I don't utilize the Maker's diet anymore but this book is a good starting book for many people on a path towards health. The author, Jordan Rubin shows us how we can leave the grips of death and disease and enter a state of health. The knowledge has been around for thousands of years. Personally I don't eat as much cooked animal protein as the book advises, and in fact found healthier ways to prepare animal protein.

The book is inspiring. Yes Mr. Rubin's products are expensive, and they are decent quality. In comparison to the mainstream, he's doing a good job selling products that are health promoting. Ideally I would like to have recipes on how to make these products at home, especially the magic dirt he calls HSO's.

Overall, if you feel compelling to read this book, then read it. It's filled with important information for those new to healthy eating with whole foods.

Rami Nagel is the distinguished author of Cure Tooth Decay, Heal and Prevent Cavities With Nutrition

God Bless Jordan and his quest to educate our unhealthy ways. Just look around you as we get sicker and the pharmaceuticals get richer. His experience is living proof (that's enough scientific evidence for me) that God's way is the healing way to health.

A good health resource covering an array of suggestions to help improve your health and quality of life.

Although it has a lot of good suggestions, I found this book disappointing. The author states that vegetarian and raw food diet is dangerous, sounds like someone who has never tried this diet and have never had anyone who tried this diet around him. If author does not have any experience, it is pointless to talk about it.

I bought this book because I have burning bladder syndrome and another book (based on the Ph Theory) suggested eating mostly fruits and vegetables but shunned meat & dairy. I found it hard to believe meat and dairy is bad for us. So I thought, "What did God want us to eat?" and Rubin outlines it for us along with some other natural healing tips and products.

Rubin is Jewish so he only considers the Old Testament so you can't have pork or shellfish. But, the man did cure himself of Crohn's disease so it's hard to argue with that! The book outlines his awful journey with the disease, so be prepared, it can be a tear-jerker as well.

I bought this book because I have a bladder syndrome and another book suggested eating mostly fruits and vegetables but shunned meat & dairy. I just found it hard to believe meat and dairy is bad for us. So I thought, "What did God want us to eat?" and Rubin outlines it for us.

Rubin is Jewish so he only considers the Old Testament so you can't have pork or shellfish. But, the man did cure himself of Crohn's disease so it's hard to argue with that! The book outlines his awful journey with the disease, so be prepared, it can be a tear-jerker as well.

When reading this book I don't know if I'm reading the Bible or a diet book. The justifications for the diet just don't sound right to me. I need more scientific based conclusions as to why I should eat a certain food rather than "God says it's ok". It also sounds as if he hates pork, which seems to stem from religion also. I should have done more research before I bought this book.

I actually found this book quite offensive.

It assumes that you have a stay-at-home wife to support and cook for you all day.

As a (female) sufferer of crohn's who lives alone, this was a highly impractical 'solution' for me. I manage a full time job so was not able to, for example, cook stock for two hours before even starting on whatever meal I had to make.

I found my changes came to me by putting myself in a happier environment, becoming spiritual in the true sense of the word and eating an organic wholefood diet.

Even if you are dying and desperate, there are much better things out there for you to try.

I'm reading this book and am almost done. I think it is great. It tells of his experience and why he came to write the book. It's full of detailed, researched, scientific, and biblical facts; testimonies of people who have followed the diet. It covers not only foods, herbs, essential oils, but also everything that effects your body, mind and spirit including how you think, what you listen to. I'm excited about getting started on it and plan to buy it for a few of my friends and family members. I start the diet with this book but will probably also buy the Shoppers Guide for more help.

This is a phenominal book!! I am on day 3 now and I have noticed a HUGE difference!! I didn't think I could do it, as I am truly a chocolate addict, but I have done it, and I plan on sticking with it!! I feel great! I have tons of energy. I feel completely different!! I was really sluggish before I started this, and now I feel wonderful! Thank you soooo much to Jordan!

