Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1222024 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 280 pages

Synopsis
The book we've all (certainly every woman between 25 and 75) been waiting for. Classy, chic, convincing, funny, wise, well-written and very timely. It's the ultimate non-diet book, which nonetheless shows us how to eat with balance, control and above all pleasure. Chuck out all the radical diet books, think about what you eat and why, and then enjoy eating the right things (and some of the wrong ones) intelligently, and in smaller portions. Eat, like a French woman, with your head not your stomach. Guiliano, French-born and bred, gets the tone absolutely right. She succeeds in that rare high-wire act of being really serious about her subject but without taking herself too seriously; manages to encourage and inspire and amuse, without being bossy or earnest. This is a book that will make you laugh out loud and yet have you following several of her practical precepts within days - everyone who reads it becomes evangelical (French women don't go to the gym, they climb the stairs-). It combines just the right balance of memoir, wisdom, wit, delicious recipes, and French common sense. Guiliano emphasizes the virtues of freshness, variety, personal taste, enjoyment and, above all, portion control (research shows that dishes served in US restaurants are 25 per cent larger than those served in restaurants in France!).

Customer Reviews

Takes you by surprise!
This is NOT a diet book! I know it is supposed to guide people to a new and moderate way of eating, hence instigating a gentle yet steady weight loss and trimmer shape........however, it fails where other diet books storm ahead! Contrary to the other books, this one is NOT boring, NOT repetitive, NOT patronising! Instead, it is fresh, charming, vivid, stirring your imagination and providing you with a powerful inspiration to take another look at your life as an individual not as someone who "follows the pack" as they say, settling day in day out for second best, cheap and unnourishing food - just because that is what you always do! I read this book in just two days as I was SO hooked! Couldn't put it down! Now here's a thought; fancy choosing your food for what it tastes like, how it makes you feel when you eat it and what it can do for your body instead of how many fat grams or calories it HASNT got? From someone who has bought virtually EVERY diet book ever published, this one has changed my whole perspective in one read. Suddenly, you see the problem without all the misleading manufacturers hype on what this and that low fat, low carb junk can do for you getting in the way! Suddenly, you can really see why you are overweight! No more denial! It now feels real! Buy the book, its great - DONT MISS IT!!

Not the usual diet book ...
This is an amusing read, with plenty of autobiographal detail, interspersed with recipes and exhortations to drink champagne!
Whilst it is encouraging in its common sense approach - you can indulge in occasional good quality chocolate, drink moderate amounts of wine and there are no slavish commands about exercise - it does seem to be more directed towards the American market, not surprising as the author now lives most of the year in New York. There are useful recipes dotted about,which are healthy variations of more indulgent dishes. I was a little disappointed by the generally light-weight (excuse the pun!) approach but it is still an interesting read that celebrates women gaining greater control of eating whilst not stinting on joie de vivre.

A new take on so-called dieting
Jumping on the bandwagon of a whole pile of diet books comes this offering, which is surprisingly refreshing, non patronising and unique. The book is based on something which seems to be lacking these days - common sense. As the author discusses typical French eating habits, it becomes increasingly clear that the ONLY way to lose weight for life is to follow a sensible eating plan incorpporating fresh produce and a variety of foods. This principle seems to have been swallowed recently by a swamp of ridiculously pointless wonder diets. All in all the book is good fun as it does not take itself too seriously. Ps: Check out the included recipes which are mouth wateringly good!