A fast, easy to read book with interesting eating/food facts. There were also product lists, info and websites that I'm going to check out. The only thing that I didnt like was the harsh language they used to make their points, they could have kept it classy and made the same point. Read it, open your eyes, then, GO Vegan!

I bought this book at a time when I was looking for motivation to change my diet and adopt a healthier lifestyle. I did not realize at the time that this is a pro-vegan book. Still, I found the tone of the authors enjoyable to read, and although I am still a ways off to eating soy cheese regularly, I am glad I read it.

The authors advocate a vegan lifestyle to become skinny. And they have a point -- ever met a fat vegan? I'm not surprised that other reviewers are not particularly thrilled at this advice, because it is a bit preachy, and the approach seems rather hard-core.

But, again, they have a point. Refer to my earlier question regarding fat vegans.

The data in this book did not convince me on way or another that milk and steak is making me fat, but there are some rather convincing arguments regarding the food lobby's influence on the FDA and the treatment of animals in slaughterhouses (which I had to skim because otherwise I might have thrown up a little. And the characterization of meat as "dead, decaying flesh" was enough to keep me from a hamburger that evening). But, ultimately, this is nothing that your hippy card-carrying-member-of-PETA-friend wouldn't be happy to inform you of if you asked. However, if you don't have a hippy friend in PETA, then this book will do.

Ultimately, as a result of having read this book, I'm cooking more vegetarian (but not vegan) meals, and I only rarely drink milk or eat ice cream. The authors have managed to get inside my head, and I am grateful.

Recommended.

I have never been so angered by a book. First and foremost, I have nothing against the vegan lifestyle, if that is how someone chooses to live. What I have a problem with is the authors' "scientific proof" that a vegan diet is far superior to a non-vegan diet. Every time they make some scientific claim in their book, I checked their sources and I never found a credible scientific journal. They even mention in their book how average women do not peruse medical/scientific journals to learn all the ins and outs of all the foods and chemicals they are ingesting... well, neither do they.

Here is an example of their inexcusable ignorance: As a biochemist with a strong background in physiology, I happen to know what enzymes are and what they do... these women DO NOT. They have this gross misconception that enzymes that function in plants continue to function in our digestive tracts and miraculously make it into our blood stream somehow and again, continue to function. Anyone with basic biomedical training can tell you their claims could not be farther from the truth. Enzymes are created to function in very specific environments, are dependent on many factors (temperature, pH, etc) and are tightly regulated. Can they honestly believe that an enzyme created in a plant, to perform PLANT processes, would actually continue to function in an extremely different environment? Not to mention the full on attack by our digestive enzymes would render them useless.

And their "knowledge" of enzymes is just the tip of the ice berg. I could go and on about all their scientific inaccuracies, but I'm trying to make this readable.

I guess my next big concern is if they were allowed to publish all these scientific inaccuracies, how can I trust the rest of their information? It's scary that these two women are allowed to sell their version of human digestive physiology and readers will believe it without questioning its validity.

If this review stops even one person from reading this trash, I feel I have done a little good in this world :)

What a fun and interesting book! It took a lot of guts for these women to put themselves and their lifestyles out there in such an in-your-face way. I appreciated the fact that they pulled no punches and were unapologetic about their choices. I also have the cookbook and it is excellent. It's easy to give a negative review if something does not concur with what you already believe, but it's more difficult to be open-minded and try something different. Of course, since I adhere to a mostly vegan diet, I was already in agreement with their choices. Telling how animals are abused in the production of America's insatiable appetite for meat is not an "animal rights rant." It's a truth that everyone who eats meat should have to face before they make that choice. Another book, called Baby Boomer Bachelorette: How to Have Sex at Least Once More Before You Die recommends the same type of diet. She describes how the vegan diet helped her skate through menopause, unlike most middle-aged women, who suffer terrible symptoms, and usually end up on harmones or other medication. This book also contains some great dating advice for the over-40 crowd!

This book is a vegan propaganda piece. Crudely written with the intent to scare you out of your current eating patterns. Unfortunately, once they disgust you, call you names and generally make you feel pretty bad, they give no useful advice on how to embark on this new lifestyle. Hey, I don't offend easily, but I just paid money to get called all kinds of filthy names and go to bed hungry!!!

I'd give this a 0 if I could.

