Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs by Jamie Loftus

44 reviews

barizley's review against another edition

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funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

5.0


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mikkitooloud's review

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challenging emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I picked this book up because I have a soft spot for Jamie Loftus, but just three or four sentences into the introduction I was fully onboard with the premise. This book is about more than just hotdogs; it's about justice, love, and the human condition.

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daniandsn's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative lighthearted slow-paced

3.0

What does it mean for a leftist to partake in (and enjoy) the classic symbol of American rugged individualism? How does it feel to enjoy the snap of a beef frank when the workers who made them were dying in the midst of a global pandemic? Can hot dogs be political?

This book reflects on the cultural impact of hot dogs. Whether it is hot dog stands gentrifying local neighborhoods, Nate's Hot Dog Eating contest clearly favoring the men's competition, a lot of gendered pickles, or poor working conditions, Jamie analyzes what it means to be American through the eyes (taste?) of the hot dogs made there.

"Look I'm as American as anyone, and I don't know what I mean when I say that, but I know how i feel, and it's insecure with a throbbing need to prove something."

It is at once a memoir and a critique of capitalism. We feel Jamie's discomfort, although it is left unsaid, about frequently being the only one in a room wearing a mask. This book is more of a time-capsule of what America looked like in 2021 than it is about hot dogs.

I think this book fell a bit short for me here though. There was so much potential, but much of the critique felt shallow and unexplored. We were granted peaks into her inner life along the way, but not enough to understand why it connected to the rest of the book. Many crude and often sexual jokes undercut the point that was being made. All together, it was an interesting concept and some chapters really did stand out (who doesn't want to hear about the inner workings of a hot dog eating contest?), however it left me wanting more than what it could give.

The audiobook was a pleasure to listen to. Jamie narrated it herself and gives so much life to each of the interesting people she observed on her journey. Her emphasis and accents made it work in a way that I'm not sure that words on a page could.

Approach this book understanding that it isn't really about hotdogs. It is casual entertainment, and although I was disappointed, I did find myself entertained.

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booknug's review against another edition

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funny informative sad medium-paced

5.0


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grabman's review against another edition

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funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.25


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breadbummer's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

Very funny and very informative! Probably not a book for boomers (my boomer parents, at least) with Loftus' consistent jokes relating to sex and/or diarrhea; I, being raised by the true god of older gen-z, the YouTube Poop, thought these were hilarious. I especially loved how this was all blended with the personal histories of the various hot doggeries and figures related to the food. Big bonus for the content warning section at the beginning, too!

My main critiques come from aspects that I'm not really sure can be helped. For one, a lot of jokes/silly comparisons/what have you are repeated multiple times throughout the book, which made me a bit tired of the "(whoever) wouldn't do (a specific thing) if they had (a specific weapon) to their head" (for now). Along with that, maybe it's just because I'm a midwesterner, but I was kind of appalled at how short the trip to the Midwest was. I mean, c'mon, not counting the chapter on Chicago, just Ohio and Wisconsin...? A huge swath of the country is being missed out on. But at the same time, I get it—Loftus has already been on the road for weeks eating variations of the same grotes ue food just about every day and is also
dealing with a breakup
, so I don't think it would be fair of me to complain all that much.

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ivorymusic82's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.5


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larinavalarin's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0


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obtoosegoose's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

Weird, horny, and informative in a combination that only Jamie Loftus is capable of achieving. I loved it. 

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andonovan's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

Like a Connecticut hot dog, which to some is a perfect blend of beef, pork, and sheep intestine,  Raw Dog is a perfect blend of well researched information, touching personal narrative, and genuinely funny and good commentary. 

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