Fat, Forty, and Fired: One man's frank, funny, and inspiring account of losing his job and finding his life

by Nigel Marsh

"Homer Simpson meets Anthony Robbins. Marsh's honesty and humanity make Fat, Forty, and Fired essential reading for anyone whose life has ever hit a roadblock. Hilarious and inspiring." --Bob Rosner, best-selling author and internationally syndicated Working Wounded columnist

"An extremely funny and touching account of how someone can use humor and optimism to put adversity into perspective. Marsh's warm and distinctive view of life lights up every page and makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read." --Paul Wilson, author of The Little Book of Calm

"I can pinpoint the precise moment when I realized my transformation from 'executive dad' to 'guy who doesn't work' was complete." --Nigel Marsh

Take Dave Barry, Jack Welch, Homer Simpson, and Ray Romano, mix in a family, a little weight gain, failure, introspection, and redemption, and you have Nigel Marsh's international best-selling autobiography.

As a stressed husband and father of four small children under the age of eight, Nigel Marsh was enslaved to his mortgage, recuperating from an embarrassing surgery, and suddenly fired from his corporate career. Deciding to venture "off the treadmill" in search of a more meaningful and balanced existence, Marsh tackled the art of hands-on parenting while simultaneously training for an ocean swimming race and coming to terms with his alcoholism. Touching on topics ranging from marital sex (or lack thereof), dieting, and parenthood to work, love, football, religion, self-help books, and sharks, Marsh makes his U.S. debut after enjoying best-seller status in Australia and the U.K. with this provocative and funny book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Humor, Business, Autobiography, Book Club

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 8, 2006

Reviews

[Charlotte Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read, but not overly inspiring. Found the title a bit misleading, as the author wasn't fired. Also found it difficult to find inspiration in a story about such a privileged person. Trip overseas paid for with frequent flyer miles and living in Bronte while on a self-chosen gap year from work is quite frankly so unrelatable. Glad the author found some kind of peace with his life, but don't know that a book needed to come out of it.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free Kindle book and my husband is considering a career change (oh boy). If you can get past the graphic description of his nasty surgery early on, this book is pretty amusing especially if you have kids. It is misleading, however, because it is the story of a privileged CEO who chooses to take 9 mos. off between gigs. Yes, they sold a car, moved to a smaller house, and had to fly coach but otherwise life is pretty good with a trip to Tasmania and Europe thrown in. There are references to shrinking savings but these people had plenty of babysitters and there was no nailbiting about how/when he would find another job.

[Priti · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I was going through the book I kept wondering what I was getting out of reading it. I suppose I thought it was supposed to be one of those books that teach you something new, and it was a decent story of his experience. He didn't really lose his job, he chose not to pursue the opportunity of staying with the company, which in my opinion is something totally different.

I will say it was an easy read, and that's why I kept reading it. It was more entertaining at times than teaching me something directly. I think I had different expectations for the book which is why I didn't value it as much as others.

I'm not sure I feel comfortable recommending it to others to read, but if you are bored and need something light, pick it up and see of you like it. Maybe it will appeal to you even if it didn't work for me.

[Madagar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read - more a tale of adjustment than life changing hardship

This was a pleasant tale, but not quite what I expected. He didn't lose his job but more elected to take a year off. They were fortunately well off and had savings to live on and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. It wasn't a story of coping with adversity, more of adjusting to stay in some cheaper hotels whilst on holiday and doing more around the house. The family were likeable and it was an easy read.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, entertaining read that made me laugh

[Kylani Czarnecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Book! hilarious actually made me laugh out loud. One of the funniest and most relatable books I have read despite being neither fat, forty or fired.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book having read it in the lead up to my long service leave in 2013. I wanted something not too heavy, but something that would make me think about my life and its direction. This book fitted the bill perfectly. Nigel Marsh (the author) found himself fat, forty and without work. He decided to see how he would go off the career treadmill for a year. It gave me a good chortle on a number of occasions, but it's real strength was its reality. After 9 months off work Marsh didn't find the magic bullet to work/life balance and quickly found himself falling into some familiar patterns once the 9 months was over. I found this helpful because so often we think there is a magic bullet to such conundrums. Marsh points out that this is a perennial struggle, but he does it with great humour pertinent to any parent around 40-something. It was good to read the experiences of someone who has wrestled with midlife issues ahead of me and has travelled the road of our common humanity. This book left me not feeling so defeated by the tensions of maintaining a work/life balance. There was some comfort in sharing the common struggle. In a funny kind of way it was freeing having reinforced (what I kind of knew already, but didn't want to admit), that there is no way of 'dropping out' of life's rat-race...its more about managing it as best you can.

