Book Recommendation: The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary McBride
Ever find yourself at war with your own body? Maybe it’s a constant inner dialogue about how you should look, move, or feel. Maybe it’s lingering shame from years of absorbing cultural messages that told you your body is something to fix rather than something to trust. Or perhaps you sometimes feel completely out of control within your own body—you don’t like what’s happening, but also don’t know how to re-set. If any of this resonates, you’re not alone—and Hillary McBride’s The Wisdom of Your Body may be your next helpful read.
This book isn’t just about body image. It’s about embodiment: the radical, healing practice of coming home to yourself. McBride, a fellow therapist and researcher, invites us to rethink our relationship with our bodies, moving beyond shame and control into presence, acceptance, and wisdom. If any of the below peak your interest, consider adding it to your list!
1. Healing from Body Shame
Many of us have spent years absorbing harmful messages about our bodies—what they should look like, how they should function, and what makes them worthy. McBride helps readers unlearn these beliefs and move toward a relationship with the body that is rooted in self-compassion rather than self-criticism.
2. Mind-Body Integration
Our emotions, trauma, and sense of self are deeply tied to our physical experience. McBride explains how true healing happens when we stop seeing the mind and body as separate entities and instead recognize them as an interconnected whole. She offers practical guidance on how to cultivate presence and listen to what our bodies are telling us.
3. Science Meets Soul
McBride seamlessly integrates psychological research, trauma studies, and theory with a deeply compassionate, almost poetic style of writing. She balances intellectual rigor with emotional depth, making the book both accessible and profoundly moving.
4. A gentle invitation
One of the tenants of my training is: all trauma happens in, or to, the body. Therefore, it must be healed via the body. For those who have experienced trauma and/or dissociation, this book offers a gentle and affirming invitation back into oneself. McBride’s approach is never forceful or prescriptive; instead, she encourages curiosity, patience, and deep self-kindness.
5. A refreshing & Liberating Perspective
This book goes beyond personal healing—it also challenges the systems (patriarchy, colonialism, capitalism) that have disconnected us from our bodies in the first place. McBride’s insights encourage readers to not only heal individually but also collectively reimagine a world where embodiment is valued, rather than suppressed.
SIGNING OFF
Whether you struggle with body shame, feel disconnected from yourself, or simply want a deeper understanding of how to inhabit your life more fully, The Wisdom of Your Body is a book you’ll want on your shelf. McBride’s message is clear: Your body is not a problem to solve. It is a source of wisdom, strength, and belonging.
Have you read The Wisdom of Your Body? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!