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  • Why We Get Fat

  • And What to Do About It
  • By: Gary Taubes
  • Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (898 ratings)

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Why We Get Fat

By: Gary Taubes
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
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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
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What listeners say about Why We Get Fat

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Do not diet without listening to this first!

A straightforward take on a really simple concept. I listened to this while on a VLCD and it makes more sense than virtually everything else I have heard - not so easy to follow but with the tools available you are then empowered! Definately worth listening to if you want to control your weight in the long term.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very informative and convincing

I loved the book. It made me both understand and believe in the idea of scrapping carbohydrates in favour of fat and meat. However, i instantly tried it for three weeks, whereafter I had my cholesterol levels checked, and they had gone worse. So I take the ideas less seriously now, with a lot less carbohydrates and sugar.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very mind opening book!

Love it. Read it with open mind. Book very much so using plain English. Easy to listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved that it wasn't a diet book.

Not overly data heavy but because of the detail of the discussed experiments, if you want to follow up on the statistics you can. Great overall meaning and liked how it was read, even on the factual stuff it was clear.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A real eye opener!

Taubes very effectively lays out the evidence (or lack of) as well as the physiology behind adipose accumulation and the likely dietary causes.
I would recommend that any other Doctors, after coming to the realisation that the usual dietary advice fails to help their obese patients lose weight, should read this book as a good starter point to an alternative way of managing obesity.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

highly educational

I learnt so much thank you! Here's to my new lifestyle without sugar/carbs. already 11lbs Down by the time I finished the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Life Changing. Wow!

I had no idea. And now at least four of my friends are just as stunned after buying their own copies.

If you've ever wanted to lose weight. If you've ever struggled to be slim, PLEASE try this book. I've listened to it three times so far and I'm still learning.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

For the patient listener

I was very familiar with the subject of the audiobook, but even I needed self-disciplin to not to turn it off due to the lengthy descriptions and sentences. Keep it simple guys..

As for the subject - a few things I didn't know about the behaviour of fat cells and insulin spikes. A very good book, but not for a novice.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very good

in the end it was an exceptional book however the first half of the book is very slow with the author repeating myself again and again! but once he came through this it's became the 5star rating I gave it

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Interesting, informative yet repetitive

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend a friend to listen to just the first half of the book as by the time you get to half way, you kinda get the jist of it.

Would you ever listen to anything by Gary Taubes again?

Of course! Everyone deserves a second chance.

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

I haven't. I thought his performance was good comparing him to other narrators.

Did Why We Get Fat inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to not get fat in ways I thought not possible before.

Any additional comments?

This book has had a positive impact on my life.

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