Rating: 
Summary: Don't let facts get in the way of our beliefs? Hmmm!
Review: This is a terrible book for close-minded, prejudiced,"don't confuse me with the facts -- my mind's made up!" typeof people, but an eye-opener for everyone else. Dr. Edell brings a degree of level-headedness and logic to our everyday lives that is refreshing, entertaining, and enlightening. Always willing to adapt to new circumstances and adopt new ideas, his overriding message can probabaly be summmed up in one simple phtase: "Show me the proof!"While the author is a doctor and the book is about health, it is actually more about enjoying life thasn just living it. The subjects are interesting: drugs, diseases and, yes, sex (none of us would be here without it no matter how dirty you may feel it is, Dr. Edell points out); but the treatment of those subjects is what makes this book a delight to read. Cell phones causing brain tumors? Electric transmission lines causing cancer? Here we find not hype and hypervole, not ratings-boosting sensationalism, but simply a true and unbiased discussion of the scientific facts as we have them today. All this -- and it's a fun read too!
Rating: 
Summary: A Refreshing Voice in the Wilderness
Review: Dean Edell is one of the few media health authorities I consider worth listening to. He actually reads studies, instead of press releases, and he is neither mindlessly pro-doctor nor mindlessly eager to trip down the path of the latest alternative fad. This book summarizes current information about alternative medicine, diet, exercise, obesity, and sex -- and comes out with the message that if you do what you enjoy and use common sense, you'll be taking the best possible care of your health. How refreshing! My one caveat is that, although Dr. Dean is a charming and funny writer, he is not a particularly succinct or clear one. Sometimes he will make contradictory statements within the same paragraph, or introduce a factoid without explaining what conclusion he intends to support with it. I found the book frustratingly woolly-headed at times. The science, however, is clear and elegant, and the message is one that needs to be heard by a society increasingly neurotic and obsessed with everything it puts in its mouth.
Rating: 
Summary: "Eat, Drink, and Be Misled" would be a more accurate title
Review: The primary flaw of this book is that it is dry, dull, and inexcusably boring. It drones on in the classically condescending "I know, you don't" style that Edell uses in writing and during his radio shows. Furthermore, Dr. Edell dogmatically delivers opinions that are superficial, misleading, and sometimes patently false. I am a physician who is, within my field of expertise, considerably more knowledgeable than Dr. Edell. Some of his statements in that field are so off the mark that I feel like screaming "you idiot!" and wishing that he would retire so that a better doctor could take his place. Edell fancies himself as a supremely logical person. He is, at times. At other times, he can be very illogical and boldly proclaim things using logic that would earn him an "F" in a college logic course. However, his arrogance apparently prevents him from considering that he may be wrong. Years ago, I was a fan of Dr. Edell. I don't know if my perception of him changed because he is getting worse, or if it just seems that way when I learn more about medicine and realize that his advice is too frequently pathetic.
Rating:
Summary: Following Scientific Proof Instead of Scientific Fraud
Review: I read Dr. Edell's book for a project about America's discourse on weight issues and the powers affecting that discourse. I found his book refreshing and complete with a bibliography of some of the best research being done today. Having read some of the so-called "obesity" research in the journals myself for my project, I can attest to the garbage that is usually published and that the Media prefers to quote over more thorough, controlled, and well-done research that was not affected by the diet industry. The tons of research he describes will alone give readers a great deal of information that you don't normally hear in traditional media (probably because it's not sensational enough or is too controversial), and would never have had the opportunity to learn about, as most of us do not have the time or the staff to trudge throught the thousands of studies published in medical journals every year. I found some of the negative reviews here interesting, and contradictory. There was one person complaining that Dr. Edell talks down to the reader and assumes that the public is stupid and can't make up its own mind, then another reader complaining that Dr. Edell wasn't telling him what he should do with his life! Then there were others complaining that he is closed-minded. The only reasons I can see why there would be such contradictory negative comments is that Dr. Edell simply wasn't telling them what they wanted to hear. As a fat positivist & researcher, I can attest to Dr. Edell's open-mindedness. You will find painfully few doctors as compassionate to large people's experiences with prejudice as Dr. Edell, and as willing to re-consider the popular myths and stereotypes our culture & medical community hold so dear. As far as alternative medicine, it is true that recognition in the medical community has been difficult to attain. Chiropracticts, acupressure, and acupuncture are becoming more commonly used and have proven their benefits. That having been said, at the same time there's also a lot of crap out there. There are tons of "herbal" stores out there out to make a buck as much at the consumer's health expense as with the diet industry, and I have known people who have been damaged by so-called "herbal remedies." Most of the time the only thing these herbs give people--much like vitamin & mineral supplements--is expensive urine and diarrhea. I would say that the approach to alternative medicine should be the same as any other: always be skeptical, and insist that positive results can be reproduced under controlled conditions. While Dr. Edell may not have been terribly positive about current alternative medicines (and I suspect, their misuse), throughout the book he also emphasizes skepticism regarding modern medical practices that can also be harmful, emphasizing that a study should be thorough with tight controls to avoid tainted results. Again the message: be skeptical! Even M.D.'s are capable of prejudice and bias, and in a couple of spots in the book Dr. Edell does insert his personal opinions, but usually he does emphasize that they are his opinions. The only possible "negative" I would say about the book is that Dr. Edell does cover a wide variety of health subjects in one medium-length book. That makes some of his statements and cited research lacking in real deep analysis and explanations. If he decides to write another book, I would suggest he try to narrow his focus to a particular area so he can cover it in more depth. Otherwise, I would consider EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY an excellent read, especially for laypersons wishing the opportunity to learn of good research studies that seldom get published in mainstream media and don't have the time to sift through thousands of articles in medical journals on their own.
