The Shangri-La Diet and over 450,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

Buy New
 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Buy Used
Used - Very Good See details
$3.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
219 used & new from $0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Shangri-La Diet: No Hunger, Eat Anything, Weight-Loss Plan
 
See larger image
 
Start reading The Shangri-La Diet on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

The Shangri-La Diet: No Hunger, Eat Anything, Weight-Loss Plan (Hardcover)

~ Seth Roberts (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)

List Price: $19.95
Price: $12.74 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $7.21 (36%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Wednesday, March 17? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
54 new from $1.86 165 used from $0.01

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $8.53  
Hardcover $12.74  
Paperback, Bargain Price $4.78  
Audio, CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged $15.59  
Audio, Download Offsite Link $10.49 or less with new Audible membership

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Speedo Competition Nose Clip by Speedo

The Shangri-La Diet: No Hunger, Eat Anything, Weight-Loss Plan + Speedo Competition Nose Clip
  • This item: The Shangri-La Diet: No Hunger, Eat Anything, Weight-Loss Plan by Seth Douglass Roberts

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Speedo Competition Nose Clip by Speedo

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

Review

Absurd, ridiculous, and remarkable. It is quite simply one of the most unusual weight loss books ever written. . . . -- Diet-Blog.com

Everything on the cover is literally true. You make one, almost subtle, change, and you lose weight. . . . -- CalorieLab.com

Seth Roberts... has now hit upon a weight-loss theory that might just benefit a few million people. -- Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

The Shangri-La Diet is unlike any diet you ever have come across; it is, in the truest sense, a hack. -- Health-Hack.com

The diet to end all diets....You actively feel like not eating. . . . -- Joyce Cohen, HuntGrunt blogger and New York Times columnist ["The Hunt"]

The great thing about Roberts's methods is that you will know whether they work within a day or two. -- MarginalRevolution.com

Product Description

Psychologist and professor Seth Roberts has spent years analyzing why most diets don't work. A maverick with a curious mind, and a yen for self-experimentation, he started by asking a simple question most experts haven't tackled: What makes us feel hungry in the first place?

After scouring the scientific literature and tirelessly testing various theories and practices, Roberts hit upon a simple, effective strategy for controlling the body's internal "set point"- that is, the thermostat that controls weight gain or loss. The solution was counterintuitive: By taking two daily servings of either extra-light olive oil or plain sugar water, he took control of his appetite, with astonishing results. Roberts lost thirty-five pounds in only three months, and he has kept it off for five years. Since then, others have replicated these results, and formal clinical trials will soon be under way.

With the publication of this unique and groundbreaking book, Seth Roberts's program will be available to anyone who wants to lose weight-a little or a lot-and keep it off. The Shangri-La Diet includes specific instructions for tailoring the program for individual needs and goals, as well as expert tips, variations, success stories, and an illuminating explanation of how Roberts devised the diet and why it works so well.

A diet program simple enough for anyone to try, The Shangri-La Diet has the potential to radically change the way we think about weight loss-and deliver remarkably easy, sustainable results.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 194 pages
  • Publisher: C. P. Putnam Son's; 1st edition (April 25, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399153640
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399153648
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 4.7 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #292,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Seth Douglass Roberts
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Seth Douglass Roberts Page

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Shangri-La Diet: No Hunger, Eat Anything, Weight-Loss Plan
97% buy the item featured on this page:
The Shangri-La Diet: No Hunger, Eat Anything, Weight-Loss Plan 3.8 out of 5 stars (93)
$12.74
The Reality Diet
1% buy
The Reality Diet 4.3 out of 5 stars (31)
$6.38

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(15)
(3)
(2)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

93 Reviews
5 star:
 (47)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (16)
2 star:
 (10)
1 star:
 (9)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (93 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
107 of 108 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars When it doesn't work..., December 10, 2006
By John Viega (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
I'm yet another person who is happy with the results from following the guidance in this book. I think that it's clearly true that this "diet" (it is not really a diet per se) is working for a whole lot of people, and also that there are some people for whom it is not working.

It's unlikely that tons and tons of people are all experiencing a similar psychological effect. It's possible, but if that were true, I'd expect that some other fad would have been able to produce a similar widespread effect long ago. And if it is true, then so much the better, and the people who can't reproduce the effect, should move on, and appreciate that it does seem to work for many.

I also think the theory behind why the "diet" works is interesting, but not completely validated. That is, while it seems to work, perhaps the reasons why are wrong (more likely, that the theory isn't totally complete). I think they make intuitive sense, but it may be there's some other factor that differentiates some people, and makes the core idea not work for them.

But I think the most common reason for this not working is probably due to misunderstanding the idea. I've seen the same few mistakes made over and over:

1) Not understanding the diet, and not following it properly. When it passes by word of mouth, for example, many people will try extra-virgin olive oil instead of extra-light olive oil (ELOO).

2) If you're already on a diet, and go off that diet when you start this one (or relax your old diet in any way), you can pretty much guarantee you're going to gain weight, at least in the short term, because your caloric intake is likely to skyrocket, even w/ the appetite control from the ELOO / sugar water. That's what you get when you start eating a lot more junk than you're used to.

3) Shangri-La will make you less hungry, but it is ultimately up to you to eat less. It's clear in the book that you still need to restrict your caloric intake, it's just that the ELOO / sugar water, when used properly, can help on the appetite, making it easy to self-restrict your caloric intake. If you have some psychological need to always eat what's in front of you, even when you're full, then you may not eat any less, and you won't lose any weight.

