
Through Thick and Thin
My Autobiography
Gok Wan(Author)
Ebury Press
Published on 7. July 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-09-193838-3 (ISBN)
Description
With his infectious energy and charisma, Gok Wan has an incredible gift of making women feel more confident within themselves - but it's not until you read his own inspirational story that you find out where he got that gift from.
Gok grew up on a Leicester housing estate, with a loving family who ran a Chinese restaurant. For his parents, food meant love - and Gok was so well loved that by the time he was a teenager he weighed 21 stone. Being Asian and gay as well, Gok felt lonely and out of place. He was an easy target for bullies and suffered terribly at their hands.
In a moment of inspiration, he decided to reinvent himself with his first style makeover and a larger-than-life personality to go with it. But his next move was to lose a devastating ten stone in nine months. In Through Thick and Thin, for the first time, Gok reveals all about that life changing period.
The lessons Gok learnt during this time helped him bounce back to become a stylist to the stars, every woman's best friend and a national treasure. In this intimate memoir Gok tells his full story in his own words. Whether he's recounting the horrors of childhood bullying or riotous anecdotes about his loving family, behind the scenes in the fashion world or TV shows, Gok's voice jumps off the page with all the honesty, wit and warmth we've come to know and love him for.
Gok grew up on a Leicester housing estate, with a loving family who ran a Chinese restaurant. For his parents, food meant love - and Gok was so well loved that by the time he was a teenager he weighed 21 stone. Being Asian and gay as well, Gok felt lonely and out of place. He was an easy target for bullies and suffered terribly at their hands.
In a moment of inspiration, he decided to reinvent himself with his first style makeover and a larger-than-life personality to go with it. But his next move was to lose a devastating ten stone in nine months. In Through Thick and Thin, for the first time, Gok reveals all about that life changing period.
The lessons Gok learnt during this time helped him bounce back to become a stylist to the stars, every woman's best friend and a national treasure. In this intimate memoir Gok tells his full story in his own words. Whether he's recounting the horrors of childhood bullying or riotous anecdotes about his loving family, behind the scenes in the fashion world or TV shows, Gok's voice jumps off the page with all the honesty, wit and warmth we've come to know and love him for.
Reviews / Votes
As funny as it is moving, Gok's inspirational story is a fab read ***** * Closer * It's the autobiography we've all been waiting for - the incredible story of how a 20st Chinese kid from a housing estate grew up to become a fashion guru ... this intimate memoir is full of insights about bullying, fashion and celebrity. Witty, honest and inspirational! ***** * Woman's Own * A revealing and unglitzy autobiography, about being a podgy, spotty teenager in Leicester, feeling out of place and out of luck and without much hope for a better future ... honest and moving -- Susan Hill * Spectator * Told with the wit and warmth we know and love him for * Best * Immensely readable, touching and at times funny * Sunday Express * You've got to read it ... wonderful -- Jane McDonald * Loose Women * An honest book, full of graphic and therefore gripping detail ... it's also a teensy wheensy bit inspiring * City AM * After 20 minutes, I cannot put it down -- John Harris * Guardian * Wan's book is a page-turner, told entirely in his candid, personable voice * Liverpool Daily Post * A confident, accessible memoir, a must-have for Gok fans * Attitude *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Ebury Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
280 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-09-193838-3 (9780091938383)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2010
1st Edition
Ebury Digital
€11.99
Available for download
Person
Gok Wan was born in 1974 to a Chinese father and English mother. He grew up on a Leicester housing estate before becoming one of Britain's leading stylists. He dominates the Channel 4 schedules with no less than three shows: How to Look Good Naked, Gok's Fashion Fix and Miss Naked Beauty, and has published three bestselling style guides to go with them.