Skinny Bitch
Encyclopedia
Skinny Bitch is a diet
book written by Rory Freedman, a former modelling agent
and Kim Barnouin, a former model
.
According to a New York Times article, the book sold better than expected despite not having high initial sales. Skinny Bitch had become a best-seller in the United Kingdom
by May 2007 and in the United States
by July, more than eighteen months after its initial 2005 press run of 10,000 copies.
diet and includes sections on factory farming
and animal cruelty. In addition to advocating a vegan diet, the authors also say that one should avoid alcohol
, caffeine
, chemical additives (such as aspartame
) and refined sugar. Sources are frequently cited throughout the book, a large number of which point to vegan websites. Some sources are cited often but missing entirely from the bibliography.
“It’s definitely the most entertaining diet book I’ve ever read,” said Linda Marotta, the lead buyer at Shakespeare & Company, which has four stores in New York City. Ms. Marotta said “Skinny Bitch” had sold “extremely well” in the stores." “It definitely has that sharp, chick-lit look and feel,” said Dana Brigham, co-owner of Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, Mass., which has sold more than 200 copies. “You look at the photo of the authors on the back, and they are both drop-dead gorgeous. If you look at the photos of authors on the crunchy granola books — maybe not so much.”
Ursula Hirschkorn in the Daily Mail
criticised the book. She criticizes the authors' "simplistic theory, that the secret of weight loss
is just to eat healthy food. Oh if it were that easy, we'd all be size eight." She emphasised the "extreme" nature of the proposed diet, saying that "The book spouts an extensive list of no-nos that you must avoid… In a nutshell, everything that makes our short, brutish lives that bit more bearable." She complains that the book is marketed as a diet book when that is not its sole focus: "This isn't so much a diet book as a propaganda
pamphlet for veganism… it moves effortlessly from being potty-mouthed advice on how to adopt a fat-busting healthy diet, into a diatribe against eating meat
." She also said: "These pampered LA
princesses work hard to make us feel guilty for trying to make our lives a bit easier... They sanctimoniously lecture us on the cancer-causing
chemicals in wine
, and the nasties lurking in diet soda
s… Skinny Bitch is just the same-old diet rules repackaged in an obnoxious and bullying tone."
The Sun
called it "a vegan diet with a bit of attitude thrown in." They also said “if you follow it to the letter then you will lose weight but for your average woman it’s not particularly easy to follow."
After reading the book, Milwaukee Brewers
first baseman Prince Fielder
switched to a vegetarian diet.
Dieting
Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases dieting is used in combination with physical exercise to lose weight in those who are overweight or obese. Some athletes, however, follow a diet to gain weight...
book written by Rory Freedman, a former modelling agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
and Kim Barnouin, a former model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
.
According to a New York Times article, the book sold better than expected despite not having high initial sales. Skinny Bitch had become a best-seller in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by May 2007 and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by July, more than eighteen months after its initial 2005 press run of 10,000 copies.
Content
The book advocates a purely veganVeganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
diet and includes sections on factory farming
Factory farming
Factory farming is a term referring to the process of raising livestock in confinement at high stocking density, where a farm operates as a factory — a practice typical in industrial farming by agribusinesses. The main products of this industry are meat, milk and eggs for human consumption...
and animal cruelty. In addition to advocating a vegan diet, the authors also say that one should avoid alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
, chemical additives (such as aspartame
Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. In the European Union, it is codified as E951. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. It was first sold under the brand name NutraSweet; since 2009 it...
) and refined sugar. Sources are frequently cited throughout the book, a large number of which point to vegan websites. Some sources are cited often but missing entirely from the bibliography.
Reaction
Reactions to the book have been mixed. The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
“It’s definitely the most entertaining diet book I’ve ever read,” said Linda Marotta, the lead buyer at Shakespeare & Company, which has four stores in New York City. Ms. Marotta said “Skinny Bitch” had sold “extremely well” in the stores." “It definitely has that sharp, chick-lit look and feel,” said Dana Brigham, co-owner of Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, Mass., which has sold more than 200 copies. “You look at the photo of the authors on the back, and they are both drop-dead gorgeous. If you look at the photos of authors on the crunchy granola books — maybe not so much.”
Ursula Hirschkorn in the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
criticised the book. She criticizes the authors' "simplistic theory, that the secret of weight loss
Weight loss
Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue...
is just to eat healthy food. Oh if it were that easy, we'd all be size eight." She emphasised the "extreme" nature of the proposed diet, saying that "The book spouts an extensive list of no-nos that you must avoid… In a nutshell, everything that makes our short, brutish lives that bit more bearable." She complains that the book is marketed as a diet book when that is not its sole focus: "This isn't so much a diet book as a propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
pamphlet for veganism… it moves effortlessly from being potty-mouthed advice on how to adopt a fat-busting healthy diet, into a diatribe against eating meat
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
." She also said: "These pampered LA
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
princesses work hard to make us feel guilty for trying to make our lives a bit easier... They sanctimoniously lecture us on the cancer-causing
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
chemicals in wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and the nasties lurking in diet soda
Diet soda
Diet sodas are typically sugar-free, artificially sweetened, non-alcoholic carbonated beverages generally marketed towards health-conscious people, diabetics, athletes, and other people who want to lose weight, improve physical fitness, or reduce their...
s… Skinny Bitch is just the same-old diet rules repackaged in an obnoxious and bullying tone."
The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
called it "a vegan diet with a bit of attitude thrown in." They also said “if you follow it to the letter then you will lose weight but for your average woman it’s not particularly easy to follow."
After reading the book, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
first baseman Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
switched to a vegetarian diet.