Book offers humor, but not comfort

by Holly Schreiber
For The Post

The back cover of Pepper Hickman's non-fiction book Fat Women Don't Jog, But They Do Climb Trees classifies the book as "humor." And humorous it is. But that humor does not illustrate Hickman's message.

Hickman lives in Petersburg, Alaska and is a surface aviation observer. Currently working on her Master of Science degree in natural health and specializing in herbology, she is the mother of two young men.

She also claims proudly that she weighs 250-plus pounds. In the book's introduction she writes, "I stand before you naked - roll upon roll."

In the story Hickman exposes herself to show readers that she is not embarrassed about her weight. And she believes that it is a special quality. But this realization, as she continues to tell, came after several attempts at dieting.

Hickman takes her readers through some of her most embarrassing moments. One time she went to the mall to buy a new pair of jeans for an upcoming concert. She bought a size 20 but should have bought a size 22. Not wanting to return the jeans before the concert, she had to have friends help her get into the jeans. Once the jeans were on her, she was unable to sit down and had to ride in the car on her knees, facing the rear of the car. Then she had to stand throughout the concert.

Another experience she shares is when she went to the gym to sign up for a membership, while wearing an exercise outfit that was a little too small. The antecdote climaxed when she bent over and the outfit tore down the rear. All the while several on-lookers watched in horror.

Despite the humiliating moments, Hickman tries to convince readers that she has much more to offer as an overweight person than someone who is thin. She is smarter, more talented and can do jobs that thin people cannot. For instance, she sarcastically writes that a surface aviation observer, she can walk up and down stairs several times during the day.

Hickman's intent to ease overweight people's pain is sincere, but believing her self-approval will be difficult for readers. In an ironic way, her claims that thin people are not as talented or smart as she is only shows her insecurity toward thinness - and a denial toward her own weight. Her sincerity is pure, but this book will not achieve the prospect of an overweight person finding comfort through Hickman and agreeing to settle into a life of obesity without regrets.

Someone on the other end of the spectrum, who is suffering from anorexia or bulimia, will definitely not find any revelations through Hickman.

For an entertaining read, Fat Women Don't Jog, But They Do Climb Trees is satisfying. But for any solid, emotional comfort or revelations, it would be better to pass on this one.