Customer Reviews

The Drinking Man's Diet: How to Lose Weight with a Minimum of Willpower

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Remember that old ad for Camel cigarettes? Do you want a treat or a treatment? Well, do you want a drinking man's diet or a thinking man's diet? Most of us go for the fun and that is why in the diet wars this little book has held up so well. It probably did not start the low carb diet, but it did make it popular until, that is, Dr. A came along. Actually, the low carb diet first appears in history with the advice of a remarkable physician, William Harvey (not the Harvey who discovered the circulation of the blood, but a London physician) who advised a diet which consisted of "avoiding starch and saccharine matter" -in modern terms LO CARB. The patient lost 50 pounds and so will you. By the by, probably you should check with your doctor if you are not in the pink. And if you are over eatting because of psychological pressure, you don't need a diet, you need a shrink. Lo carb diets may be deficient in certain vitamins, such as Vitamin C and Folic Acid, so supplements are indicated.

This was the original low carb diet. I remember the book from my childhood and it's almost identical. I love the fact that it doesn't give advice, doesn't try to 'nanny' you into following the diet -just states the facts. This is a weight loss programme that works, follow it if you want to and if you have deeper issues with food than simply overeating you need counselling and if you have issues with drink you need AA. Basically, what we put into our mouth is up to us but doing it this way allows an enjoyable 'liveable' lifestyle and still lets you lose wight.

I purchased the original in 1964, and like others, I still have and use it. It made sense then and obviously still does. I had a career that made the 3-martini lunch a standard in those days. This fit the bill exactly. I have never had any negative reaction, health-wise, being on this diet. True, I've tried other diets, but always came back to this. It was brief, handy, and easy to memorize. Plus, it's cheap! The book, not the diet. I'm pleased to see it being distributed again. Now all those doubters will know what I've been talking about all these years. As far as the text goes, I thought it a bit over the top even then, but, I didn't buy it for its literary content. My $1.00 investment has been the highlight of my somewhat diminished portfolio for 40 years. At $4.95 you should add it to yours.....

How wonderful to have this new edition available!!! Now with, it seems, all of my friends carefully watching their calorie and carbohydrate intake, yet not wanting to give up their noontime or evening cocktails or wines, this little book is their salvation. Since this concise wonder of an "indulgent" diet appeared (first published in 1964, ten years before Dr. Atkins came on the low-carb scene) and in stark contrast to Dr. A's copious 500 pages of dull and dry lecturing, it's been acclaimed for its validity. And happily, it can be tucked into one's purse or suit pocket to keep you accurately counting your calories and carbs, and it makes a delightful thank you gift to present to your hosts or hostesses.

I have to agree with the other reviewer who noted the contradictory advice on pages 8 and 26. The author opens the book by telling us to eat less than 60 grams of carbohydrates a day. He closes it by warning us to eat at least 60 grams of carbohydrates a day. I can't believe this slim little valume has been around for so long without some editor correcting that fundamental mistake.

That said, this is a good and easy to follow diet. By comparing the charts at the back, I realized I did not need to analyze every meal. Just cut out bread, beans, potatoes, pasta and rice -- these are the highest common carb foods. And deserts. If you are a beer drinker, well, too bad. This book is aimed at cocktail drinkers, as only 5 non-lite beers will put you over the 60 gram limit. But tell me this Jameson/Williams: if tonic water has 0 grams, and gin has 0 grams, how can a gin and tonic have 9 grams of carbs? And how do you know a sandwich has 87 grams of cholesterol? Doesn't it depend on what you put in the sandwich?

I'm glad they reissued this little book, but it would benefit from a careful review and editing.

Started this a week ago, and already down 5 lbs (and I'm only about 20 lbs over my goal). It's easy to follow and easy to stay on. I can see myself eating, and drinking, like this for the rest of my life.

This is a fun little book to have and read. It is a "Madmen" era book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the various rather dated, but still valid I think, comments from those that tried this diet "back in the day." I know from experience that this sort of eating plan (all things in moderation/cutting back on the carbs) does work well for me at least. Right now it is sitting inside my liquor cabinet behind the glass door. I'm glad I ordered it. I remember it from when my parents went on that diet (which was, of course, back in the 60s).

I'm giving four stars because the book is awesome, and I highly recommend it! But the Kindle formatting is beyond terrible. : Spend the extra dollar and order the paper copy, you won't be disappointed!

As the author of The Beer Drinkers Diet also available on Amazon, I know a thing or two about this subject. However, this book was first written before I was even born!
It is hard to believe that many of its principles still have merit today after four decades. This book is truly old school.
Although this book is nothing more than a small pamphlet, it is hard to lose for a book that costs a few bucks.
The bottom line is that it still has merit after all of these years! Cool lil' pamphlet!

I think the premise of the diet is a good one. Thebook is very short and easy to read and entertaining. I liked the book. The problem I had with it and it is a big problem, is that it tells you two different things.

In the first chapter titled- What The Diet Is, the author begins by stating:"This really is a simple diet. It can be summed up in one sentence: EAT FEWER THAN 60 GRAMS OF CARBOHYDRATE A DAY."
He continues in that vein by giving a sample menu for what he says "Is what we serve ALMOST EVERY DAY IN OUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN WE ARE KEEPING STRICKLY TO THE DIET. The total grams of carbohydrate to be consumed in that day are 33 grams.
But at the end of the book he states: "You don't have to go overboard on cutting down carbohydrates. Get AT LEAST 60 grams a day."
So which is it? Eat less than 60 grams a day or get AT LEAST 60 grams a day?
Oh editor! Calling the editor! Was there an editor for this book? You missed a pretty big goof up there. What's a reader to do?