One of the standard approaches for getting people to buy your non-fiction books or articles is to connect your topic to something that’s timely. And there’s nothing more timely than the obesity epidemic. So I guess it was only a matter of time before we’d see connections being made between fat and other topics. Two recent examples:
Julia Cameron, author of the excellent “The Artist’s Way,” now has a book called “The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size.” Her idea is that creativity can block overeating.
Another one: Peter Walsh has a book called “Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?” His premise is that the same impulse that makes us buy stuff we don’t need also makes us eat food we don’t need.
Making this kind of link can be profitable. The important thing is to be sure there really IS a plausible connection that you can make with integrity. I was somewhat sceptical about Walsh’s premise, but when I read an excerpt of his book, I changed my mind. Here’s what he says:
“Declutter your mind, declutter your home, declutter your relationship to food. Then watch the ripple effect this has on every aspect of the way you live. Clear out the junk, and in doing so clear out the patterns of thought and behavior that prevent you from living the life you want. If you try to clear the clutter by focusing on the stuff, you will fail to get organized. It's not about the stuff. If you try to lose weight by focusing on the food, you'll never change your body for good. It's not about the food. First define the life you want to live. Acknowledge the issues that clutter that vision. Clean up your priorities. Create a world where those priorities can thrive. Learn how to honor and respect yourself. When you do, the ability to take control of your body will follow.”
Sounds pretty good, and it has motivated me to look up one of his other books (“It’s All Too Much: Living a Richer Life With Less Stuff”)—proof that a good connection works.
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