Former footballer Peter Fitzsimons lost 45kg and puts pen to paper to advocate for the knowledge he’s gained and the success he’s had.
With a sporting background, he’s very blokey and his writing reflects this, making his book fresh, fun and interesting to read. It’s a far cry from the usual dry diet and research books around. Fitzsimons writes for his market – the Aussie bloke – and he unashamedly knows his audience.
“Mate, you, me, all of us…have got to get on top of this” he proclaims at the end of chapter one, not long after he’s opened the book with “Oi! You. Fatty Boomka. Yes, you.”
Casual language and in-your-face admissions aside, Fitzsimons is a gifted writer who explains himself well and delves into a lot of research to support his argument that sugar is our number one issue when it comes to what we eat and drink. He never proclaims to be a dietician or expert in the field, but he presents his arguments very well for the most part, regardless of if he’s agreeing or disagreeing with the experts. More to the point, when he disagrees with research, he again delves into his own viewpoint and clearly outlines why he finds that research dubious, whether it’s because of the corporate sponsorship behind it, or later research that isn’t quoted as much.
Fitzsimons stays on message throughout the book, repeating his key ideas frequently enough to drill it home, and the tangents he takes all come back to those key themes. He’s focussed and fervent throughout, and his enthusiasm is as addictive as the sugar he insists we cut out of our diet. He complements his viewpoint with recipes and other practical tips.
I truly expected to speed-read this marketing ploy of a book but instead found myself captivated and fascinated by just how well it was written and presented. Far from the gimmicky celebrity book I expected, I was impressed and converted. Now, if only my diet could change as quickly as my mind!
The Great Aussie Bloke Slim-Down is a very enjoyable and motivating read that covers a lot of research and ideas in plain English that anyone can understand. It’s well worth a look for anyone struggling to lose weight and wanting to broaden their thinking about what they consume.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Rating out of 10: 9
Released by: Penguin Australia
Release Date: November 2016
RRP: $24.99 paperback, $14.99 eBook
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