[Steve lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back cover blurb described this tome as 'screamingly funny'. Not so - but certainly many a chortle was had enjoying Nigel Marsh's journey. He had a year off from the 'rat race' - and from that slight premise came a well written account of one fat Englishman's attempt to turn his life around - to beat alcoholism, swim from Bronte to Bondi and devote more time to family. At times I wondered how wife Kate could put up with him, and of course being an advertising CEO he had the wherewithal to indulge himself. Heaven help us mere mortals if we attempted the same. Then almost predictably, once his year was up, he bolted back to earning squillions. Perhaps I am being a little harsh as his attempt was heart felt and he did not go easy on his imperfections. No whingeing pom he - he has a genuine affection for Oz that endears.It is a first effort that for me held more than its follow up - read earlier - 'Observations of a Very Short Man'

[Reece Anderson]

One Fat Summer is a realistice fiction book written by Robert Lipstye. One Fat Summer took place near a fictional island named Rumson Lake during the summer about the civil rights aera. The major characters are Robert, Willie, Pete, and Michelle. The plot is about Robert a kid who is fat he does not like the lake and gets bullied for being fat. He gets a job from a man named Dr.Khan he has the job tell the end of summer the reason he gets the job is because his dad wants him to go to camp but he does not want to and Joanie his best friend is going to the city for about 1 month and he wants to stay busy. I think the book is good overall but I have some complaints about the book. First, it did not have very much action in the begging but towards the end it had a lot. Second, it had some fowl language and third, it had aome racial remarks but not a lot. It was a very good book though.

[thereadytraveller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A warts and all story covering Marsh's year off from work as he looks to reconnect with children, wife and self after being made redundant. As befits someone who has previously done stand-up comedy, there is plenty of laugh out loud moments of which some are cringe-worthy given how close the strike to home.

Whilst superficially this a light hearted approach to a life changing event, the book covers off some deeper issues and themes that face not only the author himself, but most probably all of us. The book is most probably of more appeal for those of us questioning our 9 to 5 existence and of a certain age (cough… 40’s… cough) and is one that I definitely enjoyed.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a humorous look at life from an entertaining perspective. Nigel Marsh is a forty year old British Expat, living in Sydney, Australia. He gets caught in a corporate merger and ends up unemployed. fortunately he has enough savings put away to be able to make a choice to take a year off and boand with his family. Quite an entertaining read...

[Bibliophilic Word Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely surprise this was! I laughed out loud and page one and thought, "Oh, a fun book, just like the cover suggested." Then I read on, with ease by the way, and come to find out this is book is so much more than just fun. Nigel Marsh has something to say that we all need to hear.

Loved it!

[Ian Morphett · Rating 5 out of 5]

English author, english humour. First book to make me laugh out loud for a while. A very funny read with a serious message. Most people associate alcoholics with people who drink four litre's of goon every day, this bloke breaks that myth.

[Sonia Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only does this memoir have a fascinating title, but it's entertaining, full of humor, and relates to a modern family. I've contacted Nigel Marsh to interview him on my blog. He's writing his third book and is now focused on work/life balance.

[Jeanette Besse · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book club book- to start a discussion with other mums in a mums group - this could be a solid 3 star book. But for an average read, something to curl up with at night or in the bath or on vacation??? Pass.

[Cat Dillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warning: fatphobia and alcoholism


This book was entertaining enough to read over a week or so, but not particularly riveting. I try to remind myself that it was written 20 years ago so the comments about the size of his body and the derogatory language he used to describe it were very common for that time period. I rounded up from 2.5 stars to 3, given the age of the book.

There were some good lessons sprinkled throughout, and I did think it was interesting to see a (presumably) cishet man who is used to an intense CEO office job take on the parenting duties of his 4 kids and find out all the thankless shit that comes with that. Main point of the book as I interpreted it was: life has its challenges no matter how much money you do or don’t have, so try to enjoy the good bits.

I found the chapters where he discussed his alcoholism to be refreshing in that they seemed to be the most honest and the least “obviously written for an audience to consume”. Those stories were not funny, because addiction is not meant to be funny. I did appreciate that.

Not groundbreaking, but fine. I did not like that he ended on a note about a fantasy regarding women in nurse’s uniform, and it’s worth noting that he did not actually get fired. He was offered a job in the new corporation when his business got bought in a merger, and he *chose* to take the redundancy payment in order to bond with his kids and wife again. It’s something a lot of us wish we could do, I reckon, but there never seemed to be any real worry about money or their livelihood.

I dunno. I grabbed this one off the shelf at the library cos I am 2 of the 3 descriptors in the title. It was not as relatable as I was hoping, but it wasn’t a complete waste of time. Meh.

