Eat Sweat Play: How Sport Can Change Our Lives - Softcover

Kessel, Anna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1509808094 ISBN 13: 9781509808090

Publisher: Macmillan, 2016

Synopsis

Long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, 2016

For too long society has led us to believe that women and sport don't mix. While perspiration and 'fitspiration' have never been so hot, sport continues to be stubbornly cast as unfeminine.

But why should sport and exercise be so gendered? What happened to the carefree versions of ourselves, the young girls who dared to climb trees, cartwheel across playgrounds or run down hills so fast we laughed until we couldn't breathe? When did we lose our sense of fun, and what else did we lose along with it?

In a brave, funny and personal call to arms, Anna Kessel carries out a very timely health check on the nation and women's involvement in sport. In her exploration of major taboos, including body dysmorphia, periods, miscarriage, sex and the gender pay gap, Kessel discovers how sport and exercise play and integral role in every sphere of our modern lives.

Sharing the tales of a fascinating range of women - from Sporty Spice conquering the music world in a shell suit to mums who box and breastfeed - Eat Sweat Play is the inspirational story of how women are finally reclaiming sport, and by extension their own bodies, for themselves

About this title

Review:

Anna Kessel's book should inspire a whole generation of women. It ought to be on the school curriculum. (Hadley Freeman)

This book is a plea to reclaim tracks, pitches and pools for women, and to ensure that the next generation grows up appreciating - and enjoying - all that their bodies are capable of. (Emma John The Guardian)

Fascinating, compelling and thought-provoking (Lauren Laverne The Pool)

A piercing call to arms, [Anna] argues that if women and girls embrace being active, it will lead to a sea change for women's bodies, self-image and outlook. It is brilliant. (Stylist)

I’d go as far to say that this book was a life changer for my health and fitness. (Estee Lalonde)

No topic is off limits - cringe worthy school PE, the gender pay gap, parenthood, women as fans, menopause, disability and even her own miscarriage are explored, telling a cradle-to-grave story of our vexed relationship with moving our own bodies. She also lays bare the systemic issues: sports science, for example, is based overwhelmingly on studies of male bodies, as if pregnancy and menstruation simply did not exist. This is a book for parents, sports lovers, and anyone who wants to be on the right side of history. (Moya Dodd Australia Financial Review)

Book Description:

Part manifesto, part how-to, Eat Sweat Play is a call to arms for women to take back sport for themselves.

About this edition

• Publisher: Macmillan
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1509808094
• ISBN 13: 9781509808090
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288