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210th out of 296 books
—
619 voters
Thin Is the New Happy
“Val Frankel is a woman of amazing insight. . . . Read this, weep, and heal.”
—Stacy London, cohost of What Not to Wear
You’ve heard the phrase “the mirror is not your friend.” For Valerie Frankel, the mirror was so much more than “not a friend.” It was the mean girl who stole her lunch money, bitch-slapped her in the ladies’ room, and cut the hair off her Barbie.
If you’re l...more
—Stacy London, cohost of What Not to Wear
You’ve heard the phrase “the mirror is not your friend.” For Valerie Frankel, the mirror was so much more than “not a friend.” It was the mean girl who stole her lunch money, bitch-slapped her in the ladies’ room, and cut the hair off her Barbie.
If you’re l...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
September 2nd 2008
by St. Martin's Press
(first published September 1st 2008)
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I actually enjoyed this book for the most part. But it didn't really impress me in it's writing style or ideas. For this genre of book, that's sort of what I expected, but still. This is a memoir and at times, it read like a record of her life (this happened, then this happened), rather than a journey you are involved in (although it was emotional and captivating at time). As far as ideas, most of what's discussed about body image, including stats or anecdotes, I felt like I read or heard it bef...more
Okay, I heard from some reputable source that this was a good book. I was skeptical--look at the cover!!! Also, the author of this memoir usually writes chick lit and mysteries. But I decided to read it regardless. It was actually pretty good--it's all about the author's lifelong struggle with her weight/body image, etc. I could relate to all her stuff about being ugly and unpopular in junior high, and also to her adult wardrobe of cheap, black clothing.
Honestly, it's been years since I've read this. And I'm not someone who does "proper" reviews that often anyway, but as a teenager I enjoyed this book. It made me laugh and cry, and do I care if it wrapped up a little too nicely? No. It gave me hope that it was actually possible to overcome all the insecurities of body weight and actually be comfortable in your own skin. I really think that's what this book was about.
When I a teenager, I struggled really badly with my weight. I would get seriou...more
When I a teenager, I struggled really badly with my weight. I would get seriou...more
Aug 03, 2012
Jenn
added it
Frankel was a self-admitted, chronic dieter since she was in junior high with a very critical, weight-obsessed mother breathing down her neck. Now, I can't relate to that, but my dad was my critic to an extent in that time of my life when I went on my first diet (with my dad). Anyway, throughout the book she alludes to the fact that she has found a non-diet...a new way of thinking that would finally relinquish her from the chronic condition of dieting, as she talks about many phases and life cha...more
Frankel was a self-admitted, chronic dieter since she was in junior high with a very critical, weight-obsessed mother breathing down her neck. Now, I can't relate to that, but my dad was my critic to an extent in that time of my life when I went on my first diet (with my dad). Anyway, throughout the book she alludes to the fact that she has found a non-diet...a new way of thinking that would finally relinquish her from the chronic condition of dieting, as she talks about many phases and life cha...more
A lot of the time it's not just a physical reason why we are overweight but more an emotional. We all carry so much baggage. If we first deal with the baggage and let it go, the weight should drop off because we don't need to hang onto to it anymore.
Frankel decided on a "no diet policy" while she dealt with her baggage. She only had two rules:
Eat whatever she wanted when hungry
Stop eating when full
Frankel believes that you can get down to your "genetically predetermined true weight" by:
Stoppi...more
Frankel decided on a "no diet policy" while she dealt with her baggage. She only had two rules:
Eat whatever she wanted when hungry
Stop eating when full
Frankel believes that you can get down to your "genetically predetermined true weight" by:
Stoppi...more
I would actually rather give this book 3.5 stars, because I'm somewhere in between "I liked it" and "I really liked it". It was one person's memoirs and review of her own relationships and the relationships between her diets and society and the people in her life, but I do wish it could have tried to be a little more universal.
I don't think I'm the minority in that I read this book and was hoping for some body acceptance regardless of the circumstance. Having never been happy with my own body, I...more
I don't think I'm the minority in that I read this book and was hoping for some body acceptance regardless of the circumstance. Having never been happy with my own body, I...more
I liked this book. There were parts of Valerie Frankel's life I could relate to; there were some I found alien to my own experience. I often read memoirs (maybe because I'm super nosy) and find myself wanting the author to quit whining. I didn't feel that way with this one. The tone is matter-of-fact, not whiny; however, I did have the nagging thought that if 20 lbs. are your biggest problem, your life isn't that bad. It's not a seriously ill child, for example, or spouse (although Ms. Frankel c...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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One woman's memoir of her lifelong struggle with body image and the 20 lbs that kept cropping up over and over in her life, holding as much power over her as though they'd been 200 lbs, convincing her that she was ugly and unlovable...until she learned to conquer her issues once and for all. I read myself on every page, but I had to award it only 4 stars because frankly, it's pretty profane and the author is unapologetic about the promiscuous lifestyle she led during various decades of her life....more
One woman's journey to find happiness. Valerie Frankel describes her childhood growing up with a mother who decided she was chubby at 11 and promptly forced Val on a diet. When she lost fifteen pounds, Val found the praise she received so invigorating, she ended up dieting well into her 40's. She describes the journey of various diets through two pregnancies, the death of a husband, and the taunts and teasing she got throughout middle- and high school. The end note of this book is Val finally de...more
I only read this book because we know the author's parents. We had heard that the author's mother was extremely upset about the way she was portrayed in the book (although she hadn't read it herself), and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well, it's true that her mother comes in for criticism, but the bigger news, at least to me, was the author's willingness to confess levels of pathetically debased behavior beyond any reason. I guess it made her feel good; maybe some kind of catharsis...more
Thin is the New Happy by Val Frankel, purports to be a book on how the author conquered her body image issues.
