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After being "treated" to a preview of the cover shot for her new book -- in which she appears airbrushed and nearly naked -- Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) enlists the help of Samantha (Kim Cattrall) to find a more acceptable look. Scouring the aisles of Barnes & Noble, Samantha offers to concoct an image for her friend that is as smart as it is sexy. A few aisles over, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) tries to get up the backbone to buy herself a self-help book, but one look at the ostensibly pathetic saps inhabiting the section propels her to the safety of her own home, where she orders a book over the Internet. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is seeking some help of her own in her quest to lose her baby fat. When she joins Weight Watchers, she meets Tom, an overeater with whom she quickly falls into bed. Things are fine and dandy until Tom demonstrates his overeating isn't limited merely to donuts, and grosses Miranda out when he kisses her with her spread liberally across his face. When Miranda tries to point out the problem, Tom takes offense and leaves to focus on his diet. Meanwhile, Carrie visits Samantha's office and catches her in flagrante delicto with a hunky World Wide Express guy; after Carrie leaves, she wonders if she should judge her friend, a question that affects their relationship as Samantha tries to suggest book cover ideas that Carrie deems "too risqué." After Samantha accuses Carrie of judging her, Carrie apologizes, leading Samantha to admit that she also judges herself from time to time. Together, they come up with a look for the cover, and Carrie ends up posing in a short skirt with her laptop.