Books to read

[Lyndzie]

I need some summer reading recommendations. What food-related books do you like? Anything new-ish? Or an old favorite?

I was thinking about reading the Blue Zones book, but can’t figure out which one is the right one. Anyone know which copy to get?

[Vegankit]

I read both The blue zones : lessons for living longer from the people who've lived the longest and Thrive : finding happiness the Blue Zones way by Dan Buettner. I preferred the The blue zones.

other related suggestions
Rethinking aging : growing old and living well in an overtreated society and Stabbed in the Back: Confronting Back Pain in an Overtreated Society by Nortin M. Hadler.
The pleasure trap : mastering the hidden force that undermines health & happiness / Douglas J. Lisle, Alan Goldhamer. Lisle, Douglas J., 1959-

This is a well researched book that's fun but not diet related
Scream : chilling adventures in the science of fear / Margee Kerr.

Enjoy your holiday

[metabolica]

I just finished Anderson's The Food of China, and once I finish The Woman in the Window, I'm planning to read von Bremzen's Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking.

[roundcoconut]

It is not food related, but it is goal-related:

Commit to Win, by Heidi Reeder

The premise of the book is that we can toggle our own commitment levels to any undertaking, rather than let our commitment levels feel outside of our control. (Like, "I just can't seem to commit to an exercise plan" or "I can't seem to muster the will to leave my relationship (or job)", or whatever.

I love the ideas in the book, but it is probably better as a library book than as a "keep-it-on-your-shelf-forever" book.

That's one idea for you, and I'll see if anything else occurs to me!

[forgood]

Some of the ones I'm currently reading besides the Starch Solution,

The Cheese Trap by Neal D. Barnard
(cheese does the worst to me and it's the hardest to quit)

Catching Fire, How cooking made us human, by Richard Wrangham
(half way through this one)

Fast Food Genocide by Joel Furhman,
Not the starch solution diet, but he makes some good points about the SAD

[Willijan]

The history of the world through potatoes:
John Reader's The Potato: The Propitious Esculent
Highly interesting.

by Charles C. Mann, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
About the Columbian exchange. Includes movement of food plants and much more. Very worth reading.

Also, I recommend Catching Fire, mentioned in a post above.

[Vegankit]

The history of the world through potatoes:
John Reader's The Potato: The Propitious Esculent
Highly interesting.

by Charles C. Mann, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
About the Columbian exchange. Includes movement of food plants and much more. Very worth reading.

Also, I recommend Catching Fire, mentioned in a post above.

Potato: A History of the Propitious Esculent by John Reader and 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus by Charles C. Mann are both incredibly fascinating books. I personally wasn't so fond of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human by Richard Wrangham.

[Rosey]

All suggests above are great. I've been re reading McDougall's books at moment and gardening books.

[Grammy Ginger]

The history of the world through potatoes:
John Reader's The Potato: The Propitious Esculent
Highly interesting.

I forgot about this one. Agreed--highly interesting and Dr.M recommended.

[Drew_ab]

Too many to list:
-The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall
-Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Essylstyn
-The Spectrum by Dr. Ornish
-The Alzehemiers Solution by Dr. Sherzai & Dr. Sherzai
-The Longevity Diet by Dr. Valter Longo
-The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell
-How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger
-Engine 2 Diet by Rip Essylstyn
-The End of Dieting by Dr. Joel Fuhrman

[Sharky]

If you love fruit, as I do, try:

The Fruit Hunters:A Story of Nature, Adventure, Commerce, and Obsession, by Adam Leith Gollner

The Food Explorer:The True Adventures of the Globe-trotting Botanist who Transformed What America Eats, by Daniel Stone

I also found Valter Longo's Longevity Diet worthwhile, esp. for his five pillars of evidence and his discussion of how too much protein or sugar stimulates metabolic pathways that facilitate aging.

The most thought-provoking book I've read recently is Michael Pollan's new book, How to Change Your Mind: How the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. Pollan provides a rich history of psychedelics, how it played out in the culture, the new research, and his own experiences with guided "trips." Did you know that Bill W., the cofounder of AA, attributed his sobriety to a mystical experience he had on belladonna, and that he urged the AA board to consider LSD therapy? Psychedelics can indeed open the mind to a "higher power"! The book is full of fascinating stories like that, and it's extremely well-written. I cannot recommend it too highly.

[bunsofaluminum]

I LOVED the Omnivore's Dilemma. It isn't veggie-centric, but makes some really good observations about food in our country. I enjoyed it a lot, and it's a quick read with plenty of food for thought.

[Willijan]

Thanks for your recommendations, Sharky! I just bought Michael Pollan's How To Change Your Mind, due to your post.

[Lyndzie]

I so appreciate all these recommendations! I ended up picking up The Blue Zones book from the library and came across The Whole Foods Diet book when scanning the shelf (I skipped over the paleo and keto stuff).

the Blue Zones has been a pretty quick read, I’m about halfway through already. I’m surprised at how much it’s written more like a story, as opposed to a science book. I guess I was expecting something more along the lines of The China Study. Not a criticism, but an observation.

After these two books I’m going to pick up The Cheese Trap next, because that is by far my biggest temptation, and I’m making exceptions too often these days.

[Dougalling]

I LOVE this book

www . gutenberg . org/ebooks/22829