Why We Get Fat

And What to Do About It

By: Gary Taubes

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

An eye-opening, myth-shattering examination of what makes us fat, from acclaimed science writer Gary Taubes.

In his New York Times best seller, Good Calories, Bad Calories, Taubes argued that our diet's overemphasis on certain kinds of carbohydrates - not fats and not simply excess calories - has led directly to the obesity epidemic we face today. The result of thorough research, keen insight, and unassailable common sense, Good Calories, Bad Calories immediately stirred controversy and acclaim among academics, journalists, and writers alike. Michael Pollan heralded it as "a vitally important book, destined to change the way we think about food."

Building upon this critical work in Good Calories, Bad Calories and presenting fresh evidence for his claim, Taubes now revisits the urgent question of what's making us fat - and how we can change - in this exciting new book. Persuasive, straightforward, and practical, Why We Get Fat makes Taubes' crucial argument newly accessible to a wider audience.

Taubes reveals the bad nutritional science of the last century, none more damaging or misguided than the "calories in, calories out" model of why we get fat, and the good science that has been ignored, especially regarding insulin's regulation of our fat tissue. He also answers the most persistent questions: Why are some people thin and others fat? What roles do exercise and genetics play in our weight? What foods should we eat, and what foods should we avoid?

Packed with essential information and concluding with an easy-to-follow diet, Why We Get Fat is an invaluable key in our understanding of an international epidemic and a guide to what each of us can do about it.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2010 Gary Taubes (P)2010 Random House

interesting, and makes sense

It was an interesting and intriguing experience.

The good:
Author made a commendable effort to make complex scientific concepts easy to understand. I didn't feel like I was listening to a boring biology or nutrition textbook. There is a bit of drama, a few stories here and there and generally the book is interesting.
I am not an expert on the subject, but I like reading about science etc., and to my knowledge the book makes sense - human bodies evolved to handle certain foods, those bodies are complex organisms rather than simple objects governed by laws of physics, etc.

The not so good:
When author presented the evidence in support of a concept, I felt a bit bored after exhibit C, but it would go on to exhibit D, E, F and on and on. I could not (be bothered to) verify the evidence anyway, so two or three pieces of evidence was enough for me to trust the author.

This is not a diet book, it has no recipes or comprehensive lists of foods, it just explains things, and does it well - which is just what I wanted.

Massive Paradigm Shift!

Life changing book. My entire perception of how fat works was completely wrong. Fat deposits in our bodies aren't "trash cans" for excess calories. They're finely tuned tissue types - just like muscles and organs - predetermined by genetics to be an ideal size. However, this fine tuning of fat tissue can be thrown way out of wack by our modern diet of excessive carbohydrates and sugar - and the endless onslaught of the hormone, insulin, that comes with it.

Cutting carbohydrates is the only way to "reprogram" your fat tissue so that it no longer steals energy from the blood stream and stores it as more fat. Once your fat has been reprogrammed, the weight comes off effortlessly (no calorie restriction at all). Fat and protein don't make you fat - only carbohydrates do. This works for me and thousands of others.

And, best of all, the author goes into the science behind all of it.

Excellent!!

What did you love best about Why We Get Fat?

The scientific research put in easy terms

What was one of the most memorable moments of Why We Get Fat?

The Stanford professor a 25 year Vegan said it's a" Bitter pill to swallow" ,telling his colleagues that their study found this type of eating was beneficial to help in certain heatlh issues

Have you listened to any of Mike Chamberlain’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes very good

Summary of all the facts and clear explination of the mechanism of hormones

I like how he explained the working of hormones and the onteraction betweeen various hormones and food tupes and hormones, I already read many books in this field and already concinced with the principles this book conveys, however its a nice summary with history of the events, highly recommended if you are out of the box thinker

great information

What made the experience of listening to Why We Get Fat the most enjoyable?

Great details of history in this field

What was one of the most memorable moments of Why We Get Fat?

tips of what to do and not do when it comes to food and carbs

Which character – as performed by Mike Chamberlain – was your favorite?

very easy to listen to, clear

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

carbs make us fat

Any additional comments?

mentioned another book within this book several times as a reference but wasn't offered when I purchased this book.

Eye Opening!

This book has answered so many questions (for me regarding why I can't seem to shake the extra 50 pounds I've been carrying on and off for the last 30 plus years! But as a practicing Vegan I was disappointed about the cop out (at least that's the way I view it) the author took in not addressing how we can practice this way of eating and still remain socially responsible for the the way in which we contribute to mistreatment of animals and the pollution of our planet. It would seem that we have a choices to make remain fat and refrain from flesh food or be lean and buy into this privileged opinion that our species has towards other species that we share this planet with. There has got to be a middle ground and I hope the author will undertake the task of writing a follow up to this book that will address this middle ground.

Excellent well researched hypothesis!

I'm not fat, but lots of people in my family are and recently I've been researching body building as well and on almost every level this hypothesis seems to make sense with what I've seen, experienced and researched. Not only that but he backs up his claims with lots of interesting stories and experiments - especially the experiments with lab rats. It's profound.

Great book!

This book was very informative. I didn't realize carbs played such an important roll in being fat. This was such a great book. Anyone wanting to get healthy and lose weight should read this book. I lowered my carb intake to 75 grams for two weeks and down to 60 grams for the next two weeks. I think I've found my number and I'm losing weight . Burning fat, losing inches, 12lbs down and lost never hungry.

Revolutionary information that can end "sick care"

I am a nurse, and wish that dietary education for the patients would change. What if I could give my patients the power to not have to be my patient? what if we could quit prescribing arcane diets for prediabetics, and some type 2's? w could limit infections and amputations, people can gain their lives and their sanity back. Keep pushing this, and thank you for your research and production. this will change my life.

Good Current Scientific Information

This book is a little tedious because it has a lot of information. It is, however, backed up with current science. It does not endorse any specific "diet". It does give info on what makes us fat! I knew it already by what works for me but it gave me the reasons why.