Paul McKenna has published a successful series of self help books. We take a look at Í Can Make You Thin´to see whether the hype surrounding the books is justified.

Paul McKenna is the U.K.'s best selling self-improvement author. His books constantly hit the bestseller charts and are continually successful. There is also a lot of hype and many claims surrounding the books. In this review we look at I Can Make You Thin, cutting through the hype and straight to the chase - is this book worth reading.

Review:

This book I Can Make You Thin includes a free cd and aims to change the way you think about food forever. The method claims to have over a 70% success rate.

This is a short book. Paul McKenna says on the first page that "this may be the shortest book you have ever read". At a slim 142 pages, I Can Make You Thin is not going to weigh readers down with heavy weight reading, meaning it can comfortably be read over a couple of evenings. The ease in which the book can be read no doubt helps its claimed success rate, as readers are able to read and start implementing the program whilst motivated.

I Can Make You Thin is split over seven chapters, with an additional introduction and endnote from Paul McKenna. As you would expect from a book written by a self-improvement expert, the main focus is on changing attitudes to food. There are no diet plans or calorie counters, the book simply gives some straightforward advice or ‘golden rules’ about how to approach food and exercise.

The first part of the book sets the mood. Paul McKenna examines why people over eat, how important motivation is for both exercise and eating healthily and states Four ‘Golden Rules:

• Eat only when you are hungry
• Eat what you want to eat and not what you think you should eat
• Eat consciously and enjoy every mouthful
• Stop eating when you feel full

It is not until the end of the book that the more practical advice comes into play, including ways to start ‘reprogramming’ your mind and tips to help changing attitudes to food using psychological techniques.

Does the Book Offer Anything New?

Aside from the psychological techniques, a serial dieter isn’t going to learn anything new from I Can Make You Thin. The majority of the points covered are simply common sense. What Paul McKenna does so well though is to talk through all the issues and relevant points with the reader in a well thought out and structured way. Therefore, even though much of the information is what we already know, as a reader you feel that the message is being reinforced in an easy to understand way.

I Can Make You Thin does not offer any information or advice about healthy eating and exercise programs. It firmly sticks to the psychological side of things. There are many other books available from book shops and libraries that provide diet and nutritional advice.

Who Should Buy This Book?

Whether this book works is down to the will power and motivation of the individual reader. Most readers who approach this with an open mind are likely to gain something from it, even if just to be reminded of some good common sense rules for a healthy attitude to food.

This book is for people who:

* Have been unsuccessful with traditional, restricted or calorie / carbohydrate counting diets and are looking to change their attitude to food.

* Enjoy self-improvement and self help books.

* Know what they ‘should’ be doing and just need a bit of encouragement and gentle motivation.

This book is not for people who:

* Are looking for a traditional diet or nutritional advice book.

* Need more than gentle motivating (this is not your boot-camp motivational book!).

* Are skeptical about this style of writing.

This is a short book, containing a lot of common sense advice presented in an easy to read way. It is worth buying if you feel that the style and approach is right for you.

Good For Book Clubs?

This is probably not a normal mainstream book club read, although this book would make an interesting change for book clubs that perhaps share an interest in self-help and self improvement. It would definitely make an interesting read for diet and fitness clubs considering running a book club.

Interesting discussion points would be :

* The style of writing

* The psychological techniques

* How the techniques can be adapted and applied outside of weight loss

* How this works as a self-help book

Further Reading:

• Paul McKenna Website