Don't Eat This Book

By: Morgan Spurlock

Narrated by: Morgan Spurlock

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Can man live on fast food alone? Morgan Spurlock tried to do just that. For 30 days, he ate nothing but three "squares" a day from McDonald's as part of an investigation into the effects of fast food on American health. The resulting documentary won him resounding applause and a worldwide release that broke box-office records. Audiences were captivated by Spurlock's experiment, during which he gained 25 pounds, his blood pressure skyrocketed, and his libido all but disappeared.

But this story goes far beyond Spurlock's good-humored "Mc-Sickness". He traveled across the country, into schools, hospitals, and people's homes, to investigate school lunch programs, the marketing of fast food, and the declining emphasis on health and physical education. He looks at why fast food is so tasty, cheap, and ultimately seductive, and what Americans can do to turn the rising tide of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes that have accompanied its ever-growing popularity. He interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, from surgeons general and kids to lawmakers and marketing gurus who share their research, opinions, and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth and what we can all do to offset a health crisis of supersized proportions.

In this groundbreaking, hilarious book, "benevolent muckraker" Morgan Spurlock debuts a wry investigative voice that will appeal to anyone interested in the health of our country, our children, and ourselves.

©2005 Morgan Spurlock (P)2005 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Fact-packed and funny, this offshoot of Spurlock's Oscar-nominated documentary Super Size Me serves both as a substitute for and addition to the movie....Spurlock's wisecracks make the statistic-laden information easily digestible." (Publishers Weekly)

A must-read!

If you liked the tongue-in-cheek style of the superblockbustermegahit "Super Size Me," you'll love this book, graciously read by the man himself. Conversely, if you like this book, you MUST watch the movie!

Unfortunately, most people who absorb these materials are the ones who are interested in this subject because they already know better than to eat the crap they try to force down our throats. Listen to and/or read this book, and spread the word to your fat friends!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

A Must-Listen

A must-listen title -- Morgan covers it all, from the fast food chains to the FDA and the USDA, school lunches and Big Food. A lot of what he says is horrifying, eye-opening, and after you listen, you'll think twice about what you put in your mouth!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great info!

My entire family loved this book. In fact, my dyed-in-the-wool Texan hunter husband began eating both organic and local - and tofu - after listening to this audiobook. They recently started showing the movie in our school district as well. This ought to be mandatory reading for anyone who eats - which is, well, everyone. What you find out about what is in your food will shock you. We haven't eaten fast food since, or purchased meat from a grocery store.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Entertaining audio, but not much new science.

I'm glad I chose the audio version. If I read the book I'd have missed Spurlock's fine audio performance. This book pretty much boils down to an entertaining cover version of Fast Food Nation. FFN though contained lots more disgusting details so FFN might be a better choice if you're mainly looking for something that will upset your stomach long enough to keep you out of the drive-thru lane. But knowledgeable folks who have fought the diet wars for any length of time may not find much new science here.
Spurlock may not solve the obesity epidemic by picking a fight with a clown but it makes for good sport, especially since most of us have little sympathy for the clown. The criticism here is that Spurlock's approach does not do justice to the problem. Writings by those who apply real science to the problem, such as Harvard's Dr. Willett who Spurlock often quotes, have much more humility and respect for the complexity of the issue. Sure, we are fat because we overeat, but science remains very much in the dark about what makes each individual hungry or full. Clown bashing suggests that we've all simply been duped by big food. While that may be true for young kids, it is unfair to many intelligent, informed and otherwise self-controlled people who struggle with overeating. If Spurlock's book reinforces the belief that all overweight are uninformed fools who lack self-control it will in the long run do more harm than good.
So, the book entertained me but if I want to solve my appetite problem I guess I'll have to look elsewhere since in the past 2 years I've spent more money on Spurlock than McDonalds. Then again, I'm just a stupid fat guy so what do I know?

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A great book

This was a great listen! It really made me begin to think about the food that I eat and the food that I allow my children to eat. It also made me more aware of the marketing tricks that these companies use to make these awful products appear to be a part of a balanced lifestyle.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Necessary Read

Sure this book reiterates many of the facts and figures in SuperSize me and Fast Food Nation. Sure it is not especially scientific nor does it necessarily provide solutions to the problems it presents. Sure, it is sensationalistic and in-your-face. But considering the epidemic that is obesity, and what seems to be a "treat the effect and not the cause" attitude that far too many people hold, a book like this is what we need in addition to the others mentioned to open our eyes just a bit to what is certain to be a long uphill climb to some degree of healthiness and longevity.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A must listen

I have bought many books. Quite simply, Morgan is excited about his book. Just listen to a brief sample and you will hear it in his voice. He will excite you too. As the world of audible books grows, narrators must take his example. This is one of the few books that are going into my A list. I can't wait to see what he will do next!!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Recycled from Schlosser

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser covered all of the ground that Spurlock covers and more, and without the silly sensationalism of making himself sick in the process. I don't mind that the information that Fast Food is bad for you (duh) is getting out there, but this comes close to plagiarism. It's definitely strongly recycled.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Fast Food Effects

If you could sum up Don't Eat This Book in three words, what would they be?

Influences to obesity

If you could give Don't Eat This Book a new subtitle, what would it be?

Social markings effect on our nation.

Any additional comments?

The book chapters are all wrong they need to fix this when lessening to the book. i had a hard time fallowing along. i actual had to buy the book and mark the chapters so i could comprehend some of the content with relations to the chapters.

Enjoyable and Interesting Listen!

I very much enjoyed listening to Spurlock's narration! Although it had some additional information than from his movie (Super Size Me, most of it was a recap. Still very much worth the listen though.