This Is Big

How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World -- and Me

By: Marisa Meltzer

Narrated by: Marisa Meltzer

From a contributor to The Cut, one of Vogue's most anticipated books "bravely and honestly" (Busy Philipps) talks about weight loss and sheds a light on Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch: "a triumphant chronicle" (New York Times).
Marisa Meltzer began her first diet at the age of five. Growing up an indoors-loving child in Northern California, she learned from an early age that weight was the one part of her life she could neither change nor even really understand. Fast forward nearly four decades. Marisa, also a contributor to the New Yorker and the New York Times, comes across an obituary for Jean Nidetch, the Queens, New York housewife who founded Weight Watchers in 1963. Weaving Jean's incredible story as weight loss maven and pathbreaking entrepreneur with Marisa's own journey through Weight Watchers, she chronicles the deep parallels, and enduring frustrations, in each woman's decades-long efforts to lose weight and keep it off. The result is funny, unexpected, and unforgettable: a testament to how transformation goes far beyond a number on the scale.

Critic reviews

A Vogue Most Anticipated Book of 2020
One of Apple Books' Most Anticipated Books of 2020
A Washington Post Book to Read for AprilOne of People's Best New Books

"Her life changed dramatically as she realized you can live a big life at any size."—People

"A triumphant chronicle... Meltzer has created singular companionate text for those who know the agony of frustration surrounding weight as an issue, both personal and political. Acerbic, culturally astute and genuine, [Meltzer] makes exquisite company in the struggle."—New York Times

"Meltzer writes movingly of her own struggles with having a body, but her experiment isn't the exclusive focus of the book: It also chronicles the life of Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch, whose vaudevillian comic timing, retrograde ideas about fat and happiness, and unconcealed desire for fame and connection make her a fascinating subject."—Vox

"Marisa Meltzer's new Weight Watchers biography feels surprisingly in sync with the emotional arc of isolation eating."—Wall Street Journal Magazine

"If you've ever been critical of diets, diet companies, and diet culture in the past, you're going to love what Meltzer has to offer here."—Bustle

"Not a memoir of radical self-acceptance or saccharine inspiration, but a candid - at times dark - look at what it means to be an overweight woman in 2020."—Los Angeles Times

"This heartfelt, incisive book layers the story of Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch with the author's own lifelong journey through various fad diets. What emerges is a surprising portrait of a remarkable but little-known life in business, as well as a thoughtful critique of America's obsession with thinness."—Esquire

"This is Big...[finds] in Nidetch both a genuine pioneer - a woman who built a massive culture-defining business as a time when women couldn't even have their own credit cards - and a representative of many ideas about weight and health that are as destructive as they are enduring."—Vanity Fair

"Meltzer looks at her own pursuit of weight loss and uses it to illuminate our culture's relentless focus on thinness."—Washington Post

"[This] brilliant book tells the story of thinness obsession through the lives of two women-Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers, and Meltzer herself."—Glamour

"One writer describes her lifelong journey with Weight Watchers and exploration of its founder's life, finding the latter more relatable and moving than she expected."—Vogue

"Meltzer looks at her own pursuit of weight loss and uses it to illuminate our culture's relentless focus on thinness."—The Daily Beast

"Inventive...Meltzer's own experience with weight loss."—Bitch

Raw truth about dieting

I loved this book as Marisa shared the raw details of her struggle with weight loss. I also really enjoyed hearing about the history of WW and their founder.

Brilliant!

It is perfect! That says it all, but I am supposed to write 15 words so I will say it again: It is perfect.

Excellent Story

This was an awesome read about the founder and the story of how Weight Watchers evolved. I believe it mirrors a lot of Weight Watchers members lives.

The Whole Story

I really enjoyed hearing the entire history of WW (Weight Watchers) from the beginning to present day!

Compassionate, well-constructed biography of Jean Nidetch combined with authors own memoir

Really enjoyed this book- it was very thoughtful and deconstructed past and present diet culture accurately but with compassion. What do you give up for dieting? What do you deny when you stop? Super interesting narrative and I really liked it.

inspirational

from the first too last chapter of this book I felt like I was walking in both shoes. Marisa you truly made an impact on me. I thought I was alone in this world and that no one really would understand way I thought. thank you for that push and the tears I cried. If one day I had the pleasure to meet with you I would just hug you and tell you thank you.

Food industry and obesity link...

I enjoyed the investigative reporting on the food industry as well as the background details of the evolution of Weight Watchers to a wellness company. Also, the in depth story of Jean Nidetch's life interwoven with authors own sad story about her weight struggles is interesting.

Excellent

This is one of the best, most realistic, stories I have read. I relate so much to the authors journey. I found that Jean’s story was surprising to me as well. I would love to read other books by this author.

Amazing Book

Reid McVey

This book is so moving and terrific. I absolutely love this book. I read it start to finish the first day it came out. It is truly the best book I’ve read in a long time and I highly recommend it.

Great Book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a long time member of WW, so many of the author’s struggles resonated with me. It was articulate, insightful, funny and sad. Highly recommend it!