Wake Up, I'm Fat!

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Summary: Wonderful book by a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman
Review: After reading the past reviews, I wonder if I'm the only man who read this book. The first thing that caught my eyes, I'll be honest, was the cover picture. Camryn is a gorgeous woman with very nice legs. She is also a person of deep character, who has persevered and triumphed despite the prejudices of our shallow society. She relates her struggles in a moving way, but avoids the whining, "why is the world so unfair?" tone that unfortunately characterizes some similiar works. If you want a glimpse into the mind of a powerful, beautiful and intoxicatingly magnificent woman, then you will enjoy this book.

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Summary: Like the author, Wake Up, I'm Fat! is a knockout.
Review: As one of the lucky few who has had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Ms. Manheim's memoir I enthusiastically join the reviewers at Entertainment Weekly and Publishers' Weekly in raving about this book. While most of her fans know her as the buttoned-down and often humorless Ellenor Frutt from ABC's The Practice, Manheim is in fact a free-spirited motorcycle-ridin' mama with a razor wit. In this biography, Camryn lets us jump on the back of her Honda CB650 and ride along, feeling what it's like to be fat in America and in the acting community. Given her experience, she has every right to be bitter and angry... but through it all she has maintained her sense of humor and sense of self. Not only is this book a great read, it is a text for living right and loving yourself. If anyone you know has been down on themselves, do them a favor and buy them this book. It will change their lives. Manheim is a national treasure and her memoir is pure gold.

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Summary: A must read!
Review: For Wake Up, I'm Fat! Camryn Manheim dons a swimsuit, high heels, diamonds, and a tiara, for heaven's sake. In our "thin is in" society, she must be crazy to display her body in such a public way.

What I found when I read the book is not so much that Manheim celebrates her size as thumbs her nose at those who feel her size is inappropriate. Thin as a child, Manheim and her family moved from Peoria to Southern California, where she immediately began to pack on the pounds.

A rebel and an activist, Manheim chronicles her journey from very unhappy fat teenager to a self-loving adult who is truly comfortable in her own skin. She describes her experiences in acting school and the incredible sequence of events that helped her land her Emmy winning part on The Practice.

She pays special attention to the discrimination she's felt as she has struggled for over two decades with her weight. She details her life-threatening addiction to speed, which she used in an effort to lose weight, and she recounts some hilarious conversations she's had with her fat over the years.

Wake Up, I'm Fat! is a quick read, and a thoroughly enjoyable one. However, its language is just a bit salty for my taste (Manheim claims that the "f" word is her favorite, and I'm inclined to believe her).

I'd recommend this book for anyone who has a hangup, and I think that's about everyone. You don't have to be heavy to appreciate this book. Manheim makes the interesting point that no one is ever really happy with their bodies; even the skinny girls yearn for different bodies - ones with bigger breasts or flatter tummies or skin that's more tan. And who among us has not felt too tall or too short, too old or too young, too gay or too straight, too black or too white, ad infinitum? There are times where everyone feels she just might not fit, and this book is for anyone who has ever felt that way.

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Summary: Will put therapists out of business!
Review: I am a practicing therapist, and if everyone reads this book and REALLY gets the message, I'll get a long vacation. It's not just about being fat or not being fat. It's about finding value in yourself as a human being, no matter what shape your body happens to be. It's not the size of your waistline, but the size of your soul that truly counts. Whether one is fat or thin or short or tall, it's the self hatred that needs to stop. Even if someone wants to lose weight (or change anything about themselves), that can only happen when one stops reviling oneself and does it as a choice, not as a duty to society - or out of guilt and self criticism. This book will help you to stop hating yourself, no matter what your mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, or culture has taught you. In every one of us is a shining star. Camryn Manheim is leading the way to our recognizing that. Thank you, Camryn. I don't even mind losing the business. (P.S. The book is beautifully written and fun to read, to boot.)

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Summary: This book ROCKS!
Review: I went into my local bookstore the day Camryn's awesome book came out and made them go get me a copy from the back room. I just couldn't wait for the fun to begin. I rushed home, reading random paragraphs while waiting at stoplights, and then read her amazing story in one late-night romp, turning page after glee-filled page.

I'll say it again...This book ROCKS!

I suspect that people who fail to enjoy this book or see its brilliant, important point may well be reacting to the sudden lack of someone (i.e., fat folk) to whom they can feel superior. It's just a suspicion, and not all that big a deal...

The point is: Camryn's book offers the common-sense-yet-oh-so-shocking notion that women of all sizes can love themselves, that we are all, fat or thin, absolutely flabulous!

Rock on, Fat Sister Camryn. You're my hero!!!

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Summary: This book has touched a nerve for a reason
Review: Looking over the reviews previously posted, it's clear that almost everyone who has read this book loved it. I would be willing to wager that the few rude individuals who have posted poor reviews only did so in order to say nasty things about fat people. Very mature.

Anyways, I just have to add my voice to those praising this wonderful book. Reading "Wake Up, I'm Fat!" is like having a heart-to-heart talk with your best girlfriend - the one who knows everything about you and has been there herself. Camryn writes in a very conversational, natural manner that is warm, funny, sarcastic, insightful, and empowering. This book isn't JUST for the fat girls. It's for everyone. If you happen to be a fat girl, you'll feel a lot better about yourself after reading it. If you're not, you will still enjoy yourself immensely.

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Summary: Big Beautiful Amazon Writes Big Beautiful Book!
Review: Words can't really express how much I love this book. I read it in two days, only putting it down to sleep, and I think it is amazing. It is one of the funniest, inspiring, touching books I have ever come across. And Camryn totally looks like a fox on the cover. I think this book is so important. As a young actor, It really inspired me to follow my dreams no matter what happens, and as a member of a fat loathing society, it made me reevaluate how i thought of myself and other. Camryn should run for president. I think she is absolutely delicious! but this book. keep it in your back pocket, and take it out for some big laughs and even bigger inspiration