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|  | Authors: T. Colin Campbell, Thomas M. Campbell II
Creators: Howard Lyman, John Robbins
Publisher: Benbella Books
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $10.29
as of 11/22/2009 22:52 CST details
You Save: $6.66 (39%)
New (48) Used (24) from $8.99
Seller: virina76
Rating:  639 reviews
Sales Rank: 288
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 417
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 1
ISBN: 1932100660
Dewey Decimal Number: 613.2
EAN: 9781932100662
ASIN: 1932100660
Publication Date: June 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new book. Immediate shipping!
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 639
 I'm not convinced... November 13, 2009
P. Malone (Boise, ID USA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The quick take home message of this book could be summarized as "eat like a Chinese peasant to avoid degenerative diseases." The author would have you believe that while the Chinese diet is superior to a western diet, you can do even better by becoming a full blown vegetarian, if not a vegan. He cites a study where animal protein intake is clearly bad over a certain percentage of total calories. Where he lost his credibility with me was when he made the leap that if too much animal protein was clearly bad, then virtually no animal protein is going to fill you with health, wellness and vitality. Where on this planet is there any evidence of society of such individuals having thus thrived in the past??? It doesn't exist, because it has never happened. I agree that a vegetarian diet has been shown to reverse heart disease and it clearly gives the body a break away from the factors that caused heart disease in the first place (though it seems we still aren't exactly sure what part of of a western diet are responsible for the carnage - chlorestorol, homocysteine, a by product of insulin sensitivity, animal protein or a little bit of all of them? - the author seems to be pretty squarely in the chlorestorol and animal protein camps). And it could be if you're 60 years old and have nutritionally abused your body very badly for your entire life you may well be wise to start eating vegetarian and keep with it for as long as you wish to remain alive. You've probably got a lot of damage to undo, which will take time. But clearly a diet with limited animal protein intake - like the Chinese eat - will provide the health, wellness and vitality that most of us would like to achieve, and it will do it with a much broader range of choices of tastes, textures and flavors.
All in all, a good book, but it would be far better if not for this one particular leap of illogic.
 Every person who eats food should read this November 12, 2009
Vinit M. Doshi
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent and visionary book. Very well written, easy to read, compellng, and dramatic. Couldn't put it down.
Must read for anyone who cares at all about what we eat and how we live.
Campbell's Last Hoorah To Ease Cognitive Dissonance November 8, 2009
Dale R. Seng (Charlotte, NC USA)
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
Dr. Campbell was doing research in the "all dietary fat is bad" era. This was also the era when America was being sold "Crisco" in huge vats, by the way. Saturated fat has indeed been killing us, no doubt, as is what Campbell calls "sugary junk foods". And No one would say that whole plants are not a healthy food source. But does this mean we should eliminate all animal based foods from our diet? That's the drumbeat of this book. I find, however, the proof to support the extreme position to be very weak.
There is a glaring problem with the "Lessons From China" chapter: high glycemic foods are never mentioned. We hear about how the more affluent Chinese eat more meat, but if they have a few extra bucks for meat, wouldn't they buy more bread, cakes and cookies? My advice for people who still want to read this book, would be to add "and high glycemic foods" every time the phrase "animal based protein" is mentioned in the context of human diet, because the reality is that if you have more money, it's silly to think that 100% of it will be spend on meat alone. I suspect that the more affluent, less healthy, Chinese subjects not only consumed more animal-based foods, they also consumed more high gylcemic foods. The book just doesn't reveal (or the study did not uncover) what's really required: How do the two groups compare on high glycemic food intake? On transfat intake? Were the affluent Chinese subjects eating as much Crisco as Americans were? If so, you don't need to be blaming animal protein!
On the topic of dietary fat, we get the old-school nutrition establishment party line to cut fat, without an offer of where to get the replacement calories (how many pounds of spinach leaves can you eat?). I think it's irresponsible to advise eating no animal based products, and also eating no fat, to Americans that have 1000 high-glycemic choices for every one whole plant based choice. What do they think is going to happen? Haven't the authors heard of the "Snackwells Effect"?
On the topic of human blood cholesterol levels, we read "With almost no exceptions, nutrients from plant-based foods were associated with decreasing levels of blood cholesterol." Really? Was is the plant-based foods, or was it lack of high glycemic foods? I urge people who are interested in books like this one to read Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories", the premise of which is that cholesterol levels are most often worsened not by eliminating meat, but by eliminating high glycemic foods. Taubes is a science writer who combed the research papers and tells a compelling story about why so much of the nutrition establishment is stuck in the 1950's.
Dr. Campbell says, "There are snake oil salesmen ... and there are scientists..." I agree that the laboratory research Dr. Campbell mentions in the book was certainly of great value to understanding some specific mechanisms of cancer. And he goes on to say "...scientists who have formal training, conducted research, and have reported on their findings in professional forums." What he didn't say, and the I would add is "...and so have a lot riding on keeping consistent, even at the expense of ignoring new research that suggests problems with the old way of thinking." And although Dr. Campbell takes on the scientist persona when it comes to his laboratory research, it seems that he and his son are trying to cash-in on the whole plant-based diet thing. Maybe not as blatant as other pitch men, but I don't see that much difference between these authors and the diet gurus; they all believe in what they are saying, and they use the opportunity to cash-in on it.
So although I value the research Dr. Campbell did in understanding cancer mechanisms, I think he is doing a disservice to the collective health of American by continuing to espouse the old-school nutrition establishment party line.
Facts Lead to Change November 8, 2009
Don DeMaderios (Southern California)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
My son told me a story about how he had just purchased this book and was looking through the first few pages while eating lunch at a restaurant. Within a span of five minutes, three separate individuals came to him, unsolicited and offered him their opinion of the book; "that is the greatest book I have ever read", "that book changed my life", "I am a cancer survivor and that book helped save my life". Amazed by these responses, he was compelled to tell me about this book, as I am a stage-four cancer survivor. I purchased a copy for myself and began to read it - then I could not put it down. The bravery of the author and the topic aligned so much with what I believe was a major contributor to my cancer (Colo-rectal which metastasis to the liver) was instigated from diet. Much like the author, I grew up eating a typical western affluent diet, consisting of lots of "meat proteins" as well as other animal products. If I only knew then what I know now... many of my food choices would have been different. Much like parenting does not come with a complete book of instructions, neither does the way we learn to prepare and consume food.
Much of the information in the book is very scientific - but presents itself in a useful, relative manner that allows the reader to easily make interpretations for self-interpretation and self-implementation. In my case, the facts presented in this book have lead to personal change... I have moved to a plant based diet and have been feeling better every day. More alert, energetic and healthy! While you need not do the same, you should read this book and make the changes that are right for YOU! I am a firm believer that if you arm yourself with knowledge from many sources, you can make an informed decision. This book arms you with food information and will prepare you to make better food choices. If you love yourself, your family and friends - then take the time to read this book, even if only in part. It could save your life! It has become a part of saving mine.
The China Study November 7, 2009
Phillip Mcgrew (Topeka, KS)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the most compelling book on nutrition I have ever read. I highly recommend everyone read it for the valuable information it contains and then decide for yourself how it fits into your life. You need to know the effect nutrition has on the disease process. It could save your life in the long run.
Showing reviews 6-10 of 639
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