This book advocates a vegan diet, which, according to these girls is THE ONLY WAY to get skinny. About 2-3 chapters of this book is about the horrors of the animal slaughterhouses. While I agree that these places are atrocious, it has no place in a diet book. Diets motivated by emotion usually end up BADLY. And yeah, soyburgers/fake meat might taste great, but what are all the flavorings in them? Absolute "garbage". Pick tempeh or edamame instead.
Sure you can be a healthy meat eater. I'm an example. Should you eat it at every meal in large portions? No, of course not. But if you want to eat meat/dairy, it's fine as long as you do it in moderation (just like everything else). Even better if you can get your hands on some wild game, like venison. Buy organic, free range (or kosher) meats and you'll be fine.
A much better book is the "Women's Health Perfect Body Diet" which is actually written by a nutritionist and not a model and a modeling agent. Pick up a nutrition book before starting any diet and make a lifestyle change. :)

This was a great book that I happened to pick up in the bookstore, and I loved it! Having a master's degree in a health field, it re-inforced a lot of what I already knew, but totally kept me entertained. This is a great book for people who don't have time to read a lot of scientific garble, but need to know about what is in the majority of commercially processed foods. To the reviewer who claims that humans do not make their own protein...re-read your nutrition book, if you actually took that class. It is very true that the body does make most of the amino acids that it needs, and it takes only a moderately balanced diet to obtain the rest. Eating more protein than you need causes your body to expel that protein through your urine. It does NOT get stored and it is NOT used for energy. In a low-carb diet, the reason people lose weight is that their body is breaking down the protein IN YOUR MUSCLES because it has nowhere else to turn for fuel. It does NOT use the protein that you are eating. Also, blaming genetics for being fat is a cop-out. Rosie O'Donnell is fat, not "big-boned". There is no such thing. Get off your butt and exercise.

Following everything that this book recommends would be pretty hard-core and not for most people. However, following a few (even just cutting out soda!) would go a long way in making America healthier--which, incidentally, would make us skinnier. Get the book!

Love this book! Great information in it that everyone can learn from. Plus, it's highly entertaining to read and will give you lots of laughs. I would most definitely recommend this book. You will think twice about the next thing you eat/drink!

Nowhere on the cover or in reviews that I have read does it tell you that this book is about vegetarianism or veganism. I thought I was getting a good no nonsense book about diet, I did not know I was getting a diatribe about the evils of eating meat or dairy. Also, while the language is a little cute and funny at first, it soon loses it's amusement value and becomes just foul and disgusting. I would not recommend this book to my friends.

Truly a must to read. This book will change your way of thinking into a new lifestyle that will only bring positive results.

After reading some of the other one-star reviews, I had to comment only to help get this book's overall rating down farther.

First - is anyone really shocked this book contained profanity? Seriously - you're buying a book called "Skinny Bitch", think about it.

Other than that, previous reviews have gotten it right. I can't believe I spent money on this. Like other reviewers, this is my first review on Amazon. I am so disgusted with this book, I couldn't keep quiet. I read the first chapter in the book store today and expected an in-my-face approach to changing my eating habits. I didn't realize I'd be slapped in the face with false/twisted science, written by those who seem to be the USDA's sworn enemies.

This book is crap. The publisher should be held accountable as well. James Frey was crucified for embellishing his story of drug addiction. Where is the public outcry for this book? We should be refunded. The publisher should have insisted on putting something on the cover/back cover about the book's vegan agenda.

Nothing wrong with being a vegan - just with being a misleading "Skinny Bitch."

I used to be a burger eating, beer drinking girl. I was also 30 lbs overweight. All that changed when I went in the Peace Corps and was forced to adopt a basically vegan diet as advocated by Skinny Bitch. The thing is, it works, and you actually feel so much better you dont' want meat or cheese any more. TRY it for a month before you rant and rave about how unhealthy it is. Now that I'm back, I want to keep up this diet at least 60% of the time. Even if you do that, you will see results.

Everyone should read this book.. My family and I read it on a weekend outing. We have all changed our diets and have never felt better.

I wish I had paid more attention to all the one star reviews before me! If you're interested in a short term diet to lose weight, this is not the book for you. If you are seriously interested in becoming a vegan, this is not the book for you. I essentially agree with what the authors say: that in order to lead long-term healthy lives, we must re-examine our animal-based high protein diet. I do not agree with how the authors decided to present the information. If you're interested in why you should change to a vegan diet, buy "The China Study", a more challenging book certainly, but well worth the struggle. And I was sad to see that the authors suggest milk product substitutes and bought vegan products throughout most of the book rather then actually encouraging a new way of cooking. Not worth it...

The primary objective of this book is to shock the reader into becoming a Vegan. It is not a diet or weight-loss book.

