**The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller**
**Audiobook shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 2018**
Gary Barlow is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time, but fifteen years ago, as he himself admits, he hit rock bottom - he was out of shape, out of work and depressed. His mental and physical health were at an all-time low, and he struggled to see a way out.
Faced with an underperforming solo career, tireless media taunts and other cruel twists of fate, Gary turned to food. For nine years, he struggled with his weight and went on every diet imaginable. Fasting, extreme dieting, and binge eating saw him on a seemingly unstoppable downward spiral for which he eventually sought professional help, asking a doctor what the 'cure' for obesity was. That was the moment he realised that he would have to dramatically change his life and relationship with food.
So how did he go from an obese, out-of-work pop star to one of the UK's favourite superstars of music and TV, as well an accomplished musical songwriter and producer who is full of vitality, fitter, happier and more successful than ever before?"
In this extraordinarily honest memoir, Gary tells of his journey back to mental and physical health, as well as musical success. A Better Me is a remarkably frank account of Gary's life as he battled with his demons, endured devastating personal tragedy, and recovered his health from the extremities of disordered eating and obesity. In his warm, witty and authentic voice, Gary recounts his story with compelling insight, captivating sincerity and a human side that people rarely see.
From overcoming his weight problems and crippling obsession with food, to returning with a critically and commercially successful Take That and reigniting his own legendary song-writing career, going beyond recorded music to forge success on TV with The X Factor and Let It Shine, this is the story of how Gary found balance in both his personal and professional life.
Here is one of the UK's most beloved pop stars, more open, honest and raw than ever before.
Author Biography:
Gary Barlow is a British singer-songwriter and record producer who found worldwide fame as a member of British pop group Take That. Since forming in 1989 Take That have won eight BRIT awards, sold over 45 million records and over eight million concert tickets.
Gary is one of Britain's most successful songwriters, having written 15 Number One singles and being a six-time recipient of an Ivor Novello Award. Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams.
Gary has released three solo albums over the course of his career, the last of which 'Since I Saw You Last' (his first solo album in over 14 years) became the ninth biggest selling album of the year in the UK with sales of more than 600,000.
In 2011 Gary also firmly established himself in the world of UK TV when he agreed to be the Head Judge on The X Factor. A position he held for three years. He then went on to make two documentaries: 'Journey To Afghanistan' and 'On Her Majesty's Service'. In 2016/17 he conceived, produced and starred in his own talent show for the BBC, 'Let It Shine' which sort to find a boy band to be the stars of a new musical.
In more recent years, Gary has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful 'Finding Neverland' and working alongside screenwriter Tim Firth to write the music and lyrics for musical 'The Girls'? and also more recently working alongside his Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Robbie Williams to produce 'The Band' a record breaking musical featuring the music of Take That.
Gary has also worked closely with a number of charities and key events in recent years including twice organising and performing at BBC Children In Need Rocks. He also organised the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which were held in front of the palace in 2012.
