Let Them Eat Flax: 70 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life [Paperback]

Dr. Joe Schwarcz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

By asking questions such as Is your orange juice pasteurized? or Did the lady who whipped up the icing on your cake wear false fingernails? this book sorts hokum from genuine science when it comes to food safety. Investigating everything from the health benefits of chocolate and oxygenated water to the causes of food poisoning and the healing power of prayer, short commentaries use wit and humor to debunk folklore and misconceptions. Indicating which food studies can be trusted, this guide provides the knowledge needed to buy, store, and cook food without risking life and limb.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr. Schwarcz...has a knack for translating science into a language that anyone can understand and actually enjoy."  —Toronto Sun

About the Author

Dr. Joe Schwarcz is the author of Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know, The Fly in the Ointment, and That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles. He is a professor of chemistry and the director of the Office for Science and Society at McGill University in Montreal. He lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550226983
• ISBN-13: 978-1550226980
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!, January 11, 2006

By 

James Bond 007 "James Bond 007" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Let Them Eat Flax: 70 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life (Paperback)

I have got every one of the books by Dr. Schwarz, and I have to say every one of them is great. He explained the Chemistry of Food and Life in a fun way that most people can understand.

One thing I would like is, may be in the future the books can include the chemical structures of the compounds discussed, perhaps at the end of the book? I know not everyone will be interested in this, but I certainly like to know more about them. A list of structures of the compounds discussed in the previous books will also be most welcome to me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Science for everybody, October 15, 2010

By 

North (Canada) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Let Them Eat Flax: 70 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life (Kindle Edition)

Dr. Schwarcz makes chemistry fun and accessible to his readers. Science is not a boring subject, to be leaned in school and them forgotten. It shapes our world. A true understanding of chemistry helps us eat better, perform, and live longer lives. It also keeps us away from all the crooks who try to sell us magical solutions to real medical conditions.

He is informative and humourous. Most sections are very short which makes the book accessible to young readers from the age of nine.

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Joe starts focusing on food!, August 6, 2010

By 

Su-Sham+ (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Let Them Eat Flax: 70 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life (Paperback)

The one science I hated in school was chemistry, but after reading Dr. Joe's books, I'm wondering why! ...and when he focuses on food, he helps us steer a path through all of the contradictory noise on health that is blared at us.