Just know that the co-author, Kim Barnouin, is a former model who did most of the book's "research". She lists that she has a Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition. What she doesn't say is she got the degree through the mail, from Clayton College of Natural Health, a non-accredited natural health school.

So if you choose to become a Vegan due to the hormones that the put into livestock, the poor conditions that they live in, or the in-humane way that they are killed, that is perfectly understandable. But don't confuse this book with anything scientific or written by an expert on the subject, because it is not.

i GOT THIS BOOK FOR MY DAUGHTER SHE LOVED IT, SHE SAID IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND SO FUNNY. SHE HAS SINCE READING THIS BOOK QUIT DRINKING DIET SODA.

My first question to you all is...Do any of you actually think that eating yogurt, and milk and eggs is what is making you fat?
This book is so frustrating and so WRONG on so many levels I just want to scream.
My favorite quote about this book? "It's a vegan manifesto masquerading as a diet fad" AMEN!
What really distresses me about this book is the thought there are people who read this and actually believe these two idiots.
These women are sharing their OPINION. And telling you in obnoxious language what you should do. The "facts" are pretty obvious, todays meat industry is just plain gross? well yeah thats pretty well known..Their big "revelation" about aspertame? Did anyone really think it's good for us?Really?

What is wrong with our diets today has everything to do with the fact we no longer eat REAL FOOD..we eat processed, packaged and mutated "food stuff".
If you truly want to change your eating habits and be healthy LONG TERM I highly recommend the book "Real Food: What To Eat And Why" by Nina Planck. She gives FACTS about processed meats and additives. FACTS about what your body needs to be healthy. Good organic natural food.
Now would you rather change your eating habits and eat soy yogurt, cheese and tofu for the rest of your life? Or would you rather be healthy and eat good varied GOOD TASTING food?

This is NOT a diet book. This is a book written by two angry women who have chosen to live their lives as Vegans. That's fine if you want to live your life that way. So write a book about becoming a Vegan. I was absolutely mortified by the language used by these (in my opinion) low-class women. I bought this book thinking I was getting a book on how to lose weight in a healthy way. It was nothing of the sort. If you are looking for information on becoming a Vegan and why you should, well this is the book for you. If you're looking for a book on healthy weight loss, don't waste your time or money!!

I read the review titled "not a diet book and not based on science" or something almost like that and almost didn't buy the book. I'm so glad that I decided to anyway. This book is very good at citing exactly where they get all of the information they provide (I don't know why that other reviewer said they lack research and such) and since I am well familiar with a lot of their sources, I can say that they did indeed do their homework. They have great endnotes and bibliography, so if you're curious you can go look at the sources (which is more than I can say for crappy books like the blood type diet that don't even know what an endnote is yet have swayed gazillions of people). I also found it strange that that other reviewer would critique these authors for encouraging women to be skinny and for using the "b" word saying how it's degrading to women, and then turn around and critique their outfits. I mean really, whose perpetuating women's body issues here? At least if you read this whole book you will find that actually in the end they state loud and clear that they don't care if people are skinny and that they just used that to get our attention and that their real reason for writing the book is to get people healthy. And if you look at what foods they encourage people to eat, you will find that it is basically good healthy stuff - greens, legumes, grains, whole foods - good foods. Don't know how anyone could find fault with that.

That all said, yeah, it's kitchy. All that sassy talk and swearing - but hey, it's fun and it laughs at itself. And really, if it gets people to read it and eat better and harm less animals? Then why not. It's not the deepest book on nutrition out there, but I don't think it's meant to be. You want to know more? Get "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" - it's awesome for a quick reference to different vitamins, minerals etc. and what's good for what.

I myself am not into all the pre-packaged foods they recommend, but I get it that they are targeting an audience that will respond well to any tools they can be given to make the dietary changes easier. Oh, and by the way - I say it's a diet book not in the sense of "going on a diet" but in the sense of changing one's dietary habits. Your diet is what you eat, not a thing you go on.

Buy the book - it's harmless, fun (sometimes gruesome and sad too) and just might be the prod ya need.

If what came out of their mouths was half as good as what goes in, they might have been on to something. And it's just a glamorous title for yet another vegan book.


If you like hearing women curse like sailors, you might appreciate this book.

When you learn about what you are shoveling into your mouth, it becomes easier to change what & how you eat. I love the authors blunt, no nonsense delivery. Toughen up and get ready to hear the truth!

