Boobs is an adult non-fiction book, co-authored by Dr Lisa Portolan and Amanda Goff. It is a multi-faceted exploration of the cultural, social, and biological significance of breasts, blended with personal narratives.
It is often light-hearted, perhaps even irreverent, but at times offers a more serious dialogue encouraging women to reclaim their power and challenge the objectification and societal views about their bodies.
The book examines some of the common negative narratives around breasts, which can create feelings of inadequacy and body dissatisfaction, especially when repeatedly reinforced with unrealistic expectations.
The authors cover many different aspects, ranging from perceptions of beauty, nurturing, sexuality, body dysmorphia, to breastfeeding and identity. The ultimate message is that every woman has her own relationship to her breasts, and she does not need to meet the standards or expectations of others.
Amanda Goff, formerly known as Samantha X and author of the book Misfit, brings a deeply personal reflection of her experiences with large breasts while Dr. Lisa Portolan adds the academic analysis with her experience as a small chested woman.
The two authors have collaborated to bring balance and lay seeds which are sure to challenge the reader to re-think current narratives.
The title of the book and references to the colloquial term “boobs” throughout the book, is clever, and in itself a bold move with food for much thought. The word itself holds negative connotations which can affect women depending on their social, cultural or professional backgrounds.
Perhaps some readers may find the term “boobs” to be light-hearted and casual, but for others, it may be seen as insensitive, disrespectful or even vulgar. It could also be considered to be culturally insensitive or mistaken for a joke book or erotica due to the sexual connotations frequently attached to this term. This could possibly deter readers who are looking for a more serious content, but nevertheless, the title is provocative and in itself expresses the need to challenge how we (and society) perceive our breasts.
I found the book to be interesting and thought provoking, and while I enjoyed the conversational tone with anecdotal experiences, I also found myself wanting more exploration of the many important issues raised. But, perhaps this was the purpose of the book?
A selection of our Beauty and Lace members are reading Boobs by Dr Lisa Portolan and Amanda Goff. You an read their comments below, or add your own review.
