Jami Bernard set out to lose over 100 pounds and found herself along the way in her witty, moving, and often profound story of loss, and gain, The Incredible Shrinking Critic. Her adventures in weight loss are exposed for all to see in the pages of a book that is both intimate and practical, personal yet relatable, especially for anyone who has struggled with the lifelong battle of the bulge.

Bernard writes about changing not just bad habits and behavior patterns but about the emotional rollercoaster of getting to the core of why we gain so much weight in the first place, and what we might be avoiding in life by adding pounds to our bodies. As a movie critic, the author is also critical of her own mistakes over the years, as she finally comes to the conclusion that losing weight is about more than just dropping pounds on a scale. It’s about grace, strategy, and self-esteem, and about just saying no to the life you used to lead, in favor of the life you want.

What began as a column on losing weight for the New York Daily News, this book has something for anyone facing the often daunting task of losing large amounts of weight. The author is honest and straightforward about the emotional and physical strength needed to keep a sense of dignity and self-respect while attempting such a major life change.

The Incredible Shrinking Critic is funny and profound, and much more inspiring than any diet how-to book out there. By reading about the real journey of a real person, somehow it makes it all seem possible for anyone to face such a big challenge…and succeed.