I will start with the positive about the book - it is entertaining, has a lot of interesting information, it is alarming about a huge problem in our nutrition habits. I great the authors for writing this book and I hope the society will finally pay attention to BIO and ECO on the labels of the products, also we will hopefully start emphasizing on the quality, not on the quantity. We will buy less, pay a little more, but live healthier.
The negative in the book according to me is the desire of the authors to turn the human beings into vegans!? It is ridiculous health risk to eliminate a whole food group from your menue.
I have something to say about soya substitutes of meat - soon will be proven that they also cause some diseases and are certainly not harmless. Vegetables and fruit also contain an enormous list of toxic and dangerous chemicals, since everything nowadays is produced unnaturally. Also, your lipstick, fondation, toothpaste, deodorant, perfume, soap etc....So, Misses, It is not the meat that is dangerous. Everything in big quantities is. I agree that we should eat LESS meat, LEAN meat, FISH. To reduce the quantities - yes, but not to remove it completely. I know many vegans - none of them is skinny- they stuff themselves with bread, rice and potatoes to somehow compensate the lack of meat. They suffer diseases, related to the lack of meat in their menue, even their skin has an unhealthy colour. According to me you can't be vegan and skinny, unless you eat very tiny portions of green vegetables only. Your book should not be named "Skinny Bitch". May be it will be more appropriate in accordance with the content to name it: "Meat is dangerous".
I give 4 stars for the book since it is interesting, the style is very entertaining and humorous and I do like the presence of lot of curious information.
I would like to apologise for any mistakes, since English is not my native language.

I'm not a vegan, and although I liked this book, I don't plan on becoming one. However, the authors made some very valid points that anyone on a diet should note:1. Soda, especially diet soda, is very bad. 2. Water, fruit and vegetables are diet staples 3. You must exercise 4. Complex carbs aren't bad, in fact they're quite necessary. 5. Sugar, not carbs, create fat

This is a love it or hate it book. It's in-your-face and well researched (check out the works cited.) Ms. Barnouin even hold a MS in nutrition. With that said, I trust their claims are as valid as Al Gore's in "An Inconvenient Truth." Although the research is there, the findings may not be entirely accurate.

I found the overuse of language a bit unnecessary, but overall I think anyone, vegan, vegetarian, or meateater, can learn something from this book, as I have.

When two undereducated, over-opinionated, and inexcusably vulgar socialist vegan conspiracy theorists get together to write a diet book, this is the result. This book is 50% political manifesto, 49% baseless opinion, and 1% fact. It sounds like most of the nutritional information they are passing along as fact has been gleaned from PETA brochures, and they discount years of scientific research in the health field. Any research data that does not fit into their very narrow (and, I might interject, UN-expert) opinion is explained away as a vast governmental conspiracy. And the language is ridiculously vulgar. I felt like I needed to wash my eyes out with soap halfway through the book.

I recommend this book if you are ready to be healthy and fed up with shoveling crap into your mouth, but cannot control yourself. This book has a tendency to be extreme, gross, and hilarious. It has also motivated me to be aware of what I put in my mouth. The book has very interesting views on food and it is up to the reader to sort through the valid vs. extreme material. I am very overweight and used to feeding myself what ever I wanted. This book has made me more aware of what I should be eating. I will probably never be vegan, but I now am trying vegan recipes, consuming more fruits and vegetables and less meat, sugar, and whole milk lattes. Many have commented on how misleading this book can be, but if you are like me and just need a kick in the pants to be conscious of food, this a good book to read. My candy, cookie, and cake habits are now replaced by bananas and other healthy alternatives. I'm not starving myself, I am eating better.

I don't know how this book ever got published. The very first chapter states that "Healthy=skinny. Unhealthy=fat". Another line from their book, "after a few days, you'll grow to love that empty feeling in your stomach and know that the initial headaches, nausea, and hunger were just your body's cleaning crew." Um, hello? Is this the "how to become an anorexic manual"? I feel that this book could become very dangerous in the hands of teenage girls or others who are not well read in fitness and nutrition.

The authors are insulting ("don't be a fat pig anymore"), boorish ("there is no greater pleasure than taking a big, steamy dump"), and vulgar (too many examples using the f-word and other vulgarities).

I can't believe I wasted a good hour or so skimming through this muddled mess of misinformation. At least I checked it out of the library and didn't spend a penny for this useless garbage.

These women seem to think that their diet promotes a sort of blanket virtue that enables them to trash everyone and everything around them so long as they remain skinny. I'm betting their spouses, children and other family members think otherwise. Nevertheless, if you like being abused and don't mind reading pages of profanity-laden misinformation, then by all means buy this book.

