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

Excellent read

Makes so much sense and easy to understand. Lots of history and studies to support the philosophy.

LIPIDOSIS 101

If you need inspiration to get you going on dieting for 2011, this will do it! Although the basic principles are known to those of us who are avid readers on how to lose weight, and this book essentially covers those basics, this author is very good at explaining difficult material such that all can understand. Further, there is a surprising twist that leaves one with an "Aha" experience. We all know which foods we should cut out, but do we REALLY understand why? If not, then one is not really motivated to do what is necessary. This author motivates!

I really appreciated the narrator's slow careful enunciation of this difficult material.

I'm glad I read (heard) it

I began this audio book knowing roughly what to expect. I knew it wasn't a diet book per se, but that it aimed to be a thinking person's guide to the science behind carb reduction's benefits.

I am a skeptic by nature. I was predisposed to disrespect the book because it was written by a popular science writer as opposed to a PhD or endocrinologist. The first part annoyed me because the author lays out all kinds of anecdotes before attempting to explain the physiological mechanisms.

However, the longer the book went on, the more I could not deny its compelling argument. For myself, I decided to do an experiment on my own body and try the way of eating that Taubes espouses. I'll see for myself if I get leaner and what the diet does to my LDL/HDL numbers. But I consider it a rather long-term experiment, because I'm merely reducing sugars and simple carbs, not eliminating them.

Here are some additional comments:

1. The narrator pronounces "causal" wrong somewhere in the first third of the book. He repeats the error, saying "casual" instead of "causal," which is kind of funny because it has a rather opposite meaning in this context. I almost poked my eye out over the fact that no one caught this mistake. Towards the end he does it again... he says "casualty" instead of "causality"... I was on the plane listening and I think I said something out loud like, "whaaa???" causing my neighbor to look at me funny.

2. Also towards the end, the author just nonchalantly mentions that if you use coffee, diet soda or other artificial sweetners, you may miss the benefits of carb reduction. What? You can't just throw that in there and not tell us why. I'm just sayin'.

Changed my life

As soon as I finished I bought an Adkins's diet book and began avoiding carbohydrates.
It worked wonderfully, I have lost around 10 pounds and the most amazing thing, I am eating more and feeling a lot better. So buy, and read the book. It is a miracle.

An interesting factual reference to eating

If I had to write my review in 20 words or less it read like this:-
You are what you eat, the quality of carbs impact our health, facts are everywhere but sometimes an author puts them together that just makes sense.

Enjoy!

A Must Read

I wish I had known about this book when it was printed but I was lucky enough to read it as of today. I found a similar book by John Kiefer Carbonite solution that I started in 11 years ago. I can attest to everything that Gary Taubes stated to be a fact. I started eating exclusively, protein, and fat and salt, and I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for the last 10+ years. I am a 51 years old woman 5’6 and weight 140lbs effortlessly. also, my labs are impeccable:D

Amazing

Great book with amazing knowledge and told easy to listen manner. I will highly consider listening to his other book good calories bad calories

excellent pro low carb way of life.

carb restriction is here to stay. Taubes nails it. 11 year veteran here of eating this way.

LOVE IT!

Back and eggs, Chicken and Spinach, Steak! I can do this. It's what I wanted to do.

seems to be working.

I have been trying this program sense Jan 29th. I was 225 then and now I am somewhere around 215, my energy seems to be ok, and I am happy so far with the diet. it's a bit of a stretch to try and explain this diet and what I am doing to other people because of their mindset but I will keep at it and see how it works. I have been eating less than 80gs of carbs per day and even less some other days. I listened to gary on one of joe rogans podcasts and that's what led me here. thanks again!