{"product_id":"book-hop0","title":"Beautiful People","description":"\u003cb\u003eDisability activist and social media influencer Melissa Blake offers a frank, illuminating memoir and a call to action for disabled people and allies. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the summer of 2019, journalist Melissa Blake penned an op-ed for CNN Opinion. A conservative pundit caught wind of it, mentioning Blake’s work in a YouTube video. What happened next is equal parts a searing view into society, how we collectively view and treat disabled people, and the making of an advocate. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After a troll said that Blake should be banned from posting pictures of herself, she took to Twitter and defiantly posted three smiling selfies, all taken during a lovely vacation in the Big Apple:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her tweet went viral, attracting worldwide media attention and interviews. Now, in her manifesto, \u003ci\u003eBeautiful People\u003c\/i\u003e, Blake shares her truths about disability, writing about (among other things):  \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e the language we use to describe disabled people \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e ableism, microaggressions, and their pernicious effects \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e what it's like to live in a society that not only isn't designed for you, but actively operates to render you invisible \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e her struggles with self image and self acceptance \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e the absence of disabled people in popular culture \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e why disabled people aren't tragic heroes \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Highlighting other disabled activists and influencers, Blake’s work is the calling card of a powerful voice—one that has sparked new, different, better conversations about disability.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"No matter what kind of body we move through the world in, Melissa’s warmth is a welcome invitation to join her in recognizing the beauty we each possess.” ―Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, authors of \u003ci\u003eDateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down While Chronically Ill and Disabled\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “In prose that is clear, warm, and always laced with humor, Melissa draws you in, making you a part of her world. With her trademark wit, pop culture references, and ability to tackle challenging topics with seeming effortlessness, \u003ci\u003eBeautiful People\u003c\/i\u003e is a book with heart and is an absolute delight to read.”―Erin Khar, author of \u003ci\u003eStrung Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Hachette Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49348507238704,"sku":"BDhop0","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/hop0-Square-cover.jpg?v=1772495091","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-hop0","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}