Allen Carr

Somewhat misleading in its premise that you can eat whatever you want and lose weight. Possibly true if you follow his advice and give up all junk food - which is a pretty standard recommendation - but I know people who eat vegan, and are still gaining or can't lose weight, so...

Nothing really new here. His solution is a vegetarian diet.

Logical fallacies are abundant in Carr's attempt to seemingly persuade the reader into a sort of veganism. Overall, the book comes across as a hastily thrown together collection of thoughts and opinions meant to be a quick and easy money grab. My problem with this book is not necessarily with the points and arguments that Carr makes (though some of them are whack, frankly), but the manner in which he attempts to make them.

Carr constantly repeats that the reader can eat whatever they want, in whatever quantities they want, but works hard to convince the reader that meat and dairy fall into the category of "junk food". While I am an advocate of reducing animal product consumption, particularly for the benefit of the environment, Carr's arguments rubbed me the wrong way and missed the mark.

Carr's arguments are packed with logical fallacies and conveniently overlook facts that contradict his arguments. In other words, he does not attempt to look at the subject critically from all angles and make a convincing argument for his point but instead ignores the viewpoints that do not work in his favor. Additionally, there is no scientific literature researched and/or included in the book to back up his claims (which is a shame, there are plenty of studies that do support A FEW of his arguments which would increase the legitimacy of the book overall). Beyond that, this book is full of repetitive phrases and fluff. I believe he could have reached the point of the first 18 chapters in 1-2 chapters with more precise writing.

If you feel the need to read this, snag a copy from your local library and save yourself some money. There is nothing particularly insightful or ground breaking which would require having the book on hand to refer back to.

I should give this book a single star, because of a few reasons.

1. It takes about a scientific matter, without taking science's stance into considerations. Makes lame arguments based on analogies and metaphors.

2. The "information" —if you can call it that — is wrong, if not downright dangerous.

3. The book lies to you, it's a marketing gimmick that worked for his other ventures. It might have been true there too.


But I will give it 3 stars, for containing two beautiful lessons. Which are not only supported by science, but once internalized, can set one up for freedom and health.

1. Not a single one of the wild animals get fat, let alone obese. Why? They eat a diet natural to them. Writer was right in this. Where he went astray was how he defined natural (He defined it as vegetarian). So if we eat a "human diet", we should not have to force ourselves to eat less. That being said, few things everyone can agree are not natural. Coca Cola or Biscuits, for example, definitely isn't.

2. Eating is an enjoyable, natural, necessary part of a healthy life. We celebrate through eating. We bond over eating. Eating leaves you satiated, happy, energetic, strong-willed. Over-eating is anything but. Knowing and understanding this difference is the first step towards freedom. One may love food, but one definitely will loathe over-eating.

I love this mans books. I was a smoker for 10 years until I read his quit smoking book so I decided to read his book on losing wright and I was not disappointed. He puts things into perspective in such a way that really resonates and stays with you long after you read the book. And everything he says is common sense but once again just the way he puts it is so eye opening, you can't help but listen and follow the instructions.

I previously quit smoking with Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking book so I thought I would give this a go.
I was a little bit bigger than I wanted to be at the time, however I am tall and can get away with the extra kg's I had piled on.
By the time I finished the book (read it in one sitting) I had conformed my eating habits! It was so super easy and really hit the nail on the head for me.
I lost about 11kg all up and never looked more fantastic in my life! My partner was concerned about my eating changes, but later admitted it was the best thing I had ever done.
I never went hungry and I always ate what I felt like. Eating was never an issue and was no longer a priority in my life.
Well worth the read for anyone struggling with weight issues. It may just be the book that unlocks you from your prison.

I read this book over a year ago and put it into practice straight away, I have never felt so good about myself, I am not only much thinner but I also no longer suffer from migraines or constant colds. I am a meat eater and have found the combining of different foods means i no longer suffer that horrible bloated feeling after eating. The book itself was difficult to read, I found it hard to get through but it works so I think it's worth it.

Interesting reading

This book helped me quit smoking. That's all I think I need to say.

Such a bullshit. I am really dissapointed.

I borrowed this as an eBook from the library and have since discovered that I had read it in September 2006. I did get a fair way in without realising that - which frankly does not say much for the book in itself. It started to lose me in a long theistic chapter which needed to explain its relevance rather more quickly in a book about weight loss. I then read some reviews which reminded me that this is not a psychological programme to help you address overeating, but yet another slightly bizarre book telling you what to eat and when, and what not to eat. I find it noteworthy that people who swear by Allen Carr's method for stopping smoking trashed this book.

So I don't plan to continue re-reading.

Can't wait to see if it really works!