Industry of Illusions: Health and Fitness Industry Scams, Frauds, Fakes, and Personal Trainers Exposed [Hardcover]

Stephen Grisanti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2002

Industry of Illusions is a book for all people involved or wanting to get involved in the health and fitness industry. Last year 35 billion dollars was spent in the industry and we have an overwhelming 65%+ of Americans over-weight. Where is this money going? Our children are also suffering from what society has made them believe they should look like. Industry of Illusions is a very valuable book for all men, women, children and senior citizens. Grianti has written a book that exposes every segment of the health and fitness industry from weight-loss scams to fitness club scams. This is not a reference or how to book. It is a book that says wake up America, where is your common sense? Grisanti makes it very clear that there are many good and even great individuals and companies. He wrote the book to separate the good from the bad...every fitness consumer has the right to know.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...I can attest to the factuality and warnings the book offers ... It really helps the buyer beware." -- Frank Zane, M.A. 3 times Mr. Olympia, 3 times Mr. Universe, Mr.World, Mr.America

"Grisanti puts up no smoke screen in his direct attack on an industry gone mad...loaded with sarcasm and wit..." -- Dr. Polevoy www.dietfraud.com

"The first of its kind... Thanks for opening the eyes of so many." -- Lee Haney 8 times Mr.Olympia

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rivercat Publishing; 1 edition (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972069518
• ISBN-13: 978-0972069519
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,788,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENLIGHTENING!, August 30, 2002

By 

John Rhodes "voyager914" (Brookfield, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Industry of Illusions: Health and Fitness Industry Scams, Frauds, Fakes, and Personal Trainers Exposed (Hardcover)

Thanks to Mr. Grisanti for his review of the pitfalls that one can fall prey to in this multi million dollar industry.
I am a lot smarter from reading this book and I suspect that I will be more physically fit without having to advance my loan for additional funding!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gristanti's voice and opinion are strong, December 30, 2002

By 

Blue Jean Online (Boston, Mass.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Industry of Illusions: Health and Fitness Industry Scams, Frauds, Fakes, and Personal Trainers Exposed (Hardcover)

from Blue Jean Online (www.bluejeanonline.com)

by Mary Zachmeyer,age 17, Teen Editor

Americans spend millions and billons of dollars each year in the relentless pursuit of the perfect figure. Sit down and watch some television. How many ads do you see for gyms, how many infomercials for a "revolutionary weight loss drug," "a 48-hour weight loss drink," and a "diet plan that will help you lose as much weight as you want"?

Of all the diets and weight-loss programs out there, how many are playing off the insecurities of teenagers and the rest of the target audience?

Industry of Illusions, by Stephen Grisanti, asks that question in page after page of opinions geared toward exposing the fraudulent goings-on of the weight-loss industry. His main point: sucking misinformed teens into their money-making scheme is just one big game for these companies.

I've often looked at size double-zero models gracing the cover of magazines, on television shows, and pretty much everywhere in society and felt inadequate in some sort of way. This book has some good, though one-sided, points to make the reader aware that the weight-loss industry isn't always helpful; it's sometimes harmful and degrading.

This book is a good read; it is clear and concise, and Gristanti's voice and opinion are strong throughout. Perhaps more facts from studies and statistical sources would make some of Gristanti's claims a bit more understandable, but the basis of the book is Gristanti expressing his disgust and exposing the reality of the weight-loss industry.

Clearly, Gristanti's personal crusade is the driving force behind this book, and one should understand that before reading it. The crusade is a noble one, however, and Gristanti deftly shows how most of the advertisements and entertainment industries falsify the ideal image of how we should look.

Copyright 2002, Blue Jean Online.

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest truth, July 15, 2009

By 

Aida Bode "Story digger" (Westport, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Industry of Illusions: Health and Fitness Industry Scams, Frauds, Fakes, and Personal Trainers Exposed (Hardcover)

When I first saw this book, I was attracted by its very smart cover. They say "Don't judge a book by its cover", but in this case it was all worth it. Reading it was beyond eye-opening. It was the best "tough-love" book I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Uncovering the myths of fast dieting and lazy weight-loss is something not many are committed to and, for this alone, Stephen deserves a loud applause. All are tired with the lies of the so called "miracle cures" and "quick work-outs", yet none seems to do anything about it, none seems to care and none seems to be aware of this ignorance that has swept the nation of "the free and the brave". Steve makes a step by step exposure of all these gimmicks and makes it impossible to hide from the sad truth.
Reading this book is not an option, but a must. It will save its readers from being preys to the greediest of fitness industry.