Customer Reviews

The Asian Diet: Simple Secrets for Eating Right, Losing Weight, and Being Well

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A weight loss book that doesn't offer to change your life in a month? Seriously? In America?

What I liked most about this book is that it takes the long view. The point is to bring your life into balance by changing your lifestyle generally, including diet and attitude. It doesn't offer quick fixes, and Mr. Bussell repeatedly reminds the reader there isn't really any such thing.

Indeed, it's quite possible to read this book as cultural criticism. Why does dairy have so much power in the US? Why do we eat so much meat? Why are we the single culture that loves to ice our drinks?

Money drives much of our culture. There is money to be made in creating problems. Then money is made with promises to fix the problems. Many of the book's better points are made when the author looks at American culture through the lens of Chinese thinking. You don't have to be interested in weight loss to find the conclusions compelling.

Essentially, America is a young nation, and our culture is based on young ideas. We're excited by excess, and we're continually reeling from one new trend to the next, while older countries look on: sometimes in amusement, sometimes in horror.

What does this have to do with why you're fat? The author asks that you give the question some honest thought. Think about the typical commercial for an antacid that promises you can continue to eat fried food because their product blocks the pain signals your body is sending you. Isn't that typically American to be told, "You shouldn't adapt your diet! Why take care of yourself when you can have more french fries!?"

Does that really make sense to you? It may *appeal* to you, but is it advice you'd give someone you care about?

The book is written in a conversational style that's pleasant. There are instructions, of course, but the author doesn't nag. Instead, we're reminded to take the long view of everything, including diet. Dump the microwave and the fast food, and take control of your life by relaxing, getting enough sleep, and eating real food.

Bussell encourages making small changes for the better now, because even if you backslide, over time your progress will snowball into a better quality of life. It's nice to hear that relaxed, longer time-horizon message. It's a calming counterpoint to a culture that pushes the new and the now. Perfection, if it comes, is never quick. Relax, get in balance, and develop healthier habits. Weight loss will follow in time. If this sounds interesting to you, then buy this book.

I have read the book "The Tao of Healthy Eating," and lost about >30 lbs gradually over the past year following principles of the Asian diet. I am of Asian descent, so it wasn't very difficult. When an assistant at work wanted to know about my diet, I looked for a book that was easy to read and understand for someone who didn't grow up with the Asian diet, and didn't already understand the concepts of hot/cooling foods, damp, qi, etc. I found this book and read it myself before recommending it to her and my patients. I found this book a quick and easy read. It serves as a very nice intro to Asian dietary therapy. I'd suggest reading "The Tao of Healthy Eating" and "Healing with Whole Foods" for more detail.

Mr. Bussell has written a very informative book on how to get healthy. We have all heard the studies about different food items and needing less stress, but this book pulls it all together. Everything in the book makes sense and when you compare the average american to the asian culture we are extremely unhealthy. This book has helped me look at my priorities and find a healthier balance in my life. I have had many stressful jobs and in result have made poor choices in food and other areas. Mr. Bussell helped me realize that I can make the needed changes and how to do that. This is not a quick fix to stress or weight loss, but instead a guide to how to live the healthier life. I plan to keep this book handy for rereading and references as I get my life back in balance.

If you are looking for a quick fix then this is not the book for you, but if you are looking for a lifelong fix then I highly recommend this.

I am Asian and was raised with this type of Asian diet. But I never realized why it was so good. I never had a weight problem until I adopted a more "American" diet. When I did, my weight quickly grew and my health deteriorated. After I read this book, I realized how I should be eating and why. Once I returned to eating the way that this book outlines, the weight quickly dropped off. Now I feel and look a whole lot better.
Some people may knock this book for not being scientific enough. But that's what I like about it. It is very easy to read and understand. I totally recommend it.

Recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis, I was looking for alternative ways of preserving my health besides the usual 'pop a pill' syndrome this country offers. I'm aware of the longevity along with productivity that the Asian culture has been blessed with and find this book to be very beneficial in my recovery. Using food as my medicine I'm overcoming what ails me and enjoying the flavors, aromas and textures of cooking the Asian way. It just makes simple sense!

I bought this book for someone else but one peek inside and I was hooked. Read it cover to cover and am keeping it to refer to. (yes, I had to buy another for my friend!) What a wonderful book.

The information is clear, common sense, gently put across, and not complicated. It rang very clear and positive for me and has helped me to make some important changes in a diet that I thought was pretty good but now see very logical flaws.

Thank you Jason Bussell! This one is a treasure.

This is a great book! Since I've read it I have noticed myself consciously thinking about the level of "processed" of food I'm putting in my mouth and trying to eat healthier proportions of rice, cooked veggies and meat. The index of foods and their properties is interesting.

Jason Bussell obviously knows of what he writes. This book is informative not just for physical health but for spiritual health as well. Though very well researched and documented, it's written in a practical manner that makes it a wonderfully easy, enjoyable, and educational read. I've already bought two more as gifts for friends!

In an age where we are inundated by quick fixes and short term solutions, Mr. Bussell gives us the long view for health and good dietary habits. This book shouldn't be mistaken for a cookbook, its more like a bible of good habits. Mr. Bussell sets a simple outline of habits (both good and bad) and then explains in a conversational tone which habits those seeking true health should employ. Though it contains some advice that americans may find anathema (NO DAIRY?!), their rationales are clearly explained and explored. This is about more than good food for your body, its about good food for your mind.

The Asian Diet: Simple Secrets for Eating Right, Losing Weight, and Being Well

I just read this book and would recommend it to anyone searching for a better way of approaching healthy eating. The author says its not a diet book, but is about eating and living healthy, but if you eat this way you will lose excess weight. There are also chapters on adjusting diet and lifestyle as well to get into balance.

A lot of what the author posits do not agree with what we are taught here, but if you look at the shape of the average American, our dietary advice doesn't seem to be helping people much. In asian, on the other hand, people are thin and have much less diet-related disease. The book is fun and easy to read. My only criticism is that I would have liked it to be available in hardcover. I give it 5 stars.