She talks about being a chubby kid whose mother enrolled her in Weight Watchers at the age of 11 and had her doing fad diets at the age of *8.* She talks about yo-yo dieting and how she hated her body. She talks about self-medicating with booze, drugs and sex to try to feel better about her body.
And then, at the end, after writing about the things she did to feel better about herself ......more
She talks about being a chubby kid whose mother enrolled her in Weight Watchers at the age of 11 and had her doing fad diets at the age of *8.* She talks about yo-yo dieting and how she hated her body. She talks about self-medicating with booze, drugs and sex to try to feel better about her body.
And then, at the end, after writing about the things she did to feel better about herself ......more
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I loved this book! From the very beginning when Valerie Frankel compares her weight to a “serious, nonviolent crime”, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. It was an exceptionally easy read, and was very relatable. Frankel gets her point across using humor, touching personal stories, and brutal honesty, which makes it seem like you’re reading something written by a friend, not a distant, unknown author. The part of the book that stuck out to me the most was when she talks about how her husband...more
Much to my dismay, this memoir fell flat for me. There was so much potential and it was sad to see the few promising of the aspects of the book ignored or written off.
Maybe I had the wrong impression of this book. I thought this book was about a weight-loss journey for someone who has struggled with it her entire life and how society's idea on thin women and bla bla blah. But the more I read the more I'm getting the idea is that this woman, depending on her height and muscle mass has been no mo...more
Maybe I had the wrong impression of this book. I thought this book was about a weight-loss journey for someone who has struggled with it her entire life and how society's idea on thin women and bla bla blah. But the more I read the more I'm getting the idea is that this woman, depending on her height and muscle mass has been no mo...more
Frankel's memoir about her lifelong weight struggles and minor obsession with her body size reads like an extended article in a women's magazine. Which isn't to imply that her issues are shallow, but that it wraps up very neatly. A little too neatly. It's a very convenient story ~ the subject matter was suggested by her editor, she writes about her struggle to come to terms with her body's natural size, and by the end, she's made peace with all and everything is happy.
Only, I'm not convinced sh...more
Only, I'm not convinced sh...more
Yet another weight loss memoir that I've read. I can't stay away.
I think I've developed a theory. A memoir is good for one of two reasons.
1. The story is so incredible or entertaining that you can't believe it's not fiction.
or,
2. The author's experience is expanded, or woven through some broader context, so you feel like it's a window into the world and not just one person's not-so-incredible experience.
Most memoirs shoot for #2, and miss. In this one, Frankel tries to broaden her focus from...more
I think I've developed a theory. A memoir is good for one of two reasons.
1. The story is so incredible or entertaining that you can't believe it's not fiction.
or,
2. The author's experience is expanded, or woven through some broader context, so you feel like it's a window into the world and not just one person's not-so-incredible experience.
Most memoirs shoot for #2, and miss. In this one, Frankel tries to broaden her focus from...more
Valerie Frankel writes about her struggle with body image ... her upbringing, her youth, her profession, her constant dieting. She decides to not-diet, and learn to begin letting go of all of the emotional baggage that goes with the dieting cycle.
It's a well written, insightful, entertaining read. It got me thinking about not just my body image, but my entire self-image. A favorite quote, from her chapter called Emotional Maintenance:
It's a well written, insightful, entertaining read. It got me thinking about not just my body image, but my entire self-image. A favorite quote, from her chapter called Emotional Maintenance:
"Among all oppressed peoples throughout history, we women hol...more
Feb 01, 2011
Angela
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
women with weight or body confidence issues
Frankel describes her tendancy to berate herself for falling off the diet wagon as "jew guilt". I related to this sense of constant guilt over every morsal that entered her mouth. If you have an inner diet monologue constantly going on in your head as well, this would be a really enjoyable and relatable book for you to read.
I also liked reading about her constant struggle with her mother regarding her weight. I have the same issues--my family hates fat people. Extra weight is simple unacceptable...more
I also liked reading about her constant struggle with her mother regarding her weight. I have the same issues--my family hates fat people. Extra weight is simple unacceptable...more
More of a memoir than a "self-help" book, and enjoyable because of it. I can certainly relate to the incessant negative thoughts invading my brain regarding my weight. At one point, Val purchases a "clicker" and actually counts the number of negative thoughts about herself/her weight per day. Hundreds. And hundreds. And tens of times more than thoughts of her job, her kids, sex, etc. per day.
