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frostap's review against another edition
5.0
Well, that was fast.
I was worried that this book would make me depressed about the way we eat, but it actually had the opposite effect. It turns out we do pretty well about avoiding food-like substances. We could eat more mushrooms and more fish, but overall I'm choosing to just feel good about what we're doing.
I love that Pollan distilled what can be such complicated (and loaded) decisions into simple, proverbial guidelines. They are easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to implement. Pollan realizes no one can follow all 60+ suggestions, but tells the reader up front (which kept me from being stressed out while reading).
Overall, five stars. Loved it. Will read it again. Glad to have purchased it.
I was worried that this book would make me depressed about the way we eat, but it actually had the opposite effect. It turns out we do pretty well about avoiding food-like substances. We could eat more mushrooms and more fish, but overall I'm choosing to just feel good about what we're doing.
I love that Pollan distilled what can be such complicated (and loaded) decisions into simple, proverbial guidelines. They are easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to implement. Pollan realizes no one can follow all 60+ suggestions, but tells the reader up front (which kept me from being stressed out while reading).
Overall, five stars. Loved it. Will read it again. Glad to have purchased it.
kcrouth's review
4.0
A great little reference book that has whet my appetite to eat smarter and also to read "The Omnivore's Dilemma".
jgraydee's review against another edition
3.0
Written by journalist and pseudo-nutritional expert Michael Pollan, this book has little new information about diet, nutrition or weight loss. But in fairness -- that's because there really isn't any "new” information about improving our diet. Most of us already know what we should and should not be eating – real food, less processed foods, etc. -- but we ignore those rules.
Pollan is not trying to write a diet or how-to book, he is only trying to summarize the best of the information that is out there in a way that is digestible (pardon the pun) and not overwhelming. He succeeds.
The introduction to the book is very well written, and I recommend reading all of that.
The rest of the book (which I skimmed) consists of mostly one page (sometimes one sentence) "chapters" that highlight nutritional wisdom. Some are ones we have heard over and over ("Eat with a smaller plate"). Others are more catchy and thought provoking ("If You're Not Hungry Enough to Eat an Apple, then You're Not Hungry" or "It's Not Food if it Arrived Through the Window of Your Car").
The illustrations are fun and bright and colorful. The summation of the book is that we should Eat (real) food. Not too much. Mostly plants. It’s not rocket science. Most of us already are keenly aware. But it always good to be reminded of healthful diet choices, and Pollan does a nice job of that in this book.
Pollan is not trying to write a diet or how-to book, he is only trying to summarize the best of the information that is out there in a way that is digestible (pardon the pun) and not overwhelming. He succeeds.
The introduction to the book is very well written, and I recommend reading all of that.
The rest of the book (which I skimmed) consists of mostly one page (sometimes one sentence) "chapters" that highlight nutritional wisdom. Some are ones we have heard over and over ("Eat with a smaller plate"). Others are more catchy and thought provoking ("If You're Not Hungry Enough to Eat an Apple, then You're Not Hungry" or "It's Not Food if it Arrived Through the Window of Your Car").
The illustrations are fun and bright and colorful. The summation of the book is that we should Eat (real) food. Not too much. Mostly plants. It’s not rocket science. Most of us already are keenly aware. But it always good to be reminded of healthful diet choices, and Pollan does a nice job of that in this book.
deanna_rigney's review against another edition
4.0
Short and succinct. It is basically a "to the point" version of his book In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.