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Audio CD Description The message of this book could be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. There is no hard science, no clearly-defined plan, and no lists of food to have or have not; instead, you'll find simple tricks that boil down to eating carefully prepared seasonal food, exercising more and refusing to think of food as something that inspires guilt. It's both a practical message and far easier said than done in today's "no pain, no gain" culture. Author Mireille Guiliano is CEO of Veuve Clicquot, and French Women Don't Get Fat offers a concept of sensible pleasures: If you have a chocolate croissant for breakfast, have a vegetable-based lunch -- or take an extra walk and pass on the bread basket at dinner. Guiliano's insistence on simple measures slowly creating substantial improvements are reassuring, and her suggestion to ignore the scale and learn to live by the "zipper test" could work wonders for those who get wrapped up in tiny details of diet. She sympathizes that deprivation can lead straight to overindulgence when it comes to favorite foods, but then, in a most French manner, treats them as a pleasure that needs to be sated, rather than a battle to be fought. A number of recipes are included, from a weight-loss enhancing leek soup to a lush chocolate mousse; they read more like what you'd find in a French cookbook rather than an American diet book. Most appealingly, these are guidelines and tricks that could be easily sustainable over a lifetime. If you agree that food is meant to be appreciated--but no more so than having a trim waist--these charmingly French recommendations could set you on the path to a future filled with both croissants and high fashion. Jill Lightner

Customer Reviews Nonsense. There's one big problem with this book: French women *do* get fat. Recent statistics from the EU show that Europe is rapidly catching with North America when it comes to obiesity: According to "France Today", 12 percent of French children are obese, and 30 percent of the adult population is overweight. Fashion magazines like "Prima" are now showing clothes for the heavier woman. Gastro-intestical bypass surgery is becoming popular. A book entitled "Que faire? Mon enfant est trop gros" (What to Do? My Child Is Overweight) came out in 2002 and has been a big seller. All this suggests that perhaps the author of this book is distributing taffy, so to speak. If you're searching for a magic bullet that will tell you how to lose weight without changing your behavior, this ain't the one. the non-diet diet while this book is somewhat condescending (but then again, the author is french) most of the advice is sound. the diet she proposes is not terribly unlike what weight watchers teaches, eat whatever you want in moderation. it does give good recipe ideas (with the exception of leek soup every meal for 2 days). and gives excellent insight on how to shop for groceries. the advice on walking everywhere is a bit extreme as alot of america is not as conducive as france to walking, but with some innovation, excersie can be painlessly achieved. for those not into deprivation and pain, this book is an excellent beginning to a permanent solution for weight loss. Biggest smokers in the world giving us advice This lady has no credentials in nutrition or health, none. It might be useful to remember that the French have one of the highest smoking rates in the world. Smoking will keep the weight off, so does chemotherapy, but I don't recommend it. Recent statistics from France show that the French ARE GAINING weight, given that the premise of the book is false. Classical French food, as opposed to California cuisine, relies heavily on dairy fat.While you can eat some dairy fat and stay slim, it is much easier to stay slim on a California style cuisine that emphasizes fresh vegetables prepared without heavy fats. California cuisine has led the way towards the development of food styles that preserve the health value of fruits and vegetables. Sorry, Charly, Escoffier classic French recipes are heart attacks on platters. Even if you close your eyes and wish real hard, high levels of dairy fat still accumulate in your arteries. The French used to "lead the world" in cuisine, while the United States lead the world in new technology, economic vitality and medical breakthroughs. It is hard for the French to realize that their classical tradition, dairy fat based as it is, has been revealed for the heart stopper it is. So, pick up a tome of California cuisine and get out there in the sunshine and walk, bike, hike, rollerskate or run. Find a sport or game you enjoy and participate, it will get rid of that French pallor.