This is possibly the worst book I've ever read, definitely the worst diet book. It is basically a long rant against the USDA, FDA, EPA and any other entity that has us "brainwashed" into eating animal products. Amid all of the hyperbole and ridiculous advice (such as don't take painkillers on your period because the pain is supposed to prepare you for childbirth), there is one message: adopt a vegan lifestyle to lose weight. This book has no practical advise on how to diet or successfully control weight. If you are actually interested interested in a vegan dieting book with some substance, check out Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman.

I picked up this book thinking I could learn a thing or two about healthy eating. I learned that the agenda of this book is to promote a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. Okay, I'm good with that. There was just way too much profanity. I understand that the authors were trying to be blunt in getting their point across, but they took it way too far. It was distracting and a total turn-off! I like to feel like I can relate to an author - but these two are people I would never be able to relate to, and I regret spending any time or money on their book. Recommend as a library book, but otherwise, don't waste your money.

...although that's what these authors would like you to believe. I know vegans who are overweight, and others who are at a healthy body weight. I know omnivores who are overweight, and others who are at a healthy body weight. It's all about moderation. You do not have to be a vegan to be thin. Any nutrition expert will tell you the same.

Also, I personally do not like what they have to say about fasting to detoxify your body. Here is some information from the very reliable website, ANRED: Anorexia Nervosa and Eating Disorders, Inc.

"Do I need to fast periodically to detoxify my body?

No. This is a subject that has grown an extensive mythology, but none of it is based on scientific fact. Your body is very efficient in cleansing itself, including the digestive tract. There is no evidence to suggest that you get "toxic" by eating normally. Nor do your stomach and intestines need to rest every once in a while. In fact, fasting can be dangerous for people with eating disorders. It can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, crankiness, drops in blood pressure, and irregular heart beat. It is especially dangerous for people with diabetes, liver disease, or impaired kidneys. Pregnant women should never fast. We do not recommend this hazardous and ineffective practice."

To me, the people who pick up this book are not interested in being vegan. They are interested in losing weight. Many people become "vegans" in an effort to further restrict their food intake- while not eating the necessary nutrients to remain healthy. In short, I do not like the message this book is sending, however accurate their slaughterhouse and meat industry portrayals are.

As a former college athlete I know a great deal about nutrition and healthy dieting. This book is short and easy to read, therefore worth your time. The blunt nature of the authors is helpful in speaking the truths regarding how food is processed and what you should and should NOT be putting into your body. Although this book did not convert me into a vegan, it helps me focus on a more vegan style lifestyle when I am cooking for myself or making decisions at restaurants. It is not pretty to hear about the animal torture, but it is interesting to hear about its lack of sanitation. The food lists are helpful in the back of the book providing great alternatives to regular food. Although I would not be a vegan because of my love of seafood, fishing, etc... I would rethink my food choices after the book.

Great book, good info, I have to say though, the writers goal is clearly to turn the readers into Vegetarians and Vegans. =) Its tough, but worth it.

This book is great! What a wake up call, no frills, no pussy footing around the cruelty and commercialization of how "we" raise animals for consumption. The unconsciousness with how these creatures are farmed for consumption is downright disgusting, painful. This book came to me at a time when I was ready to make the vegan choice. I have not eaten mammal for years, and this helped me make the total vegan way. There are SO many food options other than animal product. I feel better than ever. The internet is full of help for you if you are considering this lifestyle, 'Skinny Bitch' is a must read for you!

It's that simple. All the naysayers are just in denial. This book showed me to care about what I put in my body. If I'm not going to do it, who will? Buy this book and love your body!

This book goes back and forth from a Sex And The City bitch-a-thon to a militant vegan blab-fest and it can't make up its mind. It kinda reminds me of a co-worker that jumps from one trend to the next and has to tell every single person about it (You're crazy if you don't believer her, by the way). Nitty Gritty- yes, FDA and EPA don't have your best interest in mind when they allow your future beef plate to eat genetically modified corn, but is it necessarily going to kill you? The authors throw out claims and hope the reader infers what they want them to infer, but any rational person will be skeptical. Also, yes, they treat animals really badly in most meat factories, but is meat the problem, or is the method of slaughter the problem? If the authors weren't so stuck on being super-trendy, they'd be able to look toward a truly healthy diet and forget all the pop nonsense that contradicts their militant mindsets. I recommend The Evolution Diet and You: On A Diet much more.

I have always tried to make healthy choices for me and my family, but this book is written so compellingly that I was motivated after the first chapter to make big changes and stick to them! I never really knew what being a vegan meant, but it has been almost effortless because of the reasons they provide, and how readily available vegan products are these days. I recommended this book to all my friends and they are making healthy changes in their lives also. Love it!

