Thank you, Alishia, for taking the time to pen this book. We, as a community, definitely need it.

Reclaiming the Black Body is an important and insightful read about disordered eating amongst black women. The author shares her story and provides us with a road map on how to heal our mind and body while finding peace within ourselves. This was a very healing read, one that changed my life and that I'm very grateful to have read.

In "Reclaiming the Black Body: Nourishing the Home Within," Alishia McCullough, LCMHC, presents an essential exploration of the often overlooked impact of disordered eating among Black women. Drawing from her experience as a licensed mental health therapist, somatic healer, and eating disorder specialist, McCullough explores how racial trauma disrupts Black women's relationship with our bodies and food. This groundbreaking work asks readers to acknowledge and address the disproportionate effects of disordered eating within BIPOC communities. McCullough's approach integrates historical context, client stories, guided practices that encourage somatic embodiment and healing. She shares her own experiences as a Black woman from the South (who is also the eldest daughter in a sibling group of three and a first generation college student), providing a comprehensive and empathetic road map to healing the mind, body, spirit connection.

As a bibliotherapist, I find "Reclaiming the Black Body" to be a significant addition to the literature on eating disorders and racial trauma. McCullough honors the contributions of Black feminist thinkers and emphasizes that eating disorders are biopsychosocial-spiritual conditions impacting diverse individuals. She roots disordered eating behaviors in the history of slavery and generational trauma, highlighting the need for culturally informed care. By rejecting patriarchal and white supremacist frameworks, McCullough offers a decolonized perspective that is both validating and ground breaking. This book is invaluable for anyone seeking to heal their relationship with food and their body, particularly within the context of systemic oppression and cultural trauma. One quote that resonates deeply is: "Healing can be a lonely journey; it requires faith and surrender to the process of becoming undone and unraveled so that you can be fully transformed."

McCullough offers Black women and femmes a pathway to restoration and reconnection within our bodies that honors our ancestral inheritances. She does not moralize health. Instead, she teaches us to honor the ways we have been impacted by culture and systemic issues so that the true self can reemerge and move beyond the trauma rooted in survival. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

McCullough’s groundbreaking work radically validates the lived experiences and generational traumas of BIPOC communities. We need more book about this to really addressing the need of black society life.