Against the Grain: The Slightly Eccentric Guide to Living Well Without Gluten or Wheat [Paperback]

Jax Peters Lowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1996

An extensive manual for surviving without wheat or gluten, including a resource guide, shopping tips, and a listing of support groups for celiacs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An informative, and yes, slightly eccentric guide. "-Library Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (June 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805036253
• ISBN-13: 978-0805036251
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone going gluten-free or wheat-free, May 27, 2001

By 

amyamanda (Brattleboro, VT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Grain: The Slightly Eccentric Guide to Living Well Without Gluten or Wheat (Paperback)

This is not a cookbook (although there are a few recipes in the back). It's more like a survival manual or a book-length pep talk, specifically written for people with celiac sprue, which is a severe form of gluten intolerance. But I'm finding the ideas and encouragement are applicable to anyone who is gluten-free or wheat-free for any reason, and in fact they're even worth skimming by anyone dealing with food allergies or other significant dietary changes (such as cutting out dairy or sugar). It's a funny and well-written book, including sections on anti-cheating strategies, restaurant assertiveness training, and etiquette for people with dietary restrictions, along with the expected list of product suggestions (with extensive mail-order information). I've looked at a *lot* of special diet cookbooks and guidebooks in the past couple of years, and have been disappointed by most of them because they frankly haven't had much in them that I hadn't already learned somewhere. This book is a fresh exception. I would have liked to see more specifics on various baking substitutions (maybe in the next edition?), and there is a lot of product information that may be regional or get outdated (so I expect a second edition would be a good idea), but even with those minor imperfections I still would highly recommend this book.

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helps Celiacs to Cope with Gluten Free Diet, March 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Against the Grain: The Slightly Eccentric Guide to Living Well Without Gluten or Wheat (Paperback)

Against the Grain is a must for people with Celiac Disease. I found the book extremely helpful in learning to cope with the gluten free lifestyle. Make note that some products mentioned in the book as being gluten free, are in fact not currently gluten free. (For example, Rice Dream contains gluten.) So be careful when reviewing food recommendations, they quickly become outdated and should be used as a guideline for calling manufacturers to confirm whether they are in fact gluten free.

There is an on-line gluten free list available at:

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved my life and my sanity!, November 20, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Against the Grain: The Slightly Eccentric Guide to Living Well Without Gluten or Wheat (Paperback)

I was diagnosed with C.D. a year ago and my doctor said I had to buy this book. It was the first time I laughed, as well as cried and it gave me the courage to go right out to the nearest restaurant. I now take a copy whenever I travel and my sister and aunt use their copies whenever I visit. I'm not a victim anymore...Not only was it incredibly informative, it was wonderfully entertaining.