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'Skinny Bitch' not just another
ho-hum diet book
By Jamee Hutton
BOOK REVIEW:
Skinny Bitch
by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
Running Press, $13.95
October 31, 2007 | When looking at the cover of Skinny
Bitch one can assume that this is going to be another
diet book that you throw into the back of the closet
with all your others. After opening the book and beginning
to read you quickly learn this is anything but your
ordinary diet book. The two authors of the book, a former
model and a former agent for Ford Models, are very straightforward
and do not sugar coat anything. The language used in
the book is a testament to this.
The book is not a new and crazy fad diet that everyone
will try for a month and then give up on. It is actually
about choosing to live a vegan lifestyle and the benefits
that go along with that decision. The authors go through
diary, sugar, meat and other foods with animal products
and talk about what about the foods are not good for
you.
I have to say that the book should be read with a
grain of salt. Even though what they had to say makes
sense when you think about it, they have their opinion
on what they think is right and want you to feel the
same. At times throughout the book it felt as if they
were trying to shove their opinion down your throat
and left you feeling like and idiot if you did not agree
with them.
Having said that there were other parts of the book
where they did a very good job. For many people switching
to such an extreme way of eating you wonder what you
even can eat and if you will be able to get all the
nutrients you need. At the end of the book there is
a great section on all the different nutrients and in
what non-animal products you can find them in. They
also give you some examples of meals you can eat. Along
with meal examples there are many other sources such
as books, websites and magazines where you can go for
more ideas and information about being vegan.
Despite the fact the authors have mouths like sailors
in the book and they even though they devote a whole
section to government agencies they hate and try and
convince you to hate as well, I can come away saying
I really liked this book. I found myself, a born and
raised meat and potatoes girl, questioning my eating
habits. I was suddenly looking at the foods I have grown
up loving such as cheese, chocolate milk and steak in
a new light. I never imagined I would ever want to switch
to a vegetarian diet let alone a vegan one, but I found
myself wondering what it really was like.
Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin found a way
to speak to me that I never imagined was possible from
a book. These women had a message for me and I wanted
to take it all in and try it for myself immediately.
What I really loved about the book though was the recurring
message that it is not about being skinny, that it is
more important to be healthy. "Our real hope is for
you to become healthy. When you eat right and exercise,
you feel strong and healthy and confident." ( p.224)
This book is not for everyone, but if you are looking
for a change or are interested in a different type of
diet book give Skinny Bitch a try. If nothing
else it is an amusing and easy read that can be finished
in a day. Overall I can say I really enjoyed this book
despite the few areas where Freedman and Barnouin decided
to get up on their soap box and preach.
NW
MS
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