I have read The Maker's Diet and its a great book. Once I started reading I could'nt put it down, it taught me things I did not know about my illness GERD. I know now, how to control my illness and thanks to this book I am doing alot better and have lost some wait following the diet. I have also learn alot about God and its creations in this earth, it is a wonderful feeling to get up in the morning and not have that constant pain in my stomach. I recommand this book to anyone having GERD.

This is an excellent book, and some of its advice has many parallels with books such as Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Nourishing Traditions, Traditional Foods Are Your Best Medicine, Know Your Fats, and even some concepts from The Zone. What's especially surprising is that it is even supported by the writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen, who wrote 800 years ago.

For those who have less then positive impressions about the book, I ask you to patiently consider:

1) The best source of Vitamin D is the sun, yes, but very few americans spend enough time in the sun due to school and occupations, many wear makeup with sunscreen etc, or live at latitudes or in pollution, all which will prevent a body from manufacturing vitamin D. The Arthritis magazine published about two years ago that most americans are deficient in Vit D, and this may be a cause of Rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, we should try to supplement our diets with NATURAL vitamin D, which can only be found in butter and other animal products. If you are on a cholesteral reducing medication, your body might not be able to manufacture any vitamin D protein. (Wise Traditions, Fall 2006, p 21.) If you are not sure, your doctor can test your vit D levels. It may be an eye-opener.

2) it is a misconception that betacarotene is vitamin A - it is PRO-vitamin A, and requires a conversion to be made into actual Vitamin A. Many people genetically make this conversion very poorly, therefore it is necessary to suppliment. Man made sources of Vitamin A are very toxic, while natural sources such as cod liver oil, are not. Vitamin A can only be found in animal products.

3) regarding processed foods and longevity versus ethnic foods and their quality of life, I suggest reading the comprehensive Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Dr. Weston A. Price. He spent decades traveling the globe and studying the diets of native populations and comparing their longetivity and quality of life statitics. His work is being perpetuated by the Weston A. Price Foundation in Washington, D.C. Dr. Price regularly found people on completely native diets who lived 80 - 120 years PRODUCTIVELY. When these tribes adapted any of the refined food ( white flour, white sugar, etc) illness and deformities almost instantaneously appeared. If these people reverted to their native diets all illness disappeared. Please note that most of these populations studied had next to no cavities although they had never seen a toothbrush. As soon as refined products joined their diets, tooth decay became RAMPANT.

4) the cost of supplements - it is an unfortunate truth that corporate farming has raped the soil of its nutrients. We can thank corporate greed for having to buy the supplements that would otherwise already be in our food supplies. I suggest instead of blaming Dr. Rubin, place the blame where it squarely lies with corporate greed. In the meantime, support your local small farmers markets where emphasis on nutrition is returning, and consume the supplements that you can afford. Under current conditions, can you imagine how much food you would have to eat in order to meet the nutrition these same vegetables had sixty years ago? Its no wonder so many people have cravings, since nutritional needs are not being met.

Enjoy this book and the others mentioned above for the improved health you will have if you can even follow their guidelines 75%. Be realistic and take small steps, if need be!

God brought the Hebrews into a promised land flowing with milk and honey. Thankfully for them, Dr. Ornish and Dr. Atkins were not along for the ride or else the doctors would have argued against the health of the place. At least that's what Dr. Jordan Rubin, the author of "The Maker's Diet" believes. He claims in this latest chart-topping diet book that the Maker of Heaven and Earth was right all along.

Rubin starts this book with the same inspiring story he used to begin his bestselling "Physician Heal Thyself," his comeback from near death due to advanced Crohn's disease. In his latest, he details the diet that restored his health, one based on the Old Testament's dietary laws. While there's not enough space here to detail the specifics of eating kosher, the advice here boils down to avoiding eating "unclean" animals (e.g. - shrimp, pork, eels), buying organic, forsaking sugar, shunning processed foods, getting eight hours of sleep, developing a deeper spirituality, and doing "natural" exercises. Plus, eating a little dirt now and then helps, too.

