Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The point of book reviews should be to review the book, which is tricky if the book is a diet book. All of the reviews I have read of this book discuss the diet program; few discuss the book itself. This review, and its two stars, are for the book itself. First, what the book gets right: the book is gorgeous and very nicely designed. Most recipes have photographs, which are also gorgeous. The paper stock is of high quality, and there is no book jacket, but rather a glossy cloth cover, which would probably wipe off easily in the kitchen. The recipes are also nicely proportioned: most cookbooks have recipes for 4-6 people, which in today's family is increasingly unreasonable. The recipes are often for two servings, which is rare in a cookbook and which gets high praise from me, as a bachelor (I hate eating the same stuff for three days because the portions were too huge for something I made). However, the "serves 2" denominator I like also brings me to what is lamentable about the book. There are three problems: (1) the writing style; (2) subjective recipes; and (3) organization. Let me discuss each in turn. First, as a middle-aged person the worst thing about this book is how it is written: I simply find the prose is written from a snotty-nosed, privileged white person's perspective who believes you, the reader, are an idiot. Example: "Yes, you can drink coffee. You're welcome. . . . And (tough love ahead), if you 'just don't like' black coffee, you are either not buying good coffee or you actually don't like coffee . . . ." The authors set themselves up as your "master" ("you're welcome") and then present you a false dichotomy: either you are buying crap coffee or you really just don't like it. Seriously? There is no such thing as an enjoyment of a blend of flavors; some folks like nuts in ice cream. Does that mean they really only like the nuts? So the Italians who love their cappuccinos just don't like espresso? This kind of address to a reader is insulting and manipulative. Related to the writing is research: there are all sorts of non-mainstream medical claims that go unsubstantiated; not one source is cited for claims about foods that cause inflammation and so on--everything is on the "trust us" foundation of authority. Similarly, they admit their writing is deliberately deceptive, too: in a chapter titled "One Pot Meals," the authors begin by writing, "Before you get too excited at the title of this section, we need to tell you something. You will be using more than one pot to prepare some of these dishes. Okay, most of these dishes." "One pot meals" in the world of cookery means "cooked in one pot," ergo the term. Such misdirection means the writing (and titles, and packaging) are all about marketing--not necessarily your health, which is second. Nothing wrong with making money--but if you make it with bait-and-switches in the name of your betterment, that's morally suspicious. Second, the recipes are more a reflection of the tastes of the authors than the program of the diet: a great many of the "approved" recipes include sweet potatoes and coconut. I hate sweet potato and am allergic to coconut. Of course, there are easy substitutions for these, but rarely are such substitutions mentioned. (There are also not many recipes; the bulk of this book is more or less dieting pop psychology.) Third, the arrangement of the book is impractical and, for some, too basic--especially for more experienced cooks: the front matter spends a lot of time teaching cooking basics (there is a recipe, no joke, for cooking eggs, a steak, a piece of salmon, etc. ) and how to create some staple condiments . . . more pages on what do's and don't's and how to shop in the grocery store and what utensils you need for a kitchen. All of this content signals an 18-24 year old audience, of course. Then by the time you get to the recipes they will often send you to the back of the book for sauce recipes (cilantro mayo), which then of course send you back to a basic sauce recipe (mayo) so you can make the cilantro mayo in the back of the book that goes on the steak salad recipe in the middle of the book. Can you say flip-flop? They also add special sections of "fancy pants" meals at the end, which again, signals the target audience of this book. Having a book address you as an idiot and a brat (they call it "tough love," I call it immaturity) may work for some people, and this thing was clearly written for a more entitled millennial readership for whom being addressed like a moron is "funny." I suspect it is akin to +South Beach+ for my generation (I like SB, I like how their things are written, and the recipes are user friendly). As someone who writes for a living, however, I think the way this book addresses me as a basically, intelligent reader who struggles with my weight is disrespectful and betrays an attitude toward me that is superior and arrogant. Many times I wanted to throw the book across the room: "We'd generally recommend no more than one to two cups [of coffee] a day . . . . Not that you asked for our opinion." Seriously, I bought your book, why the unnecessary snark? They didn't need to include that last sentence, "Not that you asked for your opinion." Could have cut. Leaving it in is obnoxious. I would advise most readers over the age of 25 who like to cook to avoid the book and find what you need online instead. I have found superior recipes, from friendly voices, on online forums for this diet. I'll try any diet once. I'm trying this one, but the "authors" have not been helpful.