The buildup to the Hamptons visit presents an endearing bonding moment for the Lerman family. Everyone supports Al’s dieting, but there is also an emotional toll. The family’s desperation to fit in, if not to impress their host, is woefully out of character, and, of course, they come up short. When Al’s boss, Mr. Reynolds, kindly suggests that the company can pay for him to attend a “Fat Camp,” to help him reach his weight loss and fitness goals, Lerman recalls the silent drive back home. “I could tell my dad was hurt, and a part of his spirit had been broken,” she writes.