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LOVED this hilarious, heart-warming and very informative book. I'm not sure I will be 100% Vegan all the time, but the authors certain have made an excellent case for doing so. It's tough love at its most humorous, combined with sensible dieting tips and solid reasons for ditching animal products once and for all.
I read this in college and wanted to revisit. I got rid of my copy because something felt wrong about having a book glaring at all my guests with profanity in it, but I wanted to go back to it as an adult after years of researching food. The honest opinions of the authors are backed by facts that will make you seriously question your food choices (and the government). While there is a definite bias toward veganism, the authors are upfront about their opinions and beliefs and remind readers not to force their thoughts on anyone else, which makes me consider their ideas with more ease than pressure. I don't think I would ever go full vegan, at least not at this point in my life, but I feel armed with more healthier options going forward.
I hated the title of this book. I hated the back cover that said "They might be bitches, but they are skinny bitches." I don't care for skinny, I care for healthy. However, I had read about it on several blogs, how it had "changed their lives" and the way they viewed food and the world. So after several years of consideration I picked it up at the library.
I hated the first chapter. It is full of phrases along the lines of "But being a fat pig will hinder you, sober or drunk. And habitual drinking equals fat-pig syndrome.", "So your junk food has a shelf life of twenty-two years and will probably outlive your fat, sorry ass." and "You need to exercise, you lazy shit.". I'm sure you get the point. Though there are good - and true points, behind these statements, and though I do think it's sometimes good to get a kick in the behind, I honestly don't think that kind of language is necessary, or will encourage anyone to feel better about themselves.
When all that is said though, it does contain a lot of thought-provoking and scary information, so in that respect it does redeem itself, and I would recommend it. The girls are advocates for a vegan lifestyle, which I think is taking it a step too far.
They tell the scary truth of livestock raising, slaughtering, dairy production, artificial additives etc. in the US. There is definitely a lot of wisdom and truth in that information, but I think using it to advocate a completely vegan lifestyle is taking it further than necessary. Although I know things are not as bad in Denmark as in the US (due to our laws being a lot stricter, and more often enforced), it has made me reconsider my consumption of meat, and that it might be an idea for me to cut down, unless I can find organic/free range meat (which then again is more expensive).
I also think they ignore the dangers of our consumption of gluten, especially in the form of wheat and flour. Although they recommend eating mainly whole-grain products, it is still ignoring just how many people are at least sensitive to grains containing gluten (especially wheat).
They do also redeem themselves a bit in the last chapter, where they apologize for the title, saying it was only as a way to get readers attention, that they're not really bitchy and then a ton of "love yourself" - advice. I think it would've been nicer if the entire approach had been based on "love yourself, so don't feed your body crap" instead of "you fat pig stop eating crap", but that's just my opinion.
I hated the first chapter. It is full of phrases along the lines of "But being a fat pig will hinder you, sober or drunk. And habitual drinking equals fat-pig syndrome.", "So your junk food has a shelf life of twenty-two years and will probably outlive your fat, sorry ass." and "You need to exercise, you lazy shit.". I'm sure you get the point. Though there are good - and true points, behind these statements, and though I do think it's sometimes good to get a kick in the behind, I honestly don't think that kind of language is necessary, or will encourage anyone to feel better about themselves.
When all that is said though, it does contain a lot of thought-provoking and scary information, so in that respect it does redeem itself, and I would recommend it. The girls are advocates for a vegan lifestyle, which I think is taking it a step too far.
They tell the scary truth of livestock raising, slaughtering, dairy production, artificial additives etc. in the US. There is definitely a lot of wisdom and truth in that information, but I think using it to advocate a completely vegan lifestyle is taking it further than necessary. Although I know things are not as bad in Denmark as in the US (due to our laws being a lot stricter, and more often enforced), it has made me reconsider my consumption of meat, and that it might be an idea for me to cut down, unless I can find organic/free range meat (which then again is more expensive).
I also think they ignore the dangers of our consumption of gluten, especially in the form of wheat and flour. Although they recommend eating mainly whole-grain products, it is still ignoring just how many people are at least sensitive to grains containing gluten (especially wheat).
They do also redeem themselves a bit in the last chapter, where they apologize for the title, saying it was only as a way to get readers attention, that they're not really bitchy and then a ton of "love yourself" - advice. I think it would've been nicer if the entire approach had been based on "love yourself, so don't feed your body crap" instead of "you fat pig stop eating crap", but that's just my opinion.
Not gonna be a book for everyone with its tough love approach. The writing style also leaves a bit more to be desired. But the good parts of it practically helped me.
This book has lots of good information but is a tad extreme. If you like a kick-your-ass type of encouragement, you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, most of the info. given you might already know.
Freedman has a refreshingly harsh tone basically telling you to stop whining, suck it up, and doesn't pull punches about dieting. Lots of cursing.
Unfortunately, she doesn't offer any academic research, or simple strategies for doing better. Mostly it's just a rant telling you to eat weirdo foods that you have to put a lot of effort into finding. That's not exactly helpful...
Unfortunately, she doesn't offer any academic research, or simple strategies for doing better. Mostly it's just a rant telling you to eat weirdo foods that you have to put a lot of effort into finding. That's not exactly helpful...
Oh my, this book. So in the first few chapters, I actually liked it. They knew their shit, and they were funny about it. Refined grains and sugar are the devil, check. Dairy is nutritionally unnecessary, check. The government guidelines will never have your best interest at heart, check. There is gross stuff in your food, check.
But then they get all kinds of contradictory 'n' shit. First, they espouse the greatness of soy without acknowledging that a) soy is off-limits for a great number of people because of either allergies or major digestive issues, b) soy in America is invariably full of the same disgusting processed shit as all of the stuff they tell you not to eat, and c) soy in America is invariably from Monsanto, whom they insult (rightfully so) repeatedly for being distilled evil. Then they spend the rest of the book telling you to never eat processed food, except, of course, for all soy products. Yuck.
Also, they give you meal plans that definitely don't feed you enough protein. I get their point that people who eat animals at every meal eat WAY too much protein, but that doesn't mean you should only get protein at one meal.
So yeah, I really thought this was one of those books that was deceptively better than it seems, but nope. Don't bother with it. Also, being overly evangelical as a vegan is as obnoxious as evangelical Christianity. Convince me with evidence and good rhetoric, not whining and yelling.
But then they get all kinds of contradictory 'n' shit. First, they espouse the greatness of soy without acknowledging that a) soy is off-limits for a great number of people because of either allergies or major digestive issues, b) soy in America is invariably full of the same disgusting processed shit as all of the stuff they tell you not to eat, and c) soy in America is invariably from Monsanto, whom they insult (rightfully so) repeatedly for being distilled evil. Then they spend the rest of the book telling you to never eat processed food, except, of course, for all soy products. Yuck.
Also, they give you meal plans that definitely don't feed you enough protein. I get their point that people who eat animals at every meal eat WAY too much protein, but that doesn't mean you should only get protein at one meal.
So yeah, I really thought this was one of those books that was deceptively better than it seems, but nope. Don't bother with it. Also, being overly evangelical as a vegan is as obnoxious as evangelical Christianity. Convince me with evidence and good rhetoric, not whining and yelling.
Don't judge me, but I still eat meat after reading this.
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Great if your interested in learning about nutrition and how to prioritize Whole Foods over processed foods. Only dislike I would have to give it 4 stars would be that the authors only support a vegan based diet and are biased to that. “I’m not a vegan” but it’s still an informative and hilarious read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
I don't have a lot to say about this other than that I was not impressed. It was like reading a free ad for PETA. I love animals as much as anyone, but the book took it a little far.