Her insight into accepting herself as she is happens when she decides confront the people and issues tha...more
Her insight into accepting herself as she is happens when she decides confront the people and issues tha...more
I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book. There is awful language, and sometimes it gets a little too honest for my liking, but I still loved it. I read it on a road trip and kept reading little paragraphs aloud to my husband ... not that I thought he'd get the same kick out of it that I did, but I couldn't help myself.
Frankel made me think about a lot of things differently. Our bodies are so beautiful and holy, it's a shame if we treat them like anything less than that. It was...more
Frankel made me think about a lot of things differently. Our bodies are so beautiful and holy, it's a shame if we treat them like anything less than that. It was...more
I'll admit it, I picked this up off the shelf at the library because I thought it was a diet book. Instead it is a memoir from a woman that has struggled since age eleven with dieting. Her whole life is centered around losing weight and gaining weight. If she is losing she is happy. If she has gained she feels sad, depressed, and guilty. Finally at the age of 41, she vows to stop dieting and start liking herself (regardless of the weight or which pants she is wearing. My favorite quote from the...more
Oct 19, 2011
Jeanna-Has Probably Read It!
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library-audio-book
I think this book started off really well because I could relate to so many of the depressing issues of living as a chronic dieter. I am so tired of it myself but I would have given it higher it just became a little dull in the last portion of the book when she was talking about updating her wardrobe. That part was kind of dry. But if you have ever lost weight, got some praise and then went back to stuffing your face then regretted the 20 lbs that you managed to pick back up. Just to start the c...more
This book was somewhat painful for me to read because I related to so many of the situations that the author wrote about regarding her maddening journey with weight loss and being happy with her body type/size. While I didn't have the kind of mother that the author had (not even close!!), I did have horrific, emotionally traumatizing encounters with mean boys in elementary school and junior high and I am sure that this is the root of my own weight issues. I probably need therapy. If you are skin...more
Another goodwill find. This book is thankfully,not a chick lit. memoir. It looks why we think thin is better from a cultural and psychological stand point and how the ultimate goal should be physical and emotional health. Plus, Val Frankel is good friends with Stacy London. London discusses dressing well from more of an intellectual stand point and we learn that she has a Degree in Philosophy from Vassar. Weight is more of a self-esteem issue to Frankel and I like the idea of using a clicker for...more
A very readable companion of sorts to Gina Kolata's Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss--and the Myths and Realities of Dieting. Frankel's style is pure Mademoiselle article, and each chapter stands alone. It's breezy and confessional and I skipped a bit. Too much of the women's mag emphasis on psychology, and since Frankel stopped dieting and lost weight, I'm afraid far to many people might expect the same, but still, it's a step in the right direction.
Val Frankel shares pretty much all her dirty laundry, and how it relates to her negative body image. As someone that has had a lifelong struggle with weight, I related to her stories of yo-yo dieting, and the rush you get when you start a new plan (the plan that will change your life, of course). Ultimately, she discovers that dieting is a curse in itself, and works her way toward self-realization. Some readers may not like her descriptive depictions of her constant drug use and promiscuity, or...more
As I expected this hit painfully close to home. It was a perfect plane read - conversational light hearted and honest. I like that Frankel isn't whiny and that Thin doesn't come off in a preachy, indulgent self help book. I also like that Frankel is candid and unconflicted about her days of drugginess and sluttitude.
Frankel didn't reinvent the wheel here, but she actually gave me some things to think about. And I enjoyed the bloggy readability of her book. The experiment in which she tracks how...more
Frankel didn't reinvent the wheel here, but she actually gave me some things to think about. And I enjoyed the bloggy readability of her book. The experiment in which she tracks how...more
1 like · like · see review
This book sounded promising -- one woman faces her body image demons and loses the last 15 pounds by not dieting. I didn't care for her much -- she lost me when she wrote about how she was glad she lost weight during her first husband's fight with cancer because she felt be thin and attractive enough to find a new one after he died.
I'm glad, I guess, to find out that my own relationship with food is probably healthier than a lot of women. Doesn't help with MY last 15 though.
The chapter with Sta...more
I'm glad, I guess, to find out that my own relationship with food is probably healthier than a lot of women. Doesn't help with MY last 15 though.
The chapter with Sta...more
Oct 31, 2009
Rikki
added it
annoying. I wanted to feel for her because of the dead husband, but she made it so twisted to her whiny needs. Bad, and I don't recommend it, especially if you have children. She thinks she broke the mold forming her 'new' self, but she really only reinforced our (read:America's) need to be thin to her own chubby children, which she contends are NOT chubby, and then reflects that her own mother made her feel digusting for the same size at the same age. I am so glad this book ended where it did (...more
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She's written twenty books (e.g., The Accidental Virgin and The Girlfriend Curse), and contributed to dozens of publications including the New York Times, Self, Allure, Glamour, Parenting and Good Housekeeping. Her memoir, Thin Is the New Happy, about overcoming bad body image after 30 years of dieting and self-loathing, was recently described as "Rueful, zestful and surprisingly funny," by the Ne...more
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