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  • Good Calories, Bad Calories

  • Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health
  • By: Gary Taubes
  • Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
  • Length: 25 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (55 ratings)
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Good Calories, Bad Calories

By: Gary Taubes
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
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Summary

This groundbreaking book by award-winning science writer and bestselling author of Why We Get Fat and The Case for Keto shows us that almost everything we believe about the nature of a healthy diet is wrong.

For decades we have been taught that fat is bad for us, carbohydrates better, and that the key to a healthy weight is eating less and exercising more. Yet despite this advice, we have seen unprecedented epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Taubes argues that the problem lies in refined carbohydrates, like white flour, easily digested starches, and sugars, and that the key to good health is the kind of calories we take in, not the number.

Called “a very important book,” by Andrew Weil and …” destined to change the way we think about food,” by Michael Pollan, this groundbreaking book by award-winning science writer Gary Taubes shows us that almost everything we believe about the nature of a healthy diet is wrong.

©2007 Gary Taubes (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“If Taubes were inclined to sensationalism, he might have titled this book The Great Low-Fat Diet Hoax. Instead, he tackles the subject with the seriousness and scientific insight it deserves, building a devastating case against the low-fat, high-carb way of life endorsed by so many nutrition experts in recent years. With diabetes and heart disease at stake as well as obesity, those ‘experts’ owe us an abject apology.” (Barbara Ehrenreich)

Good Calories, Bad Calories is a remarkable accomplishment. From a mountain of diverse scientific evidence Gary Taubes has drawn an amazingly detailed and compelling picture of how diet, obesity, and heart disease link together–and how some of the world’s most important medical researchers got the story colossally wrong. Taubes proves, I think beyond doubt, that the dietary advice we’ve been given for the last three decades by the federal government and the major medical bodies rests on, shall we say, a slender empirical base.” (Charles C. Mann, author of 1491)

“A brave and bold science journalist . . . Taubes does not bow to the current fashion for narrative nonfiction, instead building his argument case by case . . . much of what Taubes relates will be eye-opening.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Fascinating . . . Mr. Taubes has a gift for turning complex scientific principles into engaging narrative.” (The Wall Street Journal)

What listeners say about Good Calories, Bad Calories

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Robust evidence

Thank you for the most informative and objective explorations around evidence, and justifiably criticised expert behaviour which might have contributed towards worse health outcome contrary to believe and expert opinion.

For critical thinkers and impartial decision makers, this literature is a valuable companion and invaluable guide.

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Great research. Thank you. It's not about health.

Even though I'm not a "scientist", I can understand some basics.
And I feel sorry for the people doing a lot of "wrong research", barking at the wrong tree.
Anyway, if you follow the money, you'll understand that the health system and research is not about keeping and making us healthy, but to bring more money on the table of the companies paying for that research.
If we are just alive, not necessarily healthy, that's great for the money making machine, called " The health system".

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the no 1 must read

The summery of our food policy history is the best ever eye-opener. To know this all comes first. To get the powerful food-industries to move on this will be a different battle. Die soon or read this book!

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A difficult book to review

Hard going, but worth it. Thought provoking at least. Complex and confusing in places. Excellent.

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A must read, the truth shall set you free!

Thank you for taking the time to conduct your research and writing this book. Very valuable as a professional in the health industry. Highly recommended.

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Brings to light some controversial questions

I decided to listen to this book after listening to “Why We Get Sick” by Benjamin Bikman. Both of my parents were diabetic and I was well on my way to becoming one as well. This really has opened my mind to the nuances of weight control, insulin and the conventional ideology.

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  • .
  • 06-11-21

comprehensive, contextual, informative

An excellent history and review of the literature and scientific development of our understanding of fat metabolism and the hormonal influence on how the body deals with calories. Much more interesting than the title suggests.

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One of the best science books I’ve ever read.

For the layman such as myself, it gets quite ‘chewy’ in places but this book nearly sews up many previous assumptions about diet, obesity, health & nutrition into a single, unified hypothesis that makes them all make sense.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Good book enjoyed while driving for work

Good book I enjoyed it , book was recommended to me .
and it sort of answers the questions I have , although I do wonder what ultimately has killed more people war or bad diet advice .
this unbiased book uncovers the facts and the motivation of so called diet experts .
ie funding of there cause by junk food industries, I would recommend.

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