Yes, she lost 20 pounds and two dress sizes along the way - without dieting a single day. But more than that, she's come out on the other side, loving her body, herself, and finally being free.
Thin Is the New Happy is a hilarious, unflinching, self-deprecating, and joy-filled memoir for every woman who has ever felt good or bad about herself based on how she looks.
©2008 Valerie Frankel; (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
"Riotously funny...always thought-provoking...down-right inspiring." (Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries)
"[A] poignant...hilarious memoir - as Frankel diets through good times and bad, she skewers her own weight-loss foibles and a society that teaches women that thin is all that matters." (Lucy S. Danziger, Editor-in-Chief, Self magazine)
"I liked this book"
At first I thought this was a diet book, but it is not. It is a memoir of a woman's struggle with dieting and her coming to peace with herself and losing the weight. I did enjoy it and will probably listen to it again.
"Mixed Feelings"
I heard about this book on a feminist website I frequent and I was interested in listening to it, especially since I heard that the author worked at a few fashion magazines. She paints a sad portrait of those who work in that environment - many women seeming to posses little to none self-esteem and an unhealthy obsession with dieting. Frankel herself was addicted to dieting, and she attributes it to both her overachieving personality, and her experiences with her mother. I found it interesting to listen to her experiences, but I was disappointed in the way she reconciled them. It seems that a comfort to her is to not focus on needing to be thin, but to point out that she's successful and leads a better life then some people who used to pick on her. It didn't turn out to be the positive message that I was hoping it would be, and I found myself disappointed with it by the books end. However, it is refreshing to see a perspective of leaving behind thin obsessions for a more sensible, whole life.
"Was hoping for more motivation"
If you want a bio of Valerie Frankel, this is for you. If you are looking for some motivation, keep looking. I also thought it was going to be funny... not so much...