I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Review program.

I feel stupid and I wonder if I'm the only reader who misunderstood this book's intent altogether. When I learned I was going to be receiving an advance copy to review, I assumed there would be 99 blogs included. In fact, I said to myself: I'm going to check every one of those blog URLs to see if they still exist! Because blogs vanish off the internet with startling regularity.

But never mind all that: this book is about one blog and it covers ninety-nine entries on that blog. Imagine my simultaneous relief and irritation. You'd think a Ph.D. would understand that the title is misleading! Or is it me? Do you call each entry on your blog "a blog"? Maybe I'm in the wrong here. Then again, there are very few blogs that would look good in book form.

Anyway, I won't be spoiling anything because Schwarz says it in the title. The book is divided into three parts: how to start a diet; how to stick to a diet; and finally how to keep the lost weight from coming back. The chapters are as short as one and a half pages and are basically motivational in nature (no particular diet is recommended, per se) and written in fairly childish vernacular. I was so amused to find a full recipe for potato soup right before the "Keep It Off" section. There are no other recipes in the book, just this one. You know, it's his book. He can put whatever he wants to in it.

Obviously, this book does nothing for me, and I'm a chronic dieter. However, I in no way believe that it's useless for everyone. Maybe little daily pep talks, some of which are confusing, like "Trying To Diet On A Saturday", would be helpful to someone.

By the way, the author's website/blog is MariasLastDiet.com and we are told, at the end of this book, that Maria is "everywoman" (oh, so she's a symbol) but as quirky and unique as can be (wait, so she's real). See why I get confused? Those words don't provide for me clarity. But the deal is that Maria is fictional. The website isn't bad; the book gets one star from me. ( )

I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Review program. This book is made up of short, easy to read chapters about weight loss, broken down into 3 sections: starting, sticking to it, and keeping it off.
I requested it because I was in the process of losing weight and thought it might help with inspiration. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed. While the chapters contained helpful information, I felt that it was all very general, common sense information that I had already read/heard often before. I did not find it compelling reading because there were no personal experiences given, and the author did not write from his own viewpoint - it was written in a general, more impersonal manner.
I'm giving it 3 stars because I feel the information contained was good, but I did not learn anything new and I wanted more of a personal angle/approach in the writing style. ( )

A collection of blogs on weight loss. The blogs are focused in 3 areas starting, sticking to it and keeping it off. Each blog is short and easy to read. No particular diet is tauted but the psychological factors that it would take to succeed on any diet. Will they help? Perhaps but while there are some strategies for dealing with challenges, it seems to be more of the old you just need more will power mantras. ( )

Lots of good weight loss tips and ideas some of which I am anxious to try but most of which I have heard repeated in every weight loss article and book I ever read. ( )

While this book may not be everything I was hoping for, it does have one important aspect about dieting that is often overlooked, namely, the preparation phase of dieting. This includes getting yourself motivated as well as making plans to succeed. Actually getting someone to start their diet the correct way may be the most important section of this book. ( )