The Elephant in the Room

Journalist Tommy Tomlinson weighed 460 pounds as he neared 50, putting him at risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke; stairs left him breathless and flying meant buying two seats. He grew up in a food-loving family and had tried doctors and diets since his preteen years, but nothing worked, and he doubted he even wanted to change. The memoir follows the steps he takes to lose weight, from setting exercise goals and buying a Fitbit to changing his diet. He also travels to meet other plus-sized Americans and to understand how the nation got here, and he considers the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas. NPR named it one of its best books of the year.

A reader of The CEO Library named it, through an anonymous form, as one of the three best books they read in 2019.