Bernard traced her complex relationship with food back to a confused adolescence. Her self-esteem lagged behind her blossoming body. A neighborhood restaurant owner propositioned her: sexual favors for all the pizza she wanted. While she felt like the same innocent girl, Bernard did not know how to handle the uninvited interest from men. She found comfort and protection from the new attention; her warped relationship with food began.

Penning the column, "The Incredible Shrinking Critic"”, Bernard finds herself in the spotlight as she publicly struggles with weight loss. She decides to lose 100 pounds and chronicles her successes and failures. Fans alternately berate and applaud her weight loss. Her career further complicates her weight struggle. As Bernard explains, the life of a film critic may involve the glam of reviewing movies, attending Cannes, and writing, but it also brings little physical involvement and plenty of food, whether catered or in jumbo buckets. What makes her serious about getting healthy? A number on the scale.

Bernard writes with jarring honesty, humor, and practical advice. Readers will relate to that moment when a number on the scale or a photograph jolts them to reality. Weight loss does not follow an easy path of decreasing numbers. Bernard shares the overweight mentality ("I have muscle. I’m not soft fat.") and unexpected successes like losing weight in your feet. Bernard shares painful memories, and readers will relate to the emotions. Bernard reviews weight loss methods and other books. Readers will find practical weight loss advice and resources. I am impressed with Bernard and her unflinching personal account to start her weight loss journey. If you need help losing weight, The Incredible Shrinking Critic offers serious advice with a side of humor.