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Summary: 5 stars
Review: It takes away alot of stress and makes you think twice about your worries
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Summary: The most no-nonsense book you can ever read!
Review: I am so impressed with this book. I recommend everyone to read it at least once. I, myself, have ready it several times. It's a great read, written genuinely based on research materials, and just pure truth. For people who are looking for facts, this is the book for you. For people looking for the latest fad, this book is for you too, not because this book is a fad, but because it will rid your obsession with diets. The bottom line is this: Stop living in fear and start living. We are fed too much information that we are confused. We have forgotten to listen to our bodies, our gut, and enjoy life. We live our life based on information we receive from the media. We are brainwashed. This book is so refreshing and it feels right in every way. I recommend this book, especially for people obsessed with their diet. You will not need to read any other self-help books after this one. Guaranteed.
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Summary: Ditto, Dr. Edell... Ditto!
Review: Here are the FACTS that support what we have all KNOWN in our hearts for so long. I am in complete agreement with absolutely EVERYTHING Dr. Edell has to say. I was impressed with Dr. Edell's style of writing: eloquent, but casual--exactly as he speaks. I love that he can objectively look at all sides of a health issue, is not afraid to make SANE choices, is not afraid to present facts that don't necessarily support his position, and is not afraid to change his mind given a new set of facts. I'm e-mailing everyone I know to tell them to BUY THIS BOOK.
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Summary: Dr. Dean Tells the Truth
Review: I often listen to Dr Dean while commuting, and I'm never disappointed because I always learn something useful. I feel the same way about his "Eat Drink and Be Merry" book. It's entertaining and contains health information that enables me to filter out media hype. It seems that he is only trying to sell the truth rather than the latest fad diet or miracle pill. If you are interested in a realistic fitness book take a look at my book on Amazon.com. It's called "Fitness It's Gotta Be Quick & It's Gotta Be Easy."
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Summary: Just What The Doctor Ordered
Review: All right, it's a good book! However, Dr Edell's book was a surprise to me. I expected a book of medical problems that affect people...you know the story of life and changes we go thru on the way toward death. He's a doctor and that's the sort of book doctor's write. Instead it was the everyday conditions of life and how they effect our well being. One of the big messages through out the book is that nothing is so simple or clearcut as the media medicos would like you to believe. We are all truely unique. An interesting example was Winston Churchill who lived more than 90 years eating wrong,smoking,and not exercising. How come? I really enjoyed the last chapter on happiness. Out of this I thought about what was the point of exercise, or eating healthy,or regular doctor visits. Even the value of having an unhappy, high paying, stress packed job. How about living to ancient old age? I recommend reading this chapter 1st and then reading the rest of the book. This isn't really a medical book, it's more of a book of truthful knowledge. For me it was knowing we're all going to die but using our time to build the life we really want and not be led around by life's fear mongers.
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Summary: Exactly What I Was Looking For
Review: I've only heard of Dr. Dean, never really seen him, but now I'll make a point to tune in. He brought a fresh, objective, very funny at times approach to the basic health questions we all want answers to but find confusing based on modern medicine.
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Summary: What's Not To Like?
Review: Let's face it: radio airtime these days is just brimming with cranks, cretins, and political wackos. For those of us who have had our fill of Dr. Laura and Rush And The Dittoheads, a man like Dean Edell represents a veritable breath of fresh air. Ex-hippie Edell is an erudite, intelligent, and compassionate radio M.D. who cuts through the multilayered nonsense surrounding contemporary health issues and to provide information and wisdom over the airwaves daily. Consequently, to now have available a full-length book by Dr. Edell is a wonderful thing, indeed. Edell makes his living answering on-the-air listener questions about health issues. He does not prescribe, he shies away from on-the-air diagnoses, and he never bullies his listeners the way certain other talk show hosts habitually do. Instead, he listens, he supports, and he offers sensible advice based upon the latest medical information available. Edell and his staff review health and medical journals by the score, trying to sort out the good studies from the bad, the useful conclusions from the quackery. As a result, he is always worth listening to, and in this case, definitely worth reading. Edell does not simply proffer "information"; to be sure, his own viewpoint and values are integrally a part of the presentation. But in doing so, he combines knowledge and critical thinking with compassion and a humanistic concern for others. The resulting formulations are in my opinion wise, mature, good-humored, and learned. Overall, his philosophy is represented by the title of the book, "Eat, Drink & Be Merry." This does not mean we should live our lives with desperate and reckless abandon (since "tomorrow we may die"), but instead that we should accept basically who we are, live in the moment and enjoy life, rather than fretting uselessly over how *long* our lives will be and whether or not our physical appearance is as perfect as that of various movie stars or models. In supporting this philosophical conclusion, Edell demonstrates that drastic dieting and strenuous exercise are of limited benefit to most people, that most people who live to be one hundred years old spend those last decades in ill health, and that to a great extent, "happiness" itself is an elusive product of inborn disposition, rather than the result of following any particular formula, strategy, or philosophy. Edell shows courage (and to my way of thinking, common sense) when he questions the ferocity of our various wars on drugs, arguing that neither long-term heroin use nor casual recreational marijuana use are nearly as destructive to society overall as are the legal use of alcohol and tobacco. No, he does not come out and advocate any particular policies, but his message that we should rethink our current drug laws and policies is quite clear. Overall, Edell eschews health fanaticism of all types and urges us to "lighten up" in our approach to health issues. A diet high in fruits and vegetables and reasonably low in fat, a regular but not punitive exercise regimen, an avoidance of smoking and heavy drinking, and a general avoidance of excessive stress and worry seem to be what he's calling for in this book. Edell certainly doesn't address all of the possible questions readers might have about health, diet, and lifestyle, but people who read this book will definitely finish it wiser and better-informed than they were when they first picked it up.
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Summary: I agree with "a reader from Illinois" and Buckey
Review: This is an excellent book in many ways. It is full of common sense about health (often in short supply these days) and wise suggestions about life in general. Edell's book is well written and entertaining to boot. I highly recommend it. Readers should be aware however that it is not a technical treatise--it is more a folksy "arm around your shoulder" sort of book. Edell himself is an interesting guy and there is a lot of autobiography and anecdotes in the book. I do have a couple of qualms: Edell misuses statistics in the same ways that in an early chapter he so deftly exposes and the chapter on sex could be skipped. Edell's message boils down to this: After 50 or so years of intense health research the only things you can count on are 1) quit smoking 2) and eat more fruit and veggies. The health benefits of e.g. weight loss and exercise are too murky. Do'em if you want to, but not just for the health benefits. He also urges us to relax and enjoy life more. Who can argue with that? For me perhaps the most valuable aspects of the book are Edell's forthright and clearheaded defense of science against mysticism and his courageous discussion of illegal drugs--although he shies away from recommending full legalization of cocaine and heroin.
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Summary: Clear cut, honest information
Review: A must read. This book will help stamp out misinformation. I like how Dr. Dean informs and respects the reader.
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Summary: If you read only one health book, this is it
Review: Edell is known for his radio show and TV news spots, where he gives out honest and straightforward advice on medical questions. This book runs along the same lines. He forthrightly discusses fad diets, alternative medicine, media portrayals, and other health topics. He bases his answers in science, which he calls, "that force which has lifted us from the dust and the darkness." He pulls no punches - even at the media, his own bread and butter. If I could recommend that a person read just one health book, this would be it. I think it deserves to be a classic.
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