The Elephant in the Room

One Fat Man's Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America

By: Tommy Tomlinson

Narrated by: Tommy Tomlinson

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Roxane Gay’s Hunger, a searing, honest, and candid exploration of what it’s like to live as a fat man, from acclaimed journalist Tommy Tomlinson, who decided he had to change his life as he neared the age of 50 weighing in at 460 pounds.

When he was almost 50 years old, Tommy Tomlinson weighed an astonishing - and dangerous - 460 pounds, at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, unable to climb a flight of stairs without having to catch his breath or travel on an airplane without buying two seats. Raised in a family that loved food, he had been aware of the problem for years, seeing doctors and trying diets from the time he was a preteen. But nothing worked, and every time he tried to make a change, it didn’t go the way he planned - in fact, he wasn’t sure he really wanted to change.

He was only one of millions of Americans struggling with weight, body image, and a relationship with food that puts them at major risk. Intimate and insightful, The Elephant in the Room is Tomlinson’s chronicle of meeting those people, taking the first steps toward health, and trying to understand how, as a nation, we got to this point. From buying a Fitbit and setting an exercise goal to contemplating the Heart Attack Grill, America’s “capital of food porn”, and modifying his own diet, Tomlinson brings us along on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery that is a candid and sometimes brutal look at the everyday experience of being constantly aware of your size. Over the course of the audiobook, he confronts these issues head-on and chronicles the practical steps he has to take - big and small - to lose weight by the end.

©2019 Tommy Tomlinson (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Tommy Tomlinson at his best

I’ve been a fan of his writing for a long time . . . I even got a chance to meet and know him . . . and he is one of the most honest, transparent and compelling authors that I know. Well I’m sure that the written book is phenomenal, it’s hard to imagine that it compares to hearing his story in his own voice. He takes you from childhood to adult life, skillfully pulling back layers of his own life to reveal both an inner child and a voice that want to be heard. It’s both revealing and inspiring. I highly recommend and will go get the written book as well.

A Look Inside the Mind

At times I felt Tommy was too hard on himself and too focused on regrets. He has lived and has an incredible life. But I kept listening knowing I wanted to find what he learned - and I am glad I did! Excellent story & so glad he read it himself. Came to me at a time in my life when I needed to hear it. Very grateful for him, his honesty, and for this book.

Raw, honest, engaging, endearing

Tommy Tomlinson really puts himself out there in this book. All that he has forever been embarrassed and ashamed to share, all he has hidden (or tried to), all he has denied (or lied about) is now wide open, shared with the world -- in a way that is so relatable. No easy task when trying to share what its like to be overweight to those who are not -- and who simplify the reality to why you just can't/won't eat less and move more.
Tommy does this in a way that is so endearing. He does not portray himself as a victim -- but he digs deep for the evolution of how he got to this point, blaming no one but himself.
I was in awe of how much just about every memory he has, every move he makes -- good and bad -- are so intertwined with either his weight or with food.
And I do not understand the readers/listeners who struggle with his voice -- I loved his voice.

Inspirational

Brutally and beautifully honest - must read for anyone looking to make their New Years resolutions a reality

An intimate look at obesity

This book is an intimate look at obesity. The author admits that he really has it all -- wonderful parents and friends, a fascinating job and a loving wife. Yet he cannot restrain himself from overeating. He tells his life story with great humor and candor, blaming absolutely no one but himself for overeating. His voice, which is hoarse from a throat operation he had many years ago, is initially hard to understand but adds to the experience of the book. It's a good, albeit not super deeper read, and will make me look at all obese people a little differently.

Such a Great Audiobook

Don't be discouraged by the sample of Tommy's raspy voice as it is easy to listen to and just right for his story. This is an honest account of Tommy's struggles with diets and the many negatives of weighing 460 lbs. But this time, he tried something different after failing so many times. There are stories about his family, his love of fast food, his career, his food favorites, and his beloved dog Fred. This is a book we can all relate to as we all have addictions, complete with bad choices and regrets. Thank you Tommy for writing such a honest, heartfelt book.

Read it in 3 days!

We chose this book for our Bariatric Book Club and I literally listened to it in 3 days! Great story of will and determination!

Worth a Listen

If you listen to samples before chosing audiobooks, you may resist this one because of the voice. It is worth getting past that. Read by the author, the story explains the voice, and it seems right that he reads it himself. He is an excellent writer and storyteller, and this is an honest and open account of his life as a food addicted "fat man" (his term). If you know someone like that, you'll know them better, and judge them less often, after this.

Because you'll come to like the author so much, you may be troubled that he never once mentions a fresh vegitable or fruit. He seems to only recognize his love of what we now call junk food and his need to resist it, without ever discovering the pleasure of better foods that can supplant the harmful ones. He still seems to think of "diet" as what you don't eat, instead of what you do. Still, you root for him throughout and will want to read more of his writing when you are through.

Listened Twice!!

I enjoyed the book so much I listened to it twice!! I can relate to his struggle even know I am only about 55 pounds overweight. The second time through I marked sections to go back and study and I will!!

Profoundly moving

As someone who has only been mildly overweight but works with people each day who want to lose weight, I found Tommy Tomlinson’s book extremely eye-opening and profoundly moving. I cried on more than one occasion, struck by the realness of what Tommy wrote about. I’m a health coach who works each day with folks who want to live a healthier life. Some of them are just a bit overweight, while others are morbidly obese. While there is much in common between these populations (everyone wants to lose weight and feel great), there are vast differences, ones I hadn’t nor could ever really fully understand or appreciate until I read The Elephant in the Room. Tommy bravely took the time to record his journey, helping us to see what it feels like almost like we are right alongside him at the drive thru or having a conversation with his wife. We were able to step in his shoes and feel the sadness, grief, and frustration he experienced during his weight loss journey and beforehand. This book is filled with additional info about Tommy’s life which helps you truly get to know the author. I found that it helped to bring more color to the story, hearing about his ups and downs. You are quite honestly cheering for him out loud as he overcomes a variety of very difficult obstacles and true food addiction. This book has shifted the way I will go about my health coaching, providing more context into what my clients are experiencing even though I may not be able to understand first hand. Thank you Tommy for being vulnerable and allowing us to peer into your life as you make these incredible changes. We will all keep cheering you on.