Book ~ "Fat, Forty and Fired" (2007) Nigel Marsh

From Fat, Forty and Fired: Nigel Marsh is a stressed, overweight mortgage slave struggling to balance a high-pressured career, a marriage and the demands of four children under eight. Then the unthinkable happens - he loses his job. After the initial shock (and some unpleasant surgery), Nigel decides to embrace life outside the office and spend a year taking stock. What follows is a candid and often hilarious account of how he attempts to master the art of hands-on parenting, lose 20 kilos, train for an ocean swimming race and come to terms with the growing realisation that he's an alcoholic. Along the way we discover what men (or this man) really think about sex in marriage, being good dads, work, love, football, family, religion, self-help books and sharks, just for starters. Fat, Forty and Fired is a rare gem, a highly entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring memoir about falling off the hamster wheel and surviving.

The title of this book is what drew me to it ... how could it not be an interesting read?

I enjoyed Nigel's writing style. It was funny, yet very honest at times ... especially when he was discussing his alcoholism, his religion and the relationship he has/had with is parents.

We all want to take a year (or more) off to find ourselves ... and that's what Nigel was lucky enough to be able to do.

If you come across this book, it is worth reading!