How To Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life: Reluctant Confessions of a Big-Butted Star

by Kirstie Alley

Dear Diary,
Decided to write book today.
Thought am good writer, am smart gal, have interesting sex-filled (lie) life.
Thought can write about men, life, love, family, food, sex, and fat assedness.
Thought can share stories with tiny-butted and big-butted alike.
Can tell people why fat, why (was) cokehead, why traffic jams and herbal laxatives don't mix, and why suede pants and sprinklers have same rule.
Can show smarts and ingenuity...(Note to should seek patent on ideas for multiple uses of triple-x elastic-waisted pants, and negotiate with airlines on new seating classes invented by self.)
More important...can show world how life is beautiful and funny, no matter size of butt.


There was once a girl named Kirstie Lou.
She dreamed that one day she would be a huge star. So she worked hard to achieve her dream--never suspecting just how huge she would one day become.
This is the story of her Tiny-Butted then Big-Butted then Tiny-Butted life...with true tales of men, mischief, loss, cocaine, suede pants, religion, chicken and noodles and family, all thrown into the pie.
Buon Apetito!

Alley's accounting gives readers and intimate look into her life while providing a hilarious view of being overweight in a skinny-obsessed world. Whether readers are struggling with weight or personal integrity - or if they're just looking for love and happiness - they'll identify with Alley's experiences. She tells it like it is and helps us laugh at ourselves (and others.)

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Humor, Memoir

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Kirsten Louise Alley was an American Emmy Award winning actress best known for her role in the TV show Cheers, where she played Rebecca Howe from 1987-1993, winning an Emmy as the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for 1991. A year later, she won a Golden Globe for her performance in Cheers as well. She won an Emmy in 1994 for her role in the TV-drama David's Mother. Other critically acclaimed roles Alley is known for include: playing Diane Barrows in It Takes Two and a single mother in Look Who's Talking, Look Who's Talking Too, and Look Who's Talking Now (all co-starring John Travolta). Alley won two People's Choice Awards in the years 1991 and 1998.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly why I read this - it was short, it was on my bookshelf, I thought maybe it had something interesting about weight loss - but honestly...Meh. Not a great memoir. This is no "Bossypants" or "Yes Please," the celebrity books against which I judge all celebrity books. This read very much like she...decided to write a book, threw some shit together in 2 weeks, and was done with it. There's a weird back and forth between mid-2000s diary entries (when the book was written) and further-past stories, but there's not a real connecting theme. The last page comes the closest to having a takeaway message, but it comes out of nowhere.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. I am not one for bios but Kirstie is so real and uninhabited with this book that it was refreshing. She goes through all the parts of her life and there are pictures of her at various ages sprinkled throughout the book as well. It is written in a diary/regular form and it makes the book go by quickly. I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times. It is kind of a "chick book" but for those who like Kirstie Alley as I do it was something I could very easily get over. It was a great, quick read and is perfect if you are looking for a good laugh at points:)

[The Bookish Wombat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this in hardback for £1 so I didn't have much to lose if I didn't like it. However, I enjoyed it quite a lot in the brief time it took me to read it.

Rather than a conventional biography, the book is composed of "scenes from a life" which go back and forward in time from her childhood to the present day. There is a fair amount of name-dropping, but probably not nearly as much as there could have been.

Kistie Alley seems open about her former drug problem and current eating problems which is refreshing. The book is funny, outspoken and honest.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came into the read with preconceive expectations and was disappointed. I was hoping to learn more about her life behind the scene. We all know Kirsty's wit and humor that lurks with slight vulgarity, however the parts I enjoyed the most were her more serious recounting that showed another side of her personality(Chapter about her young friend Jim.

Overall, a fun, light book with sometimes, uninteresting parts.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny and light read written by Kirstie Alley about her life. I was suprised by how open and nonchalant she was about some subjects. It was a fast read and not heavy. You do get a look at the real woman outside of her fame. Worth a read if you like her. Her humor is addicting in a way I didn't think it would be. I found myself laughing out loud at parts.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this to my sister for her birthday, and she passed it on to me. Truly, I don't like celebrity biographies, but this one was pretty painless. Also, Kirstie and I are homegirls, both hailing from Wichita, Kansas.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kirsties tells her story. She's funny/witty and blunt. Oh my goodness some of the things she writes about are embarrassing and I certainly wouldn't want to share them with the world.
the ending actually had me laughing out loud.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ROCKS! I finished reading Kirstie Alley's book in one day. This book is not only entertaining, but a great read for any beautiful woman who's had struggles with weight loss, as well as a great read for any woman period. ROCK ON Kirstie!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title has nothing to do with the book. It's really a book about stories from her life from when she was a kid, a teen, a coke head, when she couldn't get pregnant, adopting her kids, gaining weight and losing weight. It was still entertaining. I really like Kirsty Alley. She keeps it real!

[destiney sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was HILARIOUS!! I love Kirstie, loved her on Fat Actress and especially loved her on Dancing with the Stars and her various other projects...it was a fun read, tidbits about her life, childhood and the pitfalls of tabloid magazine covers.

[McKayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be more of short stories throughout her life and not ways to lose your ass as the title leads you to believe. I also found some of her stories to just end and leaving you wondering what the hell? Are you going to just leave me hanging? Not cool.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quick read. Written before DWTS. I liked her in Cheers and Star Trek, but she doesn't really talk about any of that. It's a diary of her year before Jenny Craig, but not about weight loss. I gave it 1star because I wouldn't recommend it to a friend, and I definitely wouldn't read it again.

[H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was blown away by how much I loved this book. Originally, I pick it up as a fun read, nothing too serious but I was sorely mistaken. The layout of Alley's book is similar to "Bridget Jones' Diary" and was a very intimate and revealing book which made me see Alley in a new light.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was humorous in spots, a very quick read, but it's not one that I would go back to read again.

[Lynn Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is a clever writer. This book was sheer entertainment for me. She's hysterical. I didn't think the title fit the book but it was so funny that I really didn't care.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hysterically funny! Quick, fun read.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

cute book - very easy read

[Drew & Krissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the book. I thought there would be more Kirstie Alley humor throughout...it fizzled in the second half.

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!! Have never paid attention to Kirstie Alley and wasn't planning to read this (frankly, didn't know it existed) but picked it up and finished it in a couple of days. Easy, amusing read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and Funny!!! Great to read while inbetween books.

[Mrustvold · Rating 1 out of 5]

didn't finish. had to return to library and even though i could have renewed it decided it was to boring to finish anyway.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book. It was kind of all over the place. There wasn't really a flow to the story. I was disappointed since I like Kirstie Alley.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kirstie has a unique and frank sense of humor. Overall, a fun book to read during breaks at work.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read. I dont know what I thought this was going to be about? With that said it was just ok.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, laugh-out-loud book.

[Andrew C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hilarious, but only the first time.

[Tori]

2005

[Jenetch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Everyone should read it...I read it in one sitting, I could not put it down. Great glimpse into Kirstie's life...left me wanting more, I hope she writes another book.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow no holds barred , foul, spewing...

[Tara]

5/26/12 - Went to a few yardsales with mom & Kristina today. Got this one & some others. My book is hardcover & the ISBN is 159486232x.