Rating:
Summary: "Eat, Drink, and Be Misled" would be a more accurate title
Review: The primary flaw of this book is that it is dry, dull, and inexcusably boring. It drones on in the classically condescending "I know, you don't" style that Edell uses in writing and during his radio shows. Furthermore, Dr. Edell dogmatically delivers opinions that are superficial, misleading, and sometimes patently false. I am a physician who is, within my field of expertise, considerably more knowledgeable than Dr. Edell. Some of his statements in that field are so off the mark that I feel like screaming "you idiot!" and wishing that he would retire so that a better doctor could take his place. Edell fancies himself as a supremely logical person. He is, at times. At other times, he can be very illogical and boldly proclaim things using logic that would earn him an "F" in a college logic course. However, his arrogance apparently prevents him from considering that he may be wrong. Years ago, I was a fan of Dr. Edell. I don't know if my perception of him changed because he is getting worse, or if it just seems that way when I learn more about medicine and realize that his advice is too frequently pathetic.
Rating:
Summary: Another Reference Point
Review: Dr. Dean provides a lot of inherent value in his radio show. He is accessible, direct, humane and free. Foremost, he gives callers enough information to make their own decisions. That's why it was so surprising to find such strong biases in his book. For example, he downplays the danger of fat. He goes further to imply that weight loss attempts are futile. That can't be so - most of us have seen Subway's Jarred on TV? But then Dr. Dean counters that the media is not necessarily the best source of medical information due to its underlying motivations. He doesn't mention that scientific findings are not always concrete and sometimes conflict. This is why anyone does well to consider multiple reference points and form educated conclusions. Don't misunderstand this review: this book is full of interesting data and made me view my kitchen differently, but it is not the ultimate medical reference.
Rating:
Summary: Eat, Drink, and Buy This Book!
Review: Dr. Dean is an excellent clinician, smart as a whip, and an old hippie. He is sensible, not sensationalist, and not afraid to be a contrarian. Moreover, the science in this book is sound and clear. He tries to calm down the hysteria about obesity and other diseases, and to advocate for common sense, justice, and civility. This is a great book for hypochondriacs, too! :-)
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: a slow read. borrow it from the library and save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Review: This book is such a refreshing look at the "alternative" treatment industry. I commend Dr. Edell for having the courage to stand up for the scientific method and the double-blind experiment. Dr. Edell gored many an ox, but he has given me hope that "science can triumph over superstition" once again.
Rating:
Summary: Sex, Weight, Health and Happiness
Review: Edell challenges his readers to think by providing mountains of medical research (in easily digestible form). His genuinely folksy charm pokes at our preconceptions. He offers alternatives and, without preaching, tells us why he belives that the media and the self-help gurus are driving us mad by inevitably trying to sell their own products whilst scaring and belittling us into cycles of depression, another fad, another depression. Here's what the book recommends: Go out and mow the lawn (burns 486 calories); dance with partner (burns 288); garden (burns 587). Oh, and sex! Engage in it often, do what pleases you and your partner. Sex cures headache, raises cardio functioning, relaxes, induces feelings of well-being, and is a drug-free soporific. In short, do what you like, stay active and most of all, enjoy it. One painfully kind chapter covers a group "unacceptable" fat women who must sneak off to swim when the pool's closed to regulars. (Apparently, they offend "regular" people.) This wonderful hour with the "chubs" sums up Edell's warmth and decency. It also lightens all our burdens by allowing us to enjoy this group's simple pleasure. They're sweet and fun; we see another option. Here's Edell's essential truth on staying fit: "The relative risk occurs between the lowest level of fitness and the next lowest level of fitness." Thus, anything beyond moving from a sedentary, really bad diet to moderate exercise and a decent diet is somewhat frivolous--unles you take great pleaure in hours at the gym and drinking celery shakes. Being neither pushy nor dogmatic, Edell gives many examples-- backing up their veracity with medical data gleaned from credible, longitudinal studies. The point here is that we've been struggling, emotionally and physically, to live up to various, ever-changing standards. We force ourselves into regimens that hurt, and ultimately, we fail. To Edell then, don't do it. You'll pay too heavy a psychological price. Of course I recommend this book. Edell is still fighting for us. One hopes that we as a nation fight back against the neuroses-makers. That said, it's very tough giving it a five-star rating-- those are precious and to be rarely given. But, this a fine book for its genre, so five stars it is.
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