jesanchez's review against another edition
1.0
This book started out fine to me. I was even taking down notes on some entries that I found practical and interesting. However, as I progressed through my reading, I observed that the author has nothing but his false interpretation about low carb diet, despite the citations in between statements. I also felt like he's using the book to vent his insecurity and anger towards other paleo, atkins, and low carb authors, who by the by, were professionals and huge in the field of health, science, and research. It's just so sad that his high conviction on low carb "fraud" only seemed to have a lot more to do on his antics and rants than to uncover truth about nutrition and health.
jcraigmckay's review against another edition
1.0
When your life work is bound to a concept, it’s almost impossible to adopt a balanced view of the alternatives. Campbell seems unable or unwilling to recognise a difference between animal-based fats and plant-based fats, lumping them all together, and maintains a consistent assumption that high fat must also include high animal protein - perhaps because he fears the distinction may shake his central idea. Sounded like an old angry scientist trying to keep himself relevant amidst advances in knowledge, and seriously damaging the benefits of his thesis in the process by being so dogmatic.
frankvandenbroecke's review against another edition
1.0
Campbell is critisizing others for their lack of proof, but proves nothong himself about his own theory. Don’t spoil your time and money with this book. His first aim is to sell more books and the book of his daughter.
jackiijackii's review
4.0
A delightful trolling of the "scientists" and journalists who manipulate or misrepresent nutritional studies in order to promote a low-carb diet, written by an actual scientist who's been studying health and nutrition for almost five decades, and has first-hand experience trying to deal with the politics of the food industry.
Honestly, I don't know how anyone could read The China Study and still think a low-carb diet has any merit. My motto has always been "Never trust a diet that lets you eat a pound of lard, but won't let you eat an apple."
Will you lose weight on a low-carb diet? Sure, I'll give it that. You'll also lose weight by starving yourself. You'll also lose weight if you cut out everything but olive oil, or hot peppers, or fruit skins.
Is a low-carb diet healthy? Heck no. Come on, people. You can't convince me that steak and eggs cooked in animal fat is healthier than a fruit salad, because it's not, and I'm smart enough to know that. There's plenty of unmanipulated data to support this.
Is a low-carb diet sustainable? Nope. Not for your body, and not for the planet.
Of all the points Campbell makes, my favorites are that humans need Vitamin C--which is found only in plants--whereas carnivores like cats don't, so why on earth would we model our diet after a mammal with different nutritional needs? And that the closest species to us is apes, whose diet is almost completely plant-based.
This book is more like a pamphlet, an exasperated rebuttal to the low-carb diet craze and its false claims. Campbell is more than qualified to comment on it, so it takes the tone of a parent or teacher rolling their eyes and saying "I can't believe I have to explain this to you again. OK, pay attention this time and don't interrupt."
Honestly, I don't know how anyone could read The China Study and still think a low-carb diet has any merit. My motto has always been "Never trust a diet that lets you eat a pound of lard, but won't let you eat an apple."
Will you lose weight on a low-carb diet? Sure, I'll give it that. You'll also lose weight by starving yourself. You'll also lose weight if you cut out everything but olive oil, or hot peppers, or fruit skins.
Is a low-carb diet healthy? Heck no. Come on, people. You can't convince me that steak and eggs cooked in animal fat is healthier than a fruit salad, because it's not, and I'm smart enough to know that. There's plenty of unmanipulated data to support this.
Is a low-carb diet sustainable? Nope. Not for your body, and not for the planet.
Of all the points Campbell makes, my favorites are that humans need Vitamin C--which is found only in plants--whereas carnivores like cats don't, so why on earth would we model our diet after a mammal with different nutritional needs? And that the closest species to us is apes, whose diet is almost completely plant-based.
This book is more like a pamphlet, an exasperated rebuttal to the low-carb diet craze and its false claims. Campbell is more than qualified to comment on it, so it takes the tone of a parent or teacher rolling their eyes and saying "I can't believe I have to explain this to you again. OK, pay attention this time and don't interrupt."
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