As my title said : This is "not a book about Martinis, but a book on how to re-think your diet style."

I am enjoyiong this book so much because it allows the reader to think about how they relate to food each day...and especially, the book allows the reader to enjoy food each day.

So many diet books give a long list of "sinful foods" and "acceptable foods", that can turn-off a reader from the start.

However, this book is so much more fun to read, & especially because the author sprinkles so much humor and common sense ideas throughout her book.

Most diet book are not fun to read....but rather dry. However, this book is the opposite of that.

I like the way the author thinks. Makes sense to me.
(ie: Enjoying food in moderation, and not giving-up those foods that a dieter can truly enjoy, from time to time).

The author gives many ideas in this book, and a reader can pick a few pointers (here and there) that will eventually change the way a reader thinks about eating and about food in general.

If you enjoy glamour, if you want to get or stay slim, and if self-deprivation is not your thing, then this book is for you. Gin Sanders has just the right comedic schtick for appealing to my more mature, more glamorous side for staying on track with a diet that is so livable you can even enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. And speaking of glamour - how about that awesome silver cover, even on the paperback version?!

This is a real "diet", not a joke book, though. Some of the other reviewers complained that Gin's advice requires having a lot of money. I just read it while keeping in mind that I might have to tailor it to my own situation...just like any other advice I receive in life. I figure I might spend a little extra on quality food (although fresh fruits and vegetables from my local produce stand are not expensive!). But with her advice on limiting portions, nixing snacking and pre-packaged junk food, and saving real "extravagances" for special occasions, I should be saving some money by reducing my required food quantity at the same time. It probably comes out even in the end. And I'd suspect that a book called "The Martini Diet" was never intended as a how-to-lose-weight book for those of us who are on an extremely tight budget. We all find ourselves there sometimes, so we all know that martinis and tight budgets usually don't go together, right? I even thought while I was reading the book how the same principles could be applied to money: only spend money on the very best you can afford and don't waste money on items that are, in the end, just junk. There. Now I'm getting slim AND saving money.

I loved this book. I'm inspired and ready to enjoy my life while waving au revoir to the 10 extra pounds I've picked up in the last few years.

She took all of this from other authors. Even her section of how to eat chocolate is strangely reminisant of Will Clower's (The Fat Fallacy) Chocolate Eating Lessons concept.
She makes umpteen references to the French and how they eat -- which I am sure she got from French Women Don't Get Fat.
She isn't sure which book she is writing - her Wear More Cashmere book or this one. This book has a few too many references to the Cashmere book not to feel like an advertisement for it. The exercise portion isn't very practical -- unless you have a pool, a dance partner, fencing studio or horse stabled nearby. She talks about her old money upbringing enough to be tiresome...and so you just know that she has never had to try to fit exercise around a full time job.

She has some good ideas but unfortunaltey they are someone else's.

'Gin' Sanders gives some good advice in this book but there is also alot of fluff and just plain nonsense about why one should eat healthy. For instance she continually writes about how certain foods and ways of eating are 'tacky'. While that may be true, real data on the health benefits of the French diet is probably more helpful than being judgemental. I would recommend Clower's The Fat Fallacy over this.

What would the world be like if you were allowed to eat rich, creamy delicious food, drink martinis and still lose weight? Well that is precisely what the book shows you how to do.

Finally there is a diet that you can live with and actually ( and this is the shocker ) enjoy. The basic philosophy is eat rich, yummy homemade or restaurant food at meal times. Just eat less of it than they present to you and only at meal times. No snacking and no junk food.

If you want chocolate cake eat it. But throw the twinkies and the ho hos in the trash. No preservatives or additives.

Also excercize is essential but only excercize that you personally enjoy. If you hate the gym don't go. Take a walk around your neighborhood instead.

This book is about truly enjoying and luxuriating in life, and looking good while you do it.