I went out and picked up this book after I saw the "authors" on Ellen. While she did ask them why they had to be so mean in the book, their response was that it was "tough love." Trust me, there is no love in this book, nor is there any science, facts, or logic.

I lost 60 lbs last year on a sensible diet plan but was looking for a book to help me stay on track and maybe learn something new about the latest in diet research. I'd already been wondering why it is that today's books on "nutrition" are like comic books? And now this one? It's like something Courtney Love would write, and you can't buy the radio edit.

I took this book back to the bookstore after trying to get through the first chapter. It wasn't just the foul mouths, it was the lack of substance or science. They simply wanted to make you like the waifish models that came before them at the Ford modeling agency. Big woop. So you starved young girls to death for fun and profit. The world doesn't work that way (except in mental hospitals on the eating disorder wards).

Oh, and later in the book (as I found when flipping through - trying to find something that made any sense at all)? They have an FYI chapter saying that if you see them in public, don't berate them for breaking their own rules, because they try to have a "healthy" balance in their lives.

OH COME ON!!!!! You mean we can't go up to you and spout forth a stream of expletives at you, as you have done at your readers? WHY NOT??

These women are just the latest symptom of a publishing industry playing to the lowest common denominator.

Ugh.

As a student with an undergraduate degree in nutrition and who is in the process of obtaining her RD (Registered Dietitian) and MPH, I don't even know where to start with this book. First, the information presented is an extremely biased, brief review of the literature. I've read many of the referenced articles, and, believe me, the way in which the authors of this book manipulated that information does not portray the conclusions of those articles.

When will we as a country begin to realize that we need to eat FOOD? Real food. And appreciate REAL food. This book tells people to avoid whole food groups like meat and dairy, when it's well known and accepted that you need vitamins from those groups to survive. Yes exceptions can be made, and you can live on a vegan diet, but it's not recommended by any means and is definitely not meant for all people.

On my way to becoming an expert in nutrition, this book angered me beyond belief -- not at the ignorance of these authors, but for the sake of all the victims of this book. And that's what they truly are: victims.

If you have a question about nutrition, please ask a registered dietitian or a certified nutritionist. This book is just another scheme to get your money.

I like that the authors went lighthearted on a serious topic and brought veganism more mainstream. Most people assume vegetarians and vegans are super hippie freaks. This book shows you another side of that. I really enjoy the information and statistics as well.

Now if I can just get my copy back from my friends!

I can't help but love almost everything here, but I'm concerned that followers will take in way too much soy. Soy/estrogen-based foods at higher daily intake levels have been correlated with increases in breast and other cancer rates. Love love that the authors have been successful in making the vegan way of thinking both more cool and more doable, thank you to them for that. Just find some substitutes for the soy (think almond milk, seitan, chickpeas) in order to be smart about the amount of soy you're taking in at the end of each day.

Sadly enough I spent money on this book. I thought it would be a guide to every day healthy eating, instead a vegan calling the reader names and spouting off truly horrific details of the slaughter houses. I read about 2 pages of that, and was so sick to my stomach I skipped a couple of chapters. The authors are trying to scare you into being a vegan, which is not the correct tactic in my opinion. If this book could be rated zero stars, that's what I would give it. To bad I can't get my money back.

The authors of this book take scientific research and bend it to fit their agenda. It is a book of unbalanced arguments and curse words to try and sway the un-skinny into being vegans. Veganism is fine and everyone has a right to know the truth behind food production and the details of the government's rules and regulations, but this book is very one sided. You don't need to be vegan to be a "skinny bitch." Readers beware, research your decisions beyond the words of Rory and Kim. If you are serious about losing weight, please see a nutritionist to discuss the options that are best for your specific needs.

I randomly came across this book while browsing through my local target store. I am not a fan of diet books or fads, this book seemed different and appealing. I was still skeptical when I picked it up, but I loved this book so much I read the whole thing in just a few hours, I was so hooked.

While some people may be offended by the language, as a 25 year old, it appealed to me. It made me laugh and even kept my attention, I'm pretty sure that was the point. Its like having one of your girl friends teach you about food, and giving you tough love about what you're eating. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in dieting. I never realized the politics of food; I also never thought much about the chemicals and antibiotics in what I eat. Lastly, I never realized how horrible the animals are treated in slaughterhouses. As an animal lover, there was no way I could continue eating meat after reading this book.

