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bigcitydreamer's review against another edition
informative
5.0
I started raving about this book to everyone before I was even done, and now am one of those annoying people who will read packet labels before buying anything. The upside is I have swapped my afternoon snack from a small Haribo packet to fruit, and I already feel a lot better. This book really is one of those that can change the world...
anteus7's review
5.0
This is one of those books that I enjoyed reading (the voice is great--smart and funny, with a good helping of snark) and knew that I would regret at the same time.
Positives: The voice, as I said, is on full display. It is at once conversational and astute. Tulleken treats sensitive topics (eating, overeating, obesity and the guilt that can surround it) with the sensitivity they deserve while being able to make jokes about some taboo things while being able to teach about a complex topic in a way that is both informative and that does not talk down to the reader.
Also, Tulleken fully admits his own hang-ups about a variety of things as he touches on them throughout the book (struggling to NOT tell people what or how to eat--mostly his brother) and tries to keep his conclusions free from judgement about people's habits, which is nice. Not preachy.
Finally (well, there is probably more I could write about, but I'll stick with three things), his research is both deep and broad. He talks about lots of interconnected topics and draws on loads of research and expert input to give us this book.
Negatives: I now read labels with a newly critical eye. I used to look for things like sugar content, but now I'm looking for those lab-related components that call so much of what we buy from the market as Frankenfood.
That niggling little guilty voice whispers to me when I ignore the UPF in food I fully intend to eat is louder than usual.
I suppose these negatives are actually positives. I just wish that UPF was not so ubiquitous. Sigh.
Positives: The voice, as I said, is on full display. It is at once conversational and astute. Tulleken treats sensitive topics (eating, overeating, obesity and the guilt that can surround it) with the sensitivity they deserve while being able to make jokes about some taboo things while being able to teach about a complex topic in a way that is both informative and that does not talk down to the reader.
Also, Tulleken fully admits his own hang-ups about a variety of things as he touches on them throughout the book (struggling to NOT tell people what or how to eat--mostly his brother) and tries to keep his conclusions free from judgement about people's habits, which is nice. Not preachy.
Finally (well, there is probably more I could write about, but I'll stick with three things), his research is both deep and broad. He talks about lots of interconnected topics and draws on loads of research and expert input to give us this book.
Negatives: I now read labels with a newly critical eye. I used to look for things like sugar content, but now I'm looking for those lab-related components that call so much of what we buy from the market as Frankenfood.
That niggling little guilty voice whispers to me when I ignore the UPF in food I fully intend to eat is louder than usual.
I suppose these negatives are actually positives. I just wish that UPF was not so ubiquitous. Sigh.
zakisreadingbooks's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Really informative and dark window into the world of UPF. Made me stop eating it.
elspethjulia's review against another edition
5.0
Took me ages to finish this bc I ran out of Spotify hours. Going to clear out my whole kitchen now oh dear.