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  • A Better Me

  • This is Gary Barlow as honest, heartfelt and more open than ever before
  • By: Gary Barlow
  • Narrated by: Gary Barlow
  • Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (45 ratings)

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A Better Me

By: Gary Barlow
Narrated by: Gary Barlow
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Publisher's Summary

Best-selling audiobook; shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 2018

Includes an additional new chapter.

Gary Barlow is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time, but 15 years ago, as he himself admits, he hit rock bottom - he was out of shape, out of work, depressed.

Food for him had become an addiction, a means not only of comfort but almost of self-medication as he grappled with the cruel twists of fate of musical stardom. In 2003, as he struggled with the disappointment of an underperforming solo career alongside the tireless media taunts; Gary turned to food. Relentlessly. In the space of nine years he had been on 20 diets in the hopes of a resolution to all his woes. After asking the doctor what the 'cure' for obesity was, it sunk in that he was the only one who could take control of his health. Gary describes this realisation and the task that lay ahead - 'it was like being at the foot of a massive mountain'.

So how did he go from an obese, out-of-work and depressed pop icon, to a superstar of music and TV and an accomplished musical songwriter and producer who is full of vitality, fitter, happier and more successful than ever before. What happened?

In his extraordinarily honest memoir A Better Me, Gary tells of his journey back to professional success and mental and physical health. From reforming Take That to critical and commercial acclaim and reigniting his own legendary songwriting career; to overcoming his weight problems and crippling obsession with food; to TV judging panel stardom on The X Factor and Let It Shine and at last finding balance in both his personal and professional life.

A Better Me is a remarkably frank memoir of Gary's life as he battled with weight, stress, fitness and depression, and staged one of the most thrilling professional comebacks in years. In his warm, witty and authentic voice, he recounts his story with compelling insight, captivating honesty and a human side that people rarely see. Here is one of the UK's most beloved pop stars open, honest and raw and as we've never seen him before.

©2018 Gary Barlow (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

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Unexpectedly great

What an interesting life this talented guy has had. I think it all the more special that he read the audio book himself.

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Great read

Always love a good book that is read by the person that has written it and it’s like that is what an incredible and inspiring look into his own life
Thank you

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very relatable

loved it. very relatable to my thoughts and feelings. I feel better for reading and listening to thus book.

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Inspiring, funny and heartfelt.

A great insight into life's strengths and struggles of an inspiring man. Funny and heartfelt. Excellently read by Gary himself which definitely gives the added experience of authenticity and lived.

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  • Vik
  • 15-01-2019

Enjoyable listen

Genuinely enjoyed this. Autobiographies aren't a type of book I normally read, but I know who Gary is and I know a lot of it was supposed to be about his battle with his weight, which is what peaked my interest. I listened to the audiobook, read by the man himself, and enjoyed it a lot. It was humourous and sometimes quite dark, with the personal problems he faced. I appreciate the honest way he talks about his issues, it's still sadly unusual for a man, particularly a famous one to openly discuss mental health.

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Lovely story and read with passion. I loved it 😊

Super nice and read beautifully by Gary. Thanks for sharing your real world with us.

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Loved every minute!

Raw and real! Loved every minute of it and have even greater respect for this man than I did before. Takes a lot of courage to be open and honest about the bad bits when it could all to easy to leave them out.

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Thanks for Sharing your Journey Gary

Loved it - including all the food references. Will be watching and listening to everything you do Gary - very talented entertainer - and a nice guy.

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What a talent Gary Barlow is

What a talent Gary Barlow is, a page turner from start to finish due to his sharing with such honesty and down to earth insights into his life and world of show business.... loved Gary in Take That and even more now for all his acomplishments “The Royal Jubilee” I had no idea as I was living in Australia by then but I watched the festivities on the TV. Amazing the drive and hard work you can see Gary puts everything he does, amazing.

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Don’t think about it, listen to this!

An immersive experience, loved every second, raw and unflinching and such an amazing story, the comeback story to end all comebacks. Would recommend to anyone Take That fan or not. I’m really going to miss listening to it, it’s like hanging out with a friend and you don’t want them to stop talking. Thanks Gary!

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