This book sparked such an interest in food for me, that I even started reading other books on the topic:



Fast Food Nation
Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat IndustryFood Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition, and Health, Revised and Expanded Edition (California Studies in Food and Culture)

I had mixed feelings about this book. The authors do offer some good tips and I like that they mention specific name-brand healthy foods, but they're style of writing is very in-your-face. Granted, maybe the name of the book should have clued me in, but I thought it was just a sense of humor. But throughout the book, the authors refer to the reader in insulting terms, like "a**hole" for example.

Also, it becomes clear that the authors are vegetarians and this is largely due to their beliefs about the humane treatment of animals. I respect that and have even stopped eating red meat (which I ate very little of anyway), but they note that "if you want to get skinny, you've got to be a vegetarian - someone who doesn't eat dead animals or seafood. Quit whining...." I'm 5'5" and weigh 110 pounds and eat chicken, fish and seafood. So it's not exactly true to say you've got to be a vegetarian to be skinny.

In any event, I mainly got the book to eat healthier and the authors do offer some good tips, but if you buy the book, be prepared to be preached at by the authors. This style does work for some people, but it's not for everyone.

Wickedly subversive, funny, and well researched. Beyond the cheeky title and skewering language you'll find one of the most profound and important books about health-- human and animal-- published in the last 20 years. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be a better human being after.

It's sad that anyone would take their advice.

I have no issue with veganism. Veganism is fine. I was a vegetarian for several years and didn't eat red meat for several more after that. I couldn't do the vegan thing, but I appreciate that some people do want to eat that way, and I think there are some good reasons to limit or eliminate meat and dairy consumption. What I have a problem with is the language that the authors use in the book to try to convince people to eat vegan - and I'm not talking about the profanity. You see, in addition to being an ex-vegetarian, I am also in recovery from an eating disorder. And so much of the language in this book is exactly the kind of thing I would say to myself to convince myself not to eat, when I was at the worst point in my illness and trying to eat less than 600 calories a day, while at the same time exercising 3-4 hours a day.

It's a lot easier not to eat when you convince yourself that what's on your plate is disgusting - that it is rotting, filled with pus, decomposing, etc. Who would want to eat a horrible plate of rotting meat, right? If you can look at your plate and see filth rather than tasty food, it's easy not to eat it. It's easier to not eat when you constantly tell yourself that you're fat, lazy, worthless, stupid, etc. if you eat. Because if you can make the self-criticism stop by not eating - if you can feel virtuous and clean and okay by not eating, and have the relentlessly critical voices stop for a little while, and have some peace from your own anxiety and tension - then not eating becomes an easier and easier thing to do, over time. I didn't hear two angry vegans speaking in this book. I heard two women who have major food and body issues that they've never addressed. A lot of people have objections about the authors calling other people fat, stupid, etc. - you have to understand that is not the authors talking about other people. Those are the voices they hear inside their heads, every single day, telling them that THEY are stupid, THEY are worthless, THEY are bad if they stray from this very strict diet they have devised. That's exactly what happens when people have an eating disorder. Ultimately, it is NOT about food or losing weight, it is about control. By limiting what they eat to this very narrow selection of foods, they can maintain or take back control they don't feel they have normally. As an ex-anorexic friend of mine said, this book is awesome for people in the throes of the disease because it basically gives you permission to food-restrict and negatively self-talk all you want, two of the behaviors that therapists try to eliminate in eating-disorder patients.

I truly believe this book is not about veganism. This book is about how to practice a special brand of anorexia in which you view food as evil and avoid putting it into your body, but you still eat enough of certain things to avoid criticism from friends and family, under the guise of this pro-animal-rights philosophical viewpoint. The language they use is very similar to the language you see on pro-anorexia websites maintained by women whose goal is to trade tips for how not to eat and reinforce each other's philosophy and behavior. Those websites have the same "us against the world" and "other people think we're crazy but we're doing the right thing" tone. If you want to be vegan, that's great, but this is not the book to read. Because this is way more about the psychology of eating disorders than it is about good reasons to be vegan. This book is about how to be a vegan with a very twisted relationship with food. There are other books out there that can help you be a healthy vegan, who has a healthy relationship with food, and with your own body.

There's one other thing I want to say about the book. Vegan diets work great for some people in terms of weight loss. For other people, eating large quantities of fruit (high in sugar) and soy (high in phytoestrogens and endocrine disruptors) can cause big problems and would not result in weight loss. I have PCOS and the diet prescribed in this book is exactly what my nutritionist and physician have told me NOT to eat. If you have PCOS, or an existing thyroid condition, PLEASE talk to an endocrinologist before adopting the eating plan in this book. Did you know that soy ice cream has a higher glycemic index rating than pure glucose? If you have blood-sugar issues or hypothyroidism, soy products are very problematic. There's also evidence (that these authors don't discuss) linking soy to hormonal imbalances and cancer. Women with breast or thyroid cancer, or who are at high risk for those cancers, are usually counseled to avoid soy.