Personally, I do have a bit of a psychological tie to cleaning my plate, especially since I paid for the food and want to get my money's worth. I'm working on that, but what I've tried to do is make sure that I put less food in front of myself to begin with. For example, there's a pizza place a few blocks from me that sells pizza by the slice. When I first started the diet, I'd get two pieces, and would end up hungry pretty soon after. A week after starting the diet, I went into the pizza place. I decided to eat one slice, and then only get the second slice if I was still hungry. I wasn't, so I left, and didn't get hungry again the rest of the day. If I'd have ordered two slices, as normal, I still would have eaten the second slice, and never would have restricted my caloric intake on the meal.

I'm still working on this. But I have found that within a week, I was able to reduce my calories by half from before starting the diet, without any real hunger discomfort (certainly, when I get hungry I eat). That doesn't mean I always take in half as many calories, mainly because there's still the psychological aspect of cleaning my plate! I've had meals where I really wasn't hungry at all a couple of bites into the meal, but I still kept eating, because I'd paid for the food...

All in all, I'm aware of this issue, and I'm still keeping the calories down, and losing weight, totally without hunger. I think I've got room for improvement, but it is coming down to concious choices. I think I'm appealing to my desire to get the most for my money by trying to order less. For example, I can now generally either eat an appetizer or an entree... I don't need both. I just pick the thing that looks best.

Hope this helps.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
156 of 163 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Too good to be true, but true nevertheless, May 4, 2006
By Fat Man "Fat Man" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
I was very skeptical of the claims made about this diet. Who wouldn't be? It sounds like the ultimate diet scam, designed to appeal to sedentary fat idiots who long to believe they can lose weight without expending any effort or having to give up their favorite junk food. Then I read the book. It's very clear and well-reasoned, but it was still hard to get past the fact that it goes against practically all the standard weight loss ideas I'd ever heard. Of course in the long run none of the standard ideas ever helped me lose weight and keep it off, so I decided to give this method a try. The great thing about it is, it's exceptionally easy and painless and very inexpensive to try it. Spoiler alert! I hate to give away the ending but for me at least it TOTALLY WORKS! I've noticed that people's reactions to this book, with very few exceptions, fall into two categories: those who think it's crazy and can't possibly work, and those who actually try it and are very surprised to find themselves losing weight. The book itself is kind of quirky and offbeat, but seems to be backed up by solid research. For such a small book it sure has a lot of footnotes. Can I just say something? I'm not hungry!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Controversial, but Helpful, January 11, 2007
By Mary Russell (Iuka, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
In his well-written and easy-to-understand book Mr. Roberts sets forth a controversial weight-loss idea. With much fear and trembling I decided to try his method. Because of my being a borderline diabetic, the sugar water was not an option, and I chose Refined Walnut Oil. True to what Mr. Roberts stated, my strong cravings stopped and I felt full much quicker. Also true to what he said, this won't work if a person eats when they are not hungry (emotional eating). Although I have to deal with this on my own, it is easier now that the cravings have abated.
After 2 1/2 months I have lost 26 pounds. My cholesterol dropped from 290 to 217; my HDL (the good kind) went up 9 points; my LDL (the bad kind) dropped over 100 points; and my triglycerides plummeted 100 points. I truly was amazed.
If you purchase this book, keep in mind that there are many diets available. This particular one works for me. If it works for you, great! If it doesn't, keep looking.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining book about a placebo
I am so disappointed in this diet. Like all popular diet books the author writes entertainingly and convincingly about his particular wacky diet. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Charles Hall

5.0 out of 5 stars Oil is golden; Timing is important
I recently read a women's magazine article reviewing an Ohio State study that basically said you will lose more belly fat, and lose weight by taking safflower oil. Read more
Published 10 days ago by tracer

3.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Idea
The Shangri-La Diet is a weight loss strategy in which the body's metabolic set point is altered by consuming neutral or novel tasting foods. Read more
Published 24 days ago by MaryBeth Carroll

2.0 out of 5 stars Is this diet a hoax, or a social psychology experiment?
A while back, I was listening to "talk radio" in my car and heard Dennis Prager say that olive oil helps to suppress appetite, leading to loss of excess weight. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Steven Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars Shangri-La Diet
Surprisingly this does work if you actually eat less. You can eat whatever you want to -- no measuring and there is no off-limit foods. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Aleea Major

3.0 out of 5 stars Herman Taller, ca. 1961
Just heard about Seth for the first time, and immediately recalled Herman Taller's book, Calories Don't Count, published in 1961. In it Dr. Read more
Published 7 months ago by E. Hartmann

5.0 out of 5 stars Spoils your appetite, a good thing.
I have been on a low-carb diet for 8 months. I'd stopped losing weight at 6 months. I read this book and decided to try the sugar water, but it gave me a headache, probably... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kathryn H. Roach

3.0 out of 5 stars Long review is long
I learnt about this book from Freakonomics, and I think it's well suited to that sort of audience. It's definitely an easy read for those with short attention spans or little... Read more
Published 11 months ago by R. K. Wheeler

3.0 out of 5 stars Could work...
I think Seth Roberts is on to something... However, drinking this oil/sugar definitely made me sick and is not the diet for me. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Marie Viffet

5.0 out of 5 stars I've used it for a week.
First of all, the book came in excellent condition. I've been on the diet for a week now and have lost 8lb. Read more
Published 14 months ago by T. Pierson

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
This *does* work... 0 December 2008
I've lost weight on this diet without feeling hungry. 10 December 2006
matty "matty" -- only one review ... 3 November 2006
Very true ... 2 September 2006
Hmm, my review hasn't shown up yet. 1 April 2006
My review of the book 0 April 2006
See all 7 discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   


Listmania!



Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Help us improve this fledgling article by editing it on Amapedia.com opens new browser window



Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.