James Smith isn't about that life. He wants you to join his program (or don't, you can learn a lot from him for free on social media), learn as much as you want or need, and then go on about your life without a recurring bill showing up on your credit card each and every month until you die. (Except maybe that gym membership charge. But only if you use it. :P)

I got sad mad listening to this book. Some of the stuff he was saying was utter rubbish. So frustrating. There are some fundamental truths, research and facts that you will hear time and time again, but at the end of the day, what works and what doesn't will depend on the individual applying the methods. And each of us changes - we go through different phases, different levels of motivation and different circumstances. He says if you miss one work out of if you have a "calorie dense meal (aka cheat meal - he doesn't like to use this phrase) then it's O.K. it's not going to be the end of the world, so you shouldn't hate yourself for doing it. Everything in moderation and if you do it once in a while then it's fine.This is another weight-loss book that promises you will lose belly fat in a short period of time (10 days to be exact). Kellyann Petrucci, MS, ND, is the author of "The 10-Day Belly Slimdown" and also serves as concierge doctor to Hollywood celebrities. The best gift you can give yourself is a slim, beautiful, healthy belly--and in this book, Dr. Kellyann, an expert I trust, tells you exactly how to get it." - Mehmet Oz, M.D.

This is a good book with a good amount of information which helps debunk a lot of myths that abound about health, fitness, and diet. I already knew most of it though, so it wasn't super new to me and all that I know was gained for free online, so while the book is a great way to get that info in a single place easily without need for researching it yourself - it is available for free and pretty easy to find with a little research. Still, I listened to this via my library, so I didn't have to pay for it, so no loss for me. Same with food prep programs like Jenny Craig. Yes, you'll lose weight. But you won't know how to do it WITHOUT THEM. And that's what they're counting on. First off he starts the book by telling you off. Like calm the F down dude I just bought your book don't have a go at me. It’s about grabbing life by the balls, not allowing yourself to be tied down by a diet, a shitty job or partner, someone else’s opinion or too much body fat. There is no puritanism here. Just a solid understanding that people need to live their lives and an approach that lets them take more control over their own life without being dragged in by marketing, spin or bullshit. Please don't think this is a hard book to read and understand. Dr. KellyAnn tells it like it is and the wording is very easy to understand.Because that's what it's all about, right? Maintenance. Can you maintain that Low/No-Carb diet forever? Can you maintain that uber-restrictive clean eating plan? Or that juice fast/skinny coffee/coffee with butter/fat-blast lollipop/whatever diet? I sure the hell couldn't. I can't maintain even the CONCEPT of those kinds of insane restrictions long term. One of the first things that I learned from James via his videos was this: You don't need a diet. You HAVE a diet. You just need to make it work for you. And that's where the education that he provides comes in... to learn what your daily energy expenditure and calorie needs look like, and then work with those numbers to create a sensible, reasonable deficit that will result in losing fat. As mentioned in the book, by drastically changing your diet like this; you may experience flu like symptoms, brain fog, fatigue, etc. Motivating, inspiring and the type of book that will make you question your own quest for success and the lengths you’re prepared to go to to live a happy and fulfilled life – whatever that looks like to you – Not a Diet Book should be required reading for everyone who needs incentive, stimulus and inspiration to better themselves as the start of a new decade approaches. Readers will finish Not a Diet Book, equiped with the knowledge they need to not only embrace a healthier and more balanced relationship with food and exercise, but too with the tools for success to excel in all areas of their life.