Mehmet C. Oz

I enjoyed YOU: On a Diet for an interesting reason that may not be immediately apparent to those considering reading this "diet" book. I enjoyed it because the book reads like it's written for a 9th grader but simultaneously treats the reader as if they have more than two IQ points to rub together. Now that's not meant to be an insult to 9th graders. My point is that it's written in simple language that's entertaining to read but at the same time, the book teaches you complex concepts so show more that you understand the science behind why your body reacts the way it does to certain foods, why you get hungry when you do, and why excercise and certain types of foods improve or exacerbate your health concerns.

The reader isn't treated to a "trust me, if you eliminate this food, all your woes will end" routine. You're treated as someone who wants to learn how your body works and how to improve your physiology.

Some will be quick to dismiss the book as "sure, sure, it's the same old story - excercise 30 minutes a day and eat right." OK...and??? Of course it is. That's how you lose weight (or, more importantly, "waist" per the authors) and keep it off for the long haul. I applaud them for not creating some trendy fad diet. There are enough of those out there stealing people's money.

For me, the book was a reinforcement of why I should cut out trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, why I should eat plenty of veggies and whole grains, and why I should make sure and give at least 30 minutes everyday to excercise my body. They don't just say I should - I knew that. They say WHY. That resonates with me. I compare it to the old adage - “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.” Irrespective of whether or not I choose to follow the specifics of their recommended plan, I can now "fish" for myself. To my knowledge, there aren't too many diet books that can claim that. My impression has always been that they are prescriptive in nature and require a specific regimen.

I have a much better understanding of the importance of eating well and getting some exercise. That's worth 4 stars to me. This is the best "diet" book I've read. Then again, I wouldn't call it a diet book. I'm also not a big diet trend follower/reader either so maybe I'm being overly critical of them - but I doubt it. I look forward to reading YOU: The Owner's Manual. show less

This book is from 2009 (and perhaps there are updated editions, but my library's was acquired in 2009 so it's contemporary to that period) and... it shows, with the early focus on epigenetics (still relevant, but maybe not the hot topic it was over a decade ago).

Thing is, these pop doctors decide to use that as an excuse to remind you that EVERYTHING you do can influence not only your baby, but your baby's baby in the future etc. even though advice wasn't concrete on how exactly you might show more be methylating your strands. I should've remembered that the other books in this line are on the dieting/self-improvement end of things, so that shouldn't surprise me.

I do like that this book was organized by topic/system, rather than chronological. Was it just me, or did all the people in illustrations have elf ears? almost a political cartoon style of diagram...

The section on vaccination tried to Both Sides it (as they mentioned the doctor author team was divided), with pro-science accurately saying they felt that showing anti-vax positions they were accidentally legitimizing it as a point of view. Oz, unsurprisingly, delayed vaccination for his kids in the individual author note, but his background is in heart surgery, not obstetrics/pediatrics.

Would not recommend, though if you're curious absolutely more of a library read like what I did. show less

I was amazed at how much I learned with this book. I'm reading a lot of books about staying young and magazine articles, but this book explains it all....puts it together so it's do-able and makes perfect sense. The sense of humor running throughout the book is very entertaining, and the illustrations put it all in perspective.

Begins with a 50 question "quiz" to determine how "body smart" YOU are. The choices were interesting and few of the answers were easy. Most of what is held up in popular culture is truly wrong. I thought I knew most of the health mantras, but it was helpful to pick up this perspective.