What is more important than the meal? Doesn't the least observant [wo]man-about-town look upon the implementa6on and ritual progress of a meal as a liturgical prescrip6on? Isn't all of civilization apparent in these careful preparations, which consecrate the spirit's triumph over a raging appetite?

Ouverture

1. Vive l'Amerique: The Beginning...

 I Am Overweight

2.La Fille Prod~gue: Return of the Prodigal

 Daughter

3.Short-term Recasting: The First Three

 Months

4.The Tales of the Three Cs

 Entr'acte

 Stabilization and Eating for Life

5.II Faut des Rites

6.The Seasons and the Seasonings

7.More Recipes That Will Fool You

8.Liquid Assets

9.Bread and Chocolate

10.Moving Like a French Woman

11.States of Desire

12.Life Stages

12 bis. The Plan for Life

Index