[Taufik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled into this book less than a month ago while I am also taking a sabbatical from the workforce as a 40 years old. The author took his journey away from work in early 2000 and many books have since been written about balancing life and work with different approaches and methodologies.
I can tell you that this book has been written in honesty and close to accurate if you ever want to know or taste of how taking a year off feels like (into my 6th months in my case -predated January 2021). At times, albeit with supports from family and friends, this journey is NOT an everyday normal act and a solitary one -so it's quite uplifting to have found people/book with the same experience.
It is also written candidly -nothing academic. This makes it such a great joy and light one to read. I took my time to read it as I don't want to finish it too early as this has become some source of motivation. Just like any books that have been written, they won't help you change your life. We all need to find our way. Its also written with positivity and a sense of humor (each one to their own for taste). Like any book, I'm sure you will learn a thing or two.

[Mrs. Bun · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start - not what I expected! I thought this would be a story of a single, maybe low to mid-level income, introverted American male who eventually changed his attitude, lost weight, and pulled his life together, going from say, cellar dweller to 1 bedroom apartment. Well, was I shocked to find out my preconceptions were way off. Nigel Marsh is married, has a loving wife, 4 children, lives in Australia, has a big house, a nanny, and is all around a balanced NICE guy who is a workaholic - until the advertising office he leads is slated to merge with others, and he is left to wonder what he will do without his job. This book is actually HILARIOUS and it has many surprises to it. You could just as easily close your eyes and believe he is 50 years old or 60 - he resonated with me and I'm well past 40. Loved this book and the thinking and laughter that came with it.

[Ross Mcneil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy read. And enjoyable exploration of taking the time to focus on life and what matters. Probably to call out from the beginning - the author was in an exceptionally privileged life as a CEO and living very comfortably.

I would dare say all of us would love to quit it all and take a 9mnth sabbatical break to focus on what really matters in this life.

Was a humorous read - and certainly gave me a little chance to dream about the whole "what would I do if I didn't have to work everyday" consideration of life. Also whilst Nigel is certainly in another income bracket to most of us - an exploration about questioning "do we REALLY need all these material things in our life that really do TRAP us into our life?"

Don't overthink it - a good read

[Gema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escrita con sentido del humor esta historia nos sitúa en la de cualquier familia actual que intenta encontrar el equilibrio entre la vida familiar y laboral. Lo que no es usual es que el propio escritor tuviese el privilegio de tomarse una año sabático para descubrir que los malos momentos son los que dan valor a los buenos y que en la lucha diaria por intentar ser mejor esta la recompensa. Me quedo con aquello de que se encuentran horas de calidad dentro de la cantidad de las horas.

Primer libro en ingles de año 💪

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book needs a new title. The writing and story are fine. Not exactly inspiring. The author isn't fired. He chooses not to interview for another job when his office is slowly shut down. Then her travels around to various countries??? Most fired and unemployed parents aren't afforded that luxury, for sure. It's vaguely humourous but doesn't seem to have any lesson to the story. At the end he goes back to a high pressure job. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Culling the bookshelf, this one can go - believe it or not, my Dad bought it for me when something similar to this was happening in my life. I suspect he thought it was funny, bless him.

I didn’t hate it, to be honest - made me want to take up ocean swimming. Not really a practical self-help book, it leans more toward the amusing anecdote. I wouldn’t read it again, but wouldn’t try to talk someone out of reading it! 😅

[Paul Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not fat, forty one and fired

I read this book during my version of Marsh's year off although, in my case, it hasn't been a year yet. What I enjoyed about this book the most were the reminders to take advantage of this stressful time to be a better Dad and husband. It's definitely a work in progress, and I haven't even returned to running but I'm hopeful.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Nigel’s first book. Easy, relatable, honest and fun. He makes you want to live more truthfully and more earnestly. With eyes wide open to all the fun every moment offers. His commentary had me laugh out loud several times. I am so anxious to learn how life carried on in his next decade.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off v funny. Becomes less so toward the end as Nige starts philosophising. Also, a few too many repeats ( the one about being able to read the Bible in Greek was funny first time and so not, the second time).

But a nice easy, holiday read. Not bad at all.

[Donna Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick easy read. Some parts I couldn't relate to but I enjoyed his sense of humor. I read in bed and quite a few times I burst out laughing and woke my husband up. As a free book on Kindle Unlimited it was worth the read.

[Irene Adler · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF Ch 18 + skim read of last chapters.

Someone else recommended it as they really enjoyed it. But for me it was rich guy has mid-life crisis without entertaining or enlightening me. It's quite a quick read and it's not awful, but it also had nothing to say to me.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing easy read. I had heard Nigel's Ted talk and enjoyed reading what started it all. He tells the truth which is why I kept reading.

[Keith Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining with some great insights. Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Surreptitious Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Resonated with me on so many levels! Easy to read! Couldn’t put it down! Great for those who have their work/life balance disordered and need a bit of encouragement!