Thinner by Richard Bachman Summary
Overview of Thinner
Stephen King's curse tale that sold a modest 28,000 copies until his pseudonym was exposed - then sales exploded tenfold. This literary experiment proved a chilling point: sometimes your name carries more weight than the darkness you create.
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Key takeaways
A Curse That Strips More Than Weight
Billy Halleck has it all-successful law career in affluent Connecticut, beautiful wife, teenage daughter, and all the trappings of upper-middle-class comfort. His only struggle is his weight, tipping the scales at 246 pounds despite his doctor's warnings. But Billy's comfortable existence shatters when, distracted by his wife's intimate touch while driving, he strikes and kills an old Gypsy woman crossing the street. The justice system-including his golf buddy Judge Rossington and Police Chief Hopley-protects him completely. No consequences, no punishment. But as Billy leaves the courthouse, the victim's father-an ancient Gypsy man with a rotting nose-touches his cheek and whispers a single word: "Thinner." The next morning, Billy discovers he's lost three pounds. At first pleased, his weight continues dropping rapidly, defying all medical explanation. When a penny weighing machine not only shows his dramatic weight loss but prints out the fortune "THINNER," the horrifying truth becomes clear-he's been cursed. What makes this supernatural revenge so terrifying is its inexorable nature. Each morning's weigh-in becomes a ritual of terror, a countdown to his inevitable demise. Imagine looking in the mirror and seeing yourself disappear a little more each day-what could be more fundamentally frightening?
When Privilege Meets Ancient Justice
A Conspiracy of Denial
The Road to Desperation
When Justice Fails, Call a Gangster
The Curse Transfers, Never Ends
When Vengeance Consumes the Innocent
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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