In any case - this is honestly not a diet book, or at least not one that people should be taking advice from. I have struggled with my weight my whole life (due in part to the fact that my PCOS went undiagnosed for years). I would love to lose weight but I also think part of the goal of living is to be a happy person. The kind of negative self-talk the authors encourage under the guise of "straight talk" does not lead to happiness, I can testify from experience. There is a huge problem with obesity in this country, but we aren't going to solve it by having people develop extremely negative relationships with food. This book gave me the chills because it reads so much like stories girls in my therapy group told about how they talked to themselves, to convince themselves to stop eating. It was disturbing to me, and it's even more disturbing to me that thousands of women out there are taking it as the gospel truth.

Well i really loved this book. i've never really thought about what i was eating until i read this book. It really gives you a whole new insight. The first thing i did after i read it was go get new groceries and took a long look at what i already had. The book tells you how things are killed, what chemicals are put into processed foods and what they do to your body. Also at the end of the book it gives you websites you can go to and a list of foods you can find, that taste good. I gave this book a 4 because some stuff i didn't like the fasting part, i don't think anyone should fast completely, also the title is misleading. The book is hilarious though.

now what to eat: I live on an air force base and sometimes we don't have a huge selection, but we do have a brand called morning star and all of there foods are delicious. My fav would be the corn dogs. Also theres a brand called quoinic and they have a turkey roast that is really awesome which taste good and has the texture of real turkey. Amazingly there is vegan cream cheese, vegan sour cream, and vegan mayonnaise. I also recently found vegan ravioli, which you boil yourself. If your looking for something vegan and aren't sure it usually says right on the label somewhere. I also like amy's soy cheese pizza. I usually add organic sauce and there are even immitation pepporinis that are good and look normal. Also smart dog is a good brand, my fav for them is there meatless hamburger meat and hotdogs. I tried four different kinds of milk, my favorite was rice dream with vanilla. i'm not big on the soy milk & my husband loooves the chocolate milk.
If you go to Allrecipes.com they have some cool recipes and all you have to do is substitute everything. My favorites are mock tuna, and there chilli.
COST: okay, so it is a little expensive. but if you think of the money you are saving on not being able to eat fast food it really balances out. Also if you've given up meat then your meals will be cheaper at the bigger restaurants because you have to be picky. Speaking of picky...my husband is doing this with me and he thinks i'm extremely picky because some of the food we eat doesn't taste so good. (watch out for organic, vegan mac & cheese, and some chips) Well i've decided i can be picky because everyday i'm finding new things that taste just like the old ones, without animals dying and me eating alot of chemicals.

LASTLY: Okay, so my mouth still waters when i see meat and i'm really hungry, but after eating i feel so much better and the meat doesn't really bother me anymore. I always feel really good now, i never feel like my stomach is heavy anymore and i feel a lot more in control of my food. I actually have fun trying to find new things to cook. I also get a lot of crap from other people, telling me my diet(change of lifestyle) isn't healthy. Thankfully none of these people know what there talking about, in fact they don't really know what they are eating. Another really cool thing about eating soy imitation meat is that it doesn't take as long to cook, because most things just need heating up also, there isn't alot of grease like you get when you cook regular stuff, like sausage, bacon, and hamburger meat.
If you can't find these foods at your local market, google natural food markets for your area. My fav are trader joes, aqua vita and wild oats. good luck.

I actually received this book a week ago and found it an informative and an easy read. They tell people what they need to know and are a bit crass but thats how it is. The book did get me back on the vegan track after being an icecreamatarian. Yes if you are eating crap then go ahead and get this book. You will learn why the foods you are eating are bad for you not only junk but dairy and meat.

They also tell you in the book to not become anorexic just become healthy. And for those who are comparing their bodies to the cartoon figure, grow up. You had to of skimmed the pages did not read and fully understand them.

its a great book if you are wondering how to eat healthier.though, there is a chapter called you are what you eat, and its very very graphic. it goes into full detail about how animals are slaughtered and brutalized. it actually made stomach turn.i couldnt eat meat for a week. just be prepared.

I think these women had some great information but why did they have to hide it with all the filthy language. I'm far from being a prude but geez....I put the book down after the third or fourth chapter and judging from the condition of the book (I got it from the library--I do that before I decide to purchase one from Amazon :o).... so did everyone else. Could have been a good source of information but they ruined it with the filthy language. YUCK