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Half-Assed  By  cover art

Half-Assed

By: Jennette Fulda
Narrated by: Teri Clark Linden
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Publisher's summary

After undergoing gall bladder surgery at age 23, Jennette Fulda decided it was time to lose some weight. Actually, more like half her weight. At the time, Jennette weighed 372 pounds.

Jennette was not born fat. But, by fifth grade, her response to a school questionnaire asking What would you change about your appearance? was "I would be thinner.” Sound familiar?

Half-Assed is the captivating and incredibly honest story of Jennette’s journey to get in shape, lose weight, and change her life. From the beginning - dusting off her never-used treadmill and steering clear of the donut shop - to the end with her goal weight in sight, Jennette wows listeners with her determined persistence to shed pounds and the ability to maintain her ever-present sense of self.

©2008 Jennette Fulda (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Half-Assed

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Ok story, obnoxious narrator

This was a decently entertaining/inspiring story, however I almost couldn't get past how bad the narration was. It was distractingly terrible and made it hard to fully immerse yourself into the story. Just spoken in the slowwwwwest, most emotionless monotone. Wouldn't recommend for that reason.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Wow.

Would you try another book from Jennette Fulda and/or Teri Clark Linden?

No for both.

The writer is very into herself and jumps around the book with present and past events.

She's also a hypocrite throughout the story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jennette Fulda again?

No... She has this really weird question and raise in the pitch on certain things that are odd.

Once I went to the store? (high rise in tone)

Odd

Reminds me of "Once in band camp...?

What else would you have wanted to know about Jennette Fulda’s life?

Maybe a little more about how she lost it...instead of a "I bet you're wondering how I did it. Well, I'm not telling." Humph ok...then why did you write the book.

How her head got so big considering what she went through.

Any additional comments?

I think the worst about the book would not only be he hypocritical aspect of many parts like other peoples weight and looks, not to even mention what they wear. (no wonder she was so paranoid about others looking at her!)

I also think the book actually dragged on and she definitely repeats herself more times that not.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator not my favorite

I loved the story, but the narrator tries so hard to speak clearly that she sounds like a robot. It got very annoying.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational

Complete with ups and downs of the process of losing weight and how she changed her life. Highly recommended to anyone struggling with large amounts of excess weight

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very inspirational

It was just a great book. I could relate to the author, and I've recommended it to a couple of friends.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very easy listening

I loved this book! Very inspirational and made me reflect on my own life. I also loved that you could hear the sarcasm and enthusiasm in the reader's voice making this book even more enjoyable. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is feeling down on themselves about their own weightloss/gain struggles.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Smart, funny, and honest

I really loved this book and was incredibly surprised to see negative reviews. The author is honest while telling her weight loss journey. It might not always be what people want to hear, and it shouldn't - it's her point of view - her memoir. And I think it is awesome!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very good read but long

Really great story and gives me a lot to think about. She is a good writer and very insightful person and I wish her well in all things. I enjoyed the story because weight loss is something I think about pretty much every day though I don't think she would quite equate my weight problems to those of a larger person's.

I do think a dysfunctional relationship to food, the ease with which we can avoid exercise in today's society and incredible value that society places on our appearance (and lack of jiggle and lumpiness) is pretty similar, so I found a lot here to reflect on or agree with. I do like her personal philosophy about the value of strength and health over scale numbers and body shape and am inspired to try and emulate that some.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Eh…narrator is so bland.

Talk about flat speaking. I’ve tried listening at a higher speed. That didn’t help. If she tried using a bit of inflection and emotion it might be ok. I don’t think I can listen to the whole thing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

needs a better narrator

this was wonderfully written, but the narrator sounds like a robot. it does not do justice to the humor and personality of the author. still a good book

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