I was very intrigued by the basic concept of Wonder Body, and really wanted to like it.  And, indeed, there are some really interesting aspects of this book.  However, I don’t think it’s going to be a good fit for most of my readers.

The Basic Concept

The fundamental concept of this book is to build a positive body image by delving into the intricacies of the body, by way of a coloring book.  To this end, the book contains a series of spreads intended to focus on various aspects of the body: senses (beyond the basic five, and also getting into more complex sensory phenomena like proprioception), chakras (more on that in a moment), and various pleasure sources (like the enjoyment of citrus fruit).  Each spread (which is vertical, because the book opens up, like a notepad, rather than sideways like a typical book) includes one page with an informative description or other bit of text, and another with artwork to color.

Sensory Systems

The first section is about sensory systems of the body.  These extend beyond the five primary senses, but remain firmly rooted in well-documented physiology.  (For instance, the aforementioned proprioception.)  I’d love to have a book that keeps the emphasis here.  It’s “safe,” it’s clean, and it’s very informative.  Not everyone knows a lot about how these systems work, so this is a wonderful way to grow in appreciation for the wonderful way that we’re created.  This would be excellent for building body awareness and a positive body image in teens and preteens, as well.

Chakras

The second section is about chakras.  Now, I have somewhat mixed feelings about “chakra” discussions.  The concept of chakras is an Eastern one, and typically is wrapped up in Eastern mysticism as well as health discussions.  However, there is emerging science that suggests there are actual concentrations of energy at the points in the body traditionally associated with the chakras.  (That is, there may be some truth to the basic concept of chakras, even though the “total package” of what’s typically taught with chakras is mystical.)

With that said, the presentation of the chakras in this book is very much in alignment with  (no pun intended) with the traditional views.  The pages in this section are written as if from the perspective of the chakras, personified.  They’re definitely rooted (again, no pun intended) in the more spiritual perceived function, and not a physiological perspective.  Each lists the color association, as well as the sound associated with the chakra.

I could do without this section altogether.

Pleasures

The final section is a selection of pleasurable experiences.  I believe this is also a potentially beneficial area of focus.  Often we fail to appreciate the simple things that delight us, and this is a good way to focus on that.  Overall, they’re pretty universal, and varied.  In this section, the text portions rely primarily on quotes, poems, and the like.

Overall Impression

The coloring pages in the book are a little odd, but also rather fascinating.  For the most part, they have largely a surrealist feel.  They’re strange, but many are really fascinating amalgamations of elements, and/or interpretations of their respective topics.  For instance, you can see in the cover image how there are nods to the spine which then branch off into hands.  The proprioception page is a fun exploration of balance and movement.

If my only concerns/objections were to the chakra pages, I would suggest that the acceptability of this book depends a lot on your willingness to skip over a few things.  That one could possibly (assuming a comfort level with such things) skip over that center section (or tear it out) and benefit from the rest of the book.

Unfortunately, the entire “voice” of the book is just simply going to be mismatched with most readers here.  To give you a bit of an idea, the endorsements on the back of the book come from the cofounder of “the Center for Sex & Culture,” the author of UrbanTantra, and the creator of the “Wheel of Consent.”  (I don’t even know what that is, but I’m not sure I’d want to.)  The first section, covering the sensory systems, is more-or-less “clean.”  The others are just simply not something I or my readers will be particularly comfortable with.  The final section includes several quotes which are, from my perspective, crude or inappropriate.

It’s unfortunate that a book with such potential to be edifying was not written in such a way that it’s approachable for a more universal and/or younger audience.