FLAWD: How to Stop Hating on Yourself, Others, and the Things That Make You Who You Are

by Emily-Anne Rigal, Jeanne Demers, Jeanne Demers (Illustrator)

Overview

When you look in the mirror and only see your flaws, it can be hard to be your best self.
 
FLAWD is your new cheerleader—an energetic guide to seeing your flaws as the doorway to something more.

Through dynamic stories and advice from teens and celebrities around the world, FLAWD will help you to:
·       SEE yourself as perfectly imperfect.
·       TREAT life as playfully as possible.
·       THINK about what really matters.
·       EMBRACE all that makes you, YOU.
·       UNDERSTAND influence and how to use it.
·       KNOW you can be part of a flawd and powerful transformation.
 
Even though we exist in a culture that thrives on bullying us into believing we're never good enough as we are, FLAWD affirms that you are good enough, ready enough and important enough to be a flawd light in the world.
 
Are you ready to become fearless with your flaws and change the world by being yourself? Then FLAWD is the book for you.

“Not only does Emily-Anne have strong convictions and a beautiful soul, but she has taken action against bullying. Her actions have had such an immediate and enormous impact on the world already.” —Lady Gaga

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399174032
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/18/2015
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 - 17 Years

About the Author

Founder and director of anti-bullying organization WeStopHate.org, 21-year-old Emily-Anne Rigal is one of Newsweek’s “150 Most Fearless Women in the World.” An activist, speaker, and YouTube personality, she is a recipient of the Peace First Prize and the TeenNick H.A.L.O. (Helping and Leading Others) Award. For more information, visit EmilyAnneRigal.com.

Read an Excerpt

• INTRODUCTION •

Yes, I said it.

And I meant it.

And I’m here to represent it.

And so are a lot of my peers.

Because you’re not alone with your flaws. Far from it.

Every person on this planet has a flaw. Flaws can range from something physical, something emotional, to something you just downright don’t like about yourself.

Momo055650, age 16

So, who is this person jumping straight into the scary flaws conversation right off the bat? Well, it’s me, Emily-Anne Rigal. I founded the nonprofit WeStopHate when I was sixteen. Now, five years later, my passion is still helping others to feel comfortable being themselves.

And flaws fascinate me. Do they fascinate you? Like, why do we have to have them and why do we spend crazy amounts of energy doing things like . . .

In short, why do we have . . .

Maybe you’re in a really good space when it comes to flaws. Maybe you’re enlightened on the subject and you want others to feel the same kind of liberation. If that’s the case, you already know that accepting what you don’t like about yourself sets you free.

It’s about just accepting your flaws and just moving on with your life because there’s so many more things to life than just worrying about not having the clearest skin, not being the prettiest, not being the smartest, and not succeeding at absolutely everything that you do.

Momo055650, age 16

We’re all somewhere on this spectrum. Do you know where you are?

Let’s do something. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum, try imagining this: WHAT IF we collectively went ridiculously hardcore in the direction of . . .

My makeup is almost always uneven. I have these really annoying fangs that even braces couldn’t get rid of. I have terrible asthma that occasionally makes me look like a little bit of a wimp. Let’s just say I have less than perfect skin. My hands are really chubby. And believe it or not I’m actually kind of a shy person. And as much as I sometimes don’t like those qualities about myself, I know that I wouldn’t be myself without those qualities. And the last thing I would ever want to do is be something that I’m not.

AidanIsWeird, age 15

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "FLAWD"
by .
Copyright © 2015 Emily-Anne Rigal.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

"Rigal, founder and director of the anti­bullying organization WeStopHate.org, has a passion for helping others develop self-confidence. This work, directed primarily at teenagers, prods readers to gain perspective, assess how they look at things, and play with abandon. Rigal sprinkles her text with self-examination questions, the experiences of others, and sketches to present a lighthearted view of the important ability to embrace oneself. ­VERDICT: A must-read for most teenagers and highly recommended purchase for YA collections." —Library Journal, starred review

“FLAWD is a gem of a book. Every page is drenched with insight, fun, and wisdom.”
 
—Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers: Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Wellbeing, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom,  and The Wisdom of Menopause

“FLAWD lets us know that different is what makes the world awesome.”
—Trisha Hershberger, YouTube host of SourceFed

“This book is like a cookbook for empowerment— very practical, very easy to read, totally delicious . . . just like Emily-Anne.”
—Nancy Lublin, CEO of DoSomething.org and founder of Crisis Text Line

“FLAWD is inspirational and practical.”
—Gabi Gregg, fashion blogger

“In a culture where young people are consistently told that they are not ‘good enough,’ FLAWD is a guide that challenges this statement by saying, ‘You are enough.’ Emily-Anne is an important voice and leader for today’s generation.”
—Taylor Trudon, editor of “HuffPost Teen” at the Huffington Post

“I wish this book existed when I was on the brink of losing myself to the unrealistic standard of Hollywood.”
—Monique Coleman, actress and global youth advocate

“The world is a better place because of Emily-Anne. She cares deeply about making each of us feel better about ourselves—flaws and all!”
—Ann Shoket, millennial expert and former editor in chief of Seventeen

“FLAWD is a collection of voices from a rising generation.”
—Hannah Brencher, founder of More Love Letters and TED speaker
 
“FLAWD is an essential book at an essential time.”
—Eric Dawson, founder of Peace First

“FLAWD’s witty, dynamic stories and real-life advice make it hard to put down. The thought-provoking content lovingly urges readers to embrace their flaws and live a more empowered life.”
—Jess Weiner, author and confidence expert

“I dare you to read FLAWD and not feel totally inspired to become the powerful author of your own beautifully flawd life.”
—Denise Restauri, founder and CEO of GirlQuake

“I wish every teenager could read FLAWD to give them the boost they need and the understanding they deserve.”
—Jane Buckingham, author of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Life

“Emily-Anne talks to teens in their own language and carries a powerful message of hope, health, and happiness.”
—Debora Spar, president of Barnard College

“FLAWD is essential reading for anyone looking to break the cycles of hate that so deeply impact our lives. Emily-Anne shows us a path to finding our place and making a difference along the way!”
—Lee Hirsh, director/producer of Bully

“This book truly has the capacity to change not only how teens see themselves and experience their lives, but to change the world.”
—Deborah Reber, author of Doable: The Girls’ Guide to Accomplishing Just About Anything

“Reading FLAWD felt like I was in a room brimming with new friends, a room filled with kindness and care, and some kickass life hacks.”
—Miriam Peskowitz, New York Times bestselling author of The Daring Book for Girls

From the Publisher