Rating: 
Summary: A Clone of the Atkins Diet
Review: The author presents almost the same information as Atkins: The need for limiting simple carbs, the problem of fluctuating blood sugar, the value of low-glycemic carbohydrates, etc. However, Atkins is much more detailed. The author, Agatson, misrepresents the Atkins diet as a carbohydrate-free one. Nothing could be further from the truth. Atkins, just like this author, recommends a short period of low-carb intake, followed by a gradual increase of low-glycemic carbs, with priority given to nuts and certain vegetables. Both authors also value the good fats, such as those that come from nuts, deep-sea fish, etc. Agatson insists that too much saturated fat is harmful. But nowhere does Atkins recommend an overconsumption of saturated fat. Besides, as pointed out by Atkins, the studies which implicate saturated fats in cardiovascular disease have included a high-carb intake, confounding the results. When saturated fats are consumed in the context of a low or reduced-carb diet, there is no evidence that they are harmful in moderate amounts.
Rating: 
Summary: good diet, but you will still yo-yo
Review: Look. This is a sound diet that will give you results...initially. Any diet, no matter how good, will eventually be abandoned, leaving you with the feeling of failure and self-pity. This diet does have a couple of advantages working in it's favor: First, their are different phases to this diet with varying degrees of restrictiveness and difficulty, and it does get easier after the first phase. Secondly, you will experience a decrease in your cravings for "bad" carbs. But, as with any diet, your desire and longing for "forbidden" foods will eventually overwhelm your will power to stick with the diet.
What's required for any diet to become a permanent part of your lifestyle is altering your eating habits (what we eat, when we eat, how much we eat...). If you learn how to change your habits the diet becomes automatic and you no longer have to work at sticking to it.
There are a number of great books dealing with altering our habits. Any will do, but habit change is the essential key to success missing from all diets and diet books.
Rating:
Summary: Low carb but not no carb
Review: Ok, if you are sick of eating dozens of eggs and the greasy feel of cream is getting to you? But definitely, low carb diets work for you (and me.) So what to do? The "South Beach" diet is a modification of a low-carb diet with the twist of "good fats" and "bad fats." Good fats in this case are oils like olive and NOT butter fat. And not all carbs are bad--high fiber wheat breads come back into the picture far sooner than on the Atkins diet.For those bored with no-carb diets, this is a real boon. Relatives of mine report significant weight loss; the jury is out with me. But to be able to eat some carbs in moderation would indeed be nice. Any diet that limits one food group to extreme is difficult to maintain for a long haul. So this may be the "happy medium" --and an happy medium would certainly be a size medium, right?
Rating:
Summary: Great Health and Nutrition Book
Review: Excellent book which is concise, easy to understand and follow, and provides great results, both weight loss/maintenance and overall health.
Rating:
Summary: Adds that Needed Balance to your life
Review: You can get thin off of this diet. No doubt. This new year I am committed to putting that back in my life. I want to be psychically healthy, emotionally healthy, spiritually healthy. Here are three books that I recommend: "The Power of Now", "The Little Guide To Happiness", and "The South Beach Diet".
Rating:
Summary: Gotta make it a habit
Review: I imagine everyone who has tried to stick to a diet and has failed has felt like the author of the previous review. The only way to permanently change your eating habits is to change your lifestyle. This can only be done through habit change. That doesn't mean that this is not a great diet book. I've found that this diet has helped me more than any previous diet I've ever tried. Kudos to Dr. Agatston.
Rating: 
Summary: I want breadsticks!!!
Review: OK. I can honestly tell you that this is a great diet because, Lord knows, I've tried them all so I'm able to compare and contrast. Your desire and appetite for delicious starches and sugars does subside a little with this diet, and I initially did lose weight, but just like ALL other diets I've tried I now want BREAD!!! Maybe I have some genetic flaw, but I just can't make myself stick to any diet. Give me a breadstick or give me death!
Rating:
Summary: Great DIET, but the BOOK is blah.
Review: I pulled this diet off of the internet before I read the book. In essence, this diet requires a two-page print-out to adequately follow the diet, NOT A 320 PAGE BOOK! First, let me say that I am totally satisfied with the diet. I have lost 15 pounds in a month, and that included the holiday season. So, the diet is great. The BOOK, however, falls short. The most important thing, it seems to me, is the glycemic index, and the book offers this information on a very limited number of foods. For example, peanuts are fine, but what about almonds? Like other reviewers, I found the recipies to be a total waste of ink. My advice is to find the diet online and then, if you MUST, check the book out from the library. But I promise it is a waste of your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Good evolution of Other Diet Plans...Worth A Look/Try
Review: Tried most diet plans before... Many are hard to stay on, many cause big starvation pangs, many leave out foods I miss too much, etc. This is a nice combination of carb restriction ideas, and big portion allowances, but while allowing more food types than other plans. Has effectiveness and a bit more real word sensibility than other similar approaches. In addition to dieting, I strongly recommend "Effortless Wellbeing: The Missing Ingredients for Authentic Wellness" by Evan Finer. This great book will help you get on track in general, to help you feel better at every stage of your wieght loss. The two combined are very potent.
Rating:
Summary: It makes sense, but.....
Review: I bought the book and desperately wanted to do the South Beach Diet. The arguements made in the book are sound. However... As a slightly picky eater, the menu felt limited to me. (The dependence on eggs made me feel like I could never eat breakfast...and my cholestoral wasn't happy either) The list of foods isn't as complete as I'd like...a glaring ommision was diet soda...could I drink it or not? The recipes in the back felt a little fancy...I'm a city girl, not a cook. It might work for you, but I'd suggest taking it out of the library before buying the book.
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