Every single day, we are bombarded with hundreds—if not thousands—of messages telling us that we are not enough. Not thin enough, not toned enough, not smooth-skinned enough, not young enough. It’s endless.

That drip-feed of inadequacy isn’t accidental. Our culture thrives on our insecurities because when we feel “less than,” we buy more. We diet harder. We keep chasing an ever-moving target of “beauty.”

No wonder so many of us feel insecure about how we look.

This is what I call the Beauty Load — an almost constant undercurrent of worry about how we look. It shows up in questions we ask ourselves in quiet moments such as:

• Do I have the right clothes to wear to that event?
• Am I going to be the only one who looks older?
• Should I wear heels to look taller, or go with comfy flats even though I’ll feel dumpy?
  

The Beauty Load is just like the mental load we carry around about work, the kids, the shopping list, and life admin — only this one is about our appearance. It is hard to escape. And it is always aimed at our own inadequecy, which quietly eats away at our joy.

 

The good news is that the problem isn’t you.

The problem is the toxic culture you’ve been raised in and the way it has shaped your thinking. Unintentionally, we’ve allowed these cultural messages to dictate how we feel about ourselves, which isn’t just unhelpful — it’s damaging to our confidence and our capacity to show up in the world.

 

How do we resist and change cultural messaging so that we feel more confident?

One of the most powerful ways to change this for ourselves is to fill our minds with values, attitudes and reminders that build us up instead of tear us down. These alternative voices do exist — voices that challenge toxic beauty standards, show us new ways of relating to our bodies, and remind us that our worth has nothing to do with our waistline.

Books can be those voices. They can soothe and empower us, act as a rally cry, or feel like a supportive friend who whispers: You’re okay exactly as you are.

As a counsellor, author, and someone who has grappled with the gnarly angst of body image myself, here are my 7 absolute best body confidence books to help you feel more at peace in your own skin.

 

1. The Beauty Load — Nicole Mathieson

 

Reclaim your body, your confidence and your relationships.

In The Beauty Load, couple counsellor Nicole Mathieson (that’s me!) explores how body image quietly shapes the way we feel about ourselves — and the way we show up in our relationships. With compassion and honesty, she helps you see how the “Beauty Load” drains your energy, fuels self-doubt, and keeps you stuck in comparison.

Through stories, insights, and practical tools, Nicole shows how self-compassion can set you free — so you can live, love, and connect with more ease.

👉 Learn more about The Beauty Load here.

 

2. The Body is Not an Apology — Sonya Renee Taylor

 

This powerful and radical read is one of the best body image books available today. Taylor doesn’t just ask us to accept our bodies — she calls us to love them fiercely. And not only our own bodies, but all bodies.

She shows how systems of oppression — whiteness, thinness, ableism — have shaped the beauty ideals we internalize. By framing body acceptance as a political and cultural act, Taylor turns self-love into activism.

It’s bold, unapologetic, and essential if you’ve ever felt like your body is the enemy.

 

 

👉 Learn more about The Body is Not an Apology here

 

 

3. Come As You Are — Emily Nagoski

 

This isn’t technically a body image book — it’s about sexuality. But here’s the thing: when you feel good about sex, you feel good in your body.

Nagoski unpacks how our brains and bodies respond to desire, stress, and pleasure. She explains the science in a way that’s warm, empowering, and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your sensuality or like your body is “letting you down” in the bedroom, this book will change everything.

I often recommend it not just for sexual empowerment but for the ripple effect it has on how you relate to your whole self.

 

 

👉 Learn more about Come As You Are here

 

4. More Than a Body — Lexie and Lindsay Kite

 

Written by twin sisters with PhDs in body image, this book is an absolute game-changer. Their core message: your body is an instrument, not an ornament.

They unpack how we’re conditioned to view ourselves from the outside in — as if we’re watching ourselves in a movie instead of living our lives. Then, they offer practical, research-backed strategies to stop obsessing over appearance and start reconnecting with the power, capability, and joy of living in your body.

It’s empowering, relatable, and deeply healing — a must for anyone searching for body positive books that go beyond surface-level affirmations.

 

 

 

 

👉 Learn more about More Than a Body here

 

5. Embrace Yourself— Taryn Brumfitt

 

Taryn Brumfitt’s work has inspired millions. Her documentary Embrace struck such a chord that she was named Australian of the Year in 2023.

In both the film and the book, she tackles the global epidemic of body loathing and flips the script. Instead of shrinking ourselves to fit an ideal, she challenges us to expand into self-love and appreciation.

Her message is down-to-earth and relatable — you feel like you’re talking to a wise, funny, kind friend who just wants you to be happy in your own skin.

 

 

 

👉 Learn more about Embrace Yourself here

 

6. The Beauty Myth — Naomi Wolf

 

A feminist classic, The Beauty Myth digs deep into how beauty standards are used to control and disempower women. Wolf explores how these ideals intersect with sex, work, religion, media, and even violence.

It’s a more academic and political read than some of the others on this list, but it’s incredibly eye-opening. Wolf shows that the problem isn’t just personal insecurity — it’s a system designed to keep women distracted.

Read this if you want to understand the “why” behind the Beauty Load — and why these best books about body image are essential reading.

 

 

 

👉 Learn more about The Beauty Myth here

 

 

7. Women Don’t Owe You Pretty — Florence Given

 

Florence “Floss” Given is a bright, unapologetic voice leading a new wave of feminism.

Her book encourages women to question everything — sexuality, relationships, beauty ideals, and cultural conditioning. She challenges us to love our bodies for ourselves — not through the lens of the male gaze — and to take up space unapologetically.

Her writing is colourful, punchy, and full of energy. It speaks particularly well to younger women, but its message resonates across generations.

 

 

👉 Learn more about Women Don’t Owe You Pretty here

 

 

 

FAQs About Body Image Books

What is a body image book?
A body image book is a guide — sometimes self-help, sometimes memoir, sometimes feminist critique — that explores how we see and relate to our bodies. These books help unpack cultural pressures, challenge harmful beauty ideals, and offer tools to build self-acceptance, resilience, and confidence.

How can reading these books help me feel more confident?
Books give you language and perspective to understand that your insecurities aren’t a personal flaw — they’re the product of cultural conditioning. They can:

• Normalise your experience through stories and research
• Offer practical tools for self-compassion and confidence
• Inspire new ways of seeing yourself
• Remind you that you’re not alone

What kinds of body image books are there?

• Feminist/cultural critique (The Beauty Myth)
• Memoir/personal storytelling (Embrace)
• Self-help/coaching style (The Beauty Load)
• Academic/research-based (More Than a Body)
• Indirect but impactful (Come As You Are, Fierce Self-Compassion)

…and many more.

 

 

Final Thoughts

The Beauty Load is heavy. But the good news is — you don’t have to carry it alone. With awareness and self-compassion, you can get out from under it’s heavy and confidence damaging weight.

Each of these body confidence books offers a different lens, a different kind of support, and a different way to start unburdening yourself. Some are radical and political, some are practical and personal, some are warm and story-driven. Together, they create a chorus of voices reminding you that you are already enough.

So pick one. Pour yourself a cup of tea, curl up, and let these words nourish you.

Because your body is not — and has never been — the problem. The toxic messaging telling you it is the problem is the real issue.

Your body is your home, your ally, your source of pleasure and power. And it deserves your love.

Reclaim your body, your confidence and your relationships. Grab a copy of The Beauty Load here.