This is a well-researched, interesting book about a topic that many women think about - body shape and weight. It's definitely challenged my perspective on the cultural "norm" for female body standards, and it seems to prove its argument that standards have shifted as needed to differentiate races from each other (i.e. whatever shape/weight the darker race is perceived to be, the lighter race changes it's normal to the opposite). It also gave some interesting information about the origins of race theory.

Edit upon second reading: I have upped my review to 5 stars, because I've learned to appreciate a well-sourced book more than ever these last few years (and after completing my own graduate thesis). The author uses many primary sources and clearly lays out her footnotes and a selected bibliography.