What bothers me about "The Maker's Diet" goes beyond its infomercial script and to its very premise. The book is published by Strang Communications, a charismatic Christian publisher, and it claims the Bible as its source. Rubin argues that God gave Man the right to eat vegetables until the time of Noah, adding the eating of animal flesh after the flood. The Mosaic Laws further refined what was considered clean and unclean eating. It is largely the diet of Moses' day that Rubin endorses as being God's perfect diet.

But there is a convenient Scriptural omission: Mark 7:18-19, wherein Jesus Himself declares all foods clean. Later in Acts 10:9-15 Peter is told by God to kill and eat unclean animals. When he responds that he has never eaten anything unclean or "common," God replies, "You must stop calling unclean what God has made clean." Peter now understood that Jesus's finished work fulfilled the OT Law for all of us, rendering moot issues of what was clean and unclean. No longer were the Gentiles considered "unclean," just as food was no longer classified as clean and unclean (as in the Mark passage.) To further this point, the Apostle Paul routinely denounced Jewish Christians who insisted that the Gentile converts follow the OT laws (including the dietary laws espoused by Dr. Rubin.) As Paul writes later in Galatians 5:18, "But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Resurrecting the Law carries its own problems. James 2:10 says, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of breaking all of it." Living by the Law instead of the Spirit, compels a person to obey the entire Law--a tall order that no one was able to accomplish, and one of the primary reasons why Jesus came. That a publisher like Strang overlooks the flawed theology in "The Maker's Diet" is simply inexcusable.

Some of the concepts Rubin lauds as gospel truth are questionable. The author routinely talks about the excellent heath of primitive people, but the lifespans of those people are remarkably low, in truth. Compare the overall appearance of an average woman in her mid-forties in a Western country with her primitive counterpart and the latter appears far older and decrepit. The author notes the perfect dentition of primitive people, but anyone with a few copies of National Geographic lying around can open to a lot of really poor teeth in the very people Rubin lauds. The argument for eating only "clean" foods also fails factually. The Japanese, for instance, live longer than anyone and enjoy remarkably healthy lives, yet they eat large amounts of meat (especially seafood) classified by Dr. Rubin as "unclean." Rubin also cites many older medical texts that support his claims, although some of the science in those texts has been disproven in other areas. Lastly, the author's own story relates his quest for health by noting he tried hundreds of different diets in an effort to erase his ill health before he settled on this one, supposedly God's very own. A different person might have responded positively to one of those other diets, as millions of others have, considering the testimonials we get in the cornucopia of diet books out there. If Rubin had gotten results from eating a Tibetan monk's diet, we'd probably be getting a completely different title for the book.

Inconsistencies in the advice abound, as well. Rubin says that exercise should not consist of unnatural exercises (e.g. - running, jogging) that elevate the heart rate for long periods. In other words, aerobics are out, while yardwork is in. Exercises that can put a lot of stress on the body, or are risky in general, are to be avoided, too. But then Rubin recommends exercising on a mini-trampoline, a completely unnatural exercise (by his own definition) that is the cause of thousands of injuries a year. Inconsistencies extend to the diet itself. Many of the foods of the Bible are uncommon around the world, and Rubin recommends foods (e.g. - blueberries, curry) that did not exist in the Hebrew diet. How this keeps in line with his premise is not clear. How do we know that God considers corn, a New World food, "clean?" Rubin doesn't say. Even specific foods are approached with contradictory advice: Peanut oil is highly recommended, but peanuts themselves are not. Rubin recommends fermented foods, but not fermented drinks (yet, some of the recipes included in the book include that classic fermented drink, wine.)

Dr. Jordan Rubin's "The Maker's Diet" is a frustrating book. Somewhat of an infomercial for itself and for the author's (convenient) nutrition company, it still contains decent dietary advice that, if followed, will produce a healthier lifestyle. However, despite the touting that this is God's own dietary advice to modern men, the advice distills down to little more than common sense and temperance.

It seems to me that the diet recommendations are more healthful than un, but by page 45 there were so many gross errors (or deceit... but I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and assume that he wasn't paying attention in class, didn't employ a fact checker and had an editor who didn't bother reading the whole thing) that I had to put the book down.

Seriously, these are things that are so overwhelmingly WRONG there was no reason to read further. The two points that just rankle me beyond belief are:

1. Rubin's assertion on page 40 that our ancestors of four generations ago lived lifestyles which "...tended to keep them strong and healthy well into their 80s and beyond."

No. No person reading this could find it true. I looked up average life expectancy for the U.S.
1860 - 40 (the world average was 30)
1900 - 49. 7
1920 - 54

The current U.S. life expectancy is 78.

Is this deliberate misrepresentation or did he not bother to educate himself about his subject matter?

BTW - the longest lived peoples are Japanese/Okinawans (81.25 years). These are peoples who eat a diet made up primarily of foods Rubin forbids (in the name of God).

2. On page 45, 2nd paragraph, Rubin claims that vitamins A and D are "nutrients found only in animal fats."

I'm floored.

The best way to get vitamin D is via sunlight. Not animal fats.

One of the best-utilized forms of vitamin A is beta carotene. It's what makes carrots (and yams, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc.) orange.

This is the kind of information you learn in the first day of a uber-basic Nutrition class.


Oh - and 1b. on page 36 is pretty wild. His list of animals which "chew the cud" is way off.

So I haven't read past page 46 becase he already proved to me that I can not trust any claims he makes. I wanted to like this book. But I'm forced to suspect he's yet another charlatan cashing in on the longings of the masses. He must have assumed that his claims of God's intervention and inspiration would force his readers to abandon skepticism.

I find this especially offensive because many of the dietary changes I've seen inspired by it are VERY good. The emphasis on organics and unrefined grains and sweeteners is wonderful. I hate it when good ideas and messages get ruined by dishonesty, incompetence or ignorance (or a combination of any of those).

Many corrupt idealogues base careers on the assumption that the reader will suspend disbelief in deference to their godly credentials. The sad thing is that it usually works.

So, in case this isn't obvious - I don't recommend this book.

My husband is genetically predisposed to high cholesterol on both sides of his family. After going to the doctor in January, his cholesterol was 241 and his bad cholesterol was 168. We started The Maker's Diet the day after the Super Bowl. His Dr. also put him on a low dose of Caduet. Eight weeks later he tested his cholesterol again, it had dropped to 142! And, his bad cholesterol was literally cut in half. I work in healthcare and normally a person's cholesterol may drop 20-40 points at the most when placed on meds and no dietary change. This diet is life changing! My husband can't believe how much better he feels and he has much more energy. Get the shopper's guide for ease in choosing groceries. I didn't dump everything I had out either, we shifted over gradually to all organic. I also think the coconut oil and grapeseed oil I used to cook much of the meat, fish, etc. contributed as well. Great book for anyone who wants to be healthier, and its a plan you can do for ever. Side note: what we spent going out to eat, we now spend on organic foods and cook at home so we really didn't spend much more money.

First, all diets cost some money AND some sacrifice. There is nothing magical out there that is a cure all. Everything in the book is a recommendation of what it will take to bring yourself out of poor health into a better place. If you do indeed use the Garden of Life products, you will pay quite a bit of money to make this diet work. If you suffer from very poor health or chrones, this is a must do diet. It DOES help. The author does recommend alternatives to his products and even offers people of better health to start at one of the three different stages rather than stage one. Getting healthy costs some money but I have found many reasonably priced organic foods in Walmart in Target that are affordable. Eating healthy meat and chicken is a must. To do otherwise will have ill affects. There is indeed a lot of discipline in this diet to succeed but it can be done. I was able to lose 15 pounds of weight (in three weeks) AND feel better AND have more energy by using this diet. I am currently in stage two of the diet and feel great! This is all being done at a time when I have a newborn that is keeping me awake at night. Must do diet!

I have had Crohn's disease for almost 3 years now and can say, most honestly, this diet is the ONLY thing that has helped me. I feel so great... once I started the diet (around the end of the second week) I felt amazing. I had so much energy, my Crohn's symptoms were rapidly vanishing, and I just felt "healthy"- for the first time in a reeeally long time. I feel so great and am confident this diet works! I would recommend everyone try this diet because it is sure to change you! It has really helped me slow down and evaluate just how obsessed our society is with convenience and the idea of "fast" food. There is no way we are getting the proper nutrients we need. It's all about grabbing the quickest meal at the most convenient time. And, I don't think anyone needs me to point out how UNhealthy this is. I know the issue for most people with the Maker's diet is the expense of it. Eating healthy can add up... and the supplements are also up there when it comes to prices. However, the way I look at it is... I'd MUCH rather be spending 300+ a month on supplements & organic foods and feeling great than spending far more than 3000+ a year on medical bills. Thank the LORD for this diet. God is great and he knows us better than we know ourselves. Isaiah 55:2 - "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance."

I read this book after having many random health symptoms that were similar to Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia/Exhaustion. My condition was bad to the point that I lost my job and was unemployed for about 6 months. I felt like I was in a fatigued, achy fog all of the time.

The information in the first part of this book is very helpful. It not only tells how the Standard American Diet (SAD) is a major culprit of disease and death in our society, but it offers science- and research-based insight into the practical steps toward wellness...God's way. It also takes you through Jordan's amazing story of disease and recovery.

I actually did the Maker's Diet 40 day program after reading this book. I took most of the supplements, and yes, they were expensive (like any other natural whole-food based supplements are). I also ate USDA organic produce, meat, grains and dairy from Whole Foods Market...again, expensive. But worth it!

Since then, I've continued to eat organic food, making sure I eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, as well as a balanced variety of meat, grains, and dairy. Since last year, I've recovered a WHOLE lot, with the help of this book, other resources, my diet and lifestyle changes, and taking a FEW key supplements daily.

The Bottom Line: This book doesn't have all the answers, but it offers a solid foundation of common sense diet principles. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn and apply the amazing benefits of a truly traditional diet.

I read this book after having many random health symptoms that were similar to Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia/Exhaustion. My condition was bad to the point that I lost my job and was unemployed for about 6 months. I felt like I was in a fatigued, achy fog all of the time.

The information in the first part of this book is very helpful. It not only tells how the Standard American Diet (SAD) is a major culprit of disease and death in our society, but it offers science- and research-based insight into the practical steps toward wellness...God's way. It also takes you through Jordan's amazing story of disease and recovery.

I actually did the Maker's Diet 40 day program after reading this book. I took most of the supplements, and yes, they were expensive (like any other natural whole-food based supplements are). I also ate USDA organic produce, meat, grains and dairy from Whole Foods Market...again, expensive. But worth it!

Since then, I've continued to eat organic food, making sure I eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, as well as a balanced variety of meat, grains, and dairy. Since last year, I've recovered a WHOLE lot, with the help of this book, other resources, my diet and lifestyle changes, and taking a FEW key supplements daily.

The Bottom Line: This book doesn't have all the answers, but it offers a solid foundation of common sense diet principles. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn and apply the amazing benefits of a truly traditional diet.

I haven't got into the diet yet because I'm only 1/3 through the book. The book makes you think twice about what you're feeding your body. No wonder we have the medical problems of today. God knew what was best for our bodies, & except for a few modifications to this diet, I plan to try it.

I followed the plan and lost over 10 pounds in three weeks! Yes, it was extremely hard, but my body was all the better for it! The love of my life told me that it was the best three weeks she ever had with me! I must confess, though, that his second book The Great Physician's Rx is the same material, but presented in a far better way and is much more doable! The author has something here that not only really works, but brings honor to God as the Creator! I would not buy this book, but I would recommend The Great Physician's Rx as a "must read" five star book! I also wanted to comment on the fact that I used all the products recommended in this book and they are excellent! I suggest that you make a commitment to do the same! May God grant you success!

Over and over I read that people don't agree with this or that method, however God WROTE in the bible what we can eat and what we cannot eat. Pure and Simple. God doesn't want to hurt us. He wants us to eat right so we can live a fulfilling life. I agree with most things that the author says...except the supplement part. I think that is pushed a little bit too much. However, it is a good book and explains clearly what we should eat and why.

Most people have a problem with this diet because they simply refuse or CHANGE their habits. They want to stick with donuts, sugar, cookies, and such instead of FEEDING their bodies the way God wants us to. Our bodies are to be respected and glorified in God. Feeding our bodies junk...no way justifies how our bodies are glorified. Our bodies don't deserve all the junk that WE DESIRE.

So stop whining how bad this book is or how you disagree with the stuff in the book. Get over it. If you want to be healthy, eat healthy. Period.

The Maker's Diet is the most balanced book I've ever read concerning the topic of health and wellness. Over the past 15 years I've read so many books that give guidelines on how to stay healthy, or become healthy. The books have ranged from focusing on the physical, emotional or spiritual, but very few have incorporated all three parts. The Maker's Diet presents a holist approach and therefore gives insight into how to make it a part of your entire life, it doesn't just address eating. Most books present a plan that is extremely difficult to maintain for any period of time because they are so far from how most of us are accustomed to living and eating. I believe that The Maker's Diet gives a wonderful common sense approach to living. What I especially like about The Maker's Diet is that it is founded on the Bible. I believe that it is no accident that what God told the Israelites what to eat and what not to eat, so many thousands of years ago, still applies to all of us today, regardless of your spirituality. I encourage everyone to not only read this book, but to incorporate the principles into your life. It is a must read for those searching for health, as well as a balanced lifestyle.

Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

The Maker's Diet is the most balanced book I've ever read concerning the topic of health and wellness. Over the past 15 years I've read so many books that give guidelines on how to stay healthy, or become healthy. The books have ranged from focusing on the physical, emotional or spiritual, but very few have incorporated all three parts. The Maker's Diet presents a holist approach and therefore gives insight into how to make it a part of your entire life, it doesn't just address eating. Most books present a plan that is extremely difficult to maintain for any period of time because they are so far from how most of us are accustomed to living and eating. I believe that The Maker's Diet gives a wonderful common sense approach to living. What I especially like about The Maker's Diet is that it is founded on the Bible. I believe that it is no accident that what God told the Israelites what to eat and what not to eat, so many thousands of years ago, still applies to all of us today, regardless of your spirituality. I encourage everyone to not only read this book, but to incorporate the principles into your life. It is a must read for those searching for health, as well as a balanced lifestyle.

Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

First off, I have suffered with GERD (reflux disease) since I got a stomach ulcer 10 years ago. And I have been using Losec/Nexium steady for years. If I forgot to take it, I got terrible heartburns and such ... I just started the Makers Diet almost two weeks ago, and I stopped using Nexium after the first day, and after the first week I haven't even taken any antacids, like Tums or Garden of Life's Acid Defense. It's a miracle!

I also feel the need to comment on a couple of statements from former reviews.

One statement I find to be just not true:
"First off it is very centered on a protein, animal based diet. I thought there would be more influence on fruit, seeds and grains."
He focuses a lot on what we need from _both_ animal _and_ vegetarian sources. We need fibers, fats (fatty acids), enzymes, vitamins and proteins from both animal and vegetarian sources. This is pretty clear in his book.

Another statement: "It is a very rigid program for a lifetime."
I feel this also is misplaced. The Diet is built up of three two week stages, and the first two weeks is pretty rigid (getting us off our addictions to sugar, caffeine and such) and is designed to fix insulin, infection and inflammation problems. The two next weeks we can eat more stuff, and the last two weeks and the rest of our lives, he simply points out stuff that is not good for us. If we complete the diet to this stage, we will have a stronger immune system that can much better