French Women Don't Get Fat - Mireille Guiliano

This is the book we've all (certainly every woman between 25 and 75) been waiting for. It is 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.

Their were good points and bad points to this book. I didn't feel it gave me much information I did not already know (everything in moderation is the key). And reinstated what I know to be a good balance of food and diet. Although she makes it all sound easy to do, hassle free with great results, I am not totally convinced.

Their are aspects of this book which are just not possible to do, and she seems to forget her key demographic is that most of us who would read this work in big cites with not much free time.  Her main points were to shop daily at local markets - not possible if you work long hours in the city.  Basically all the things I am missing according to the book are just not possible to do. Who has time to go anywhere but the supermarket. It would have been more useful to advise what to do if you can only shop at supermarkets and fit it around your working week.

The writing style was good, easy to get into, witty in some areas and informative.  It made a good read and was interesting regardless.  Their are some good recipes in their, if you can get to the right markets to get the right food.  Its a good starter for those who have no clue, and a good reassurance to those who are trying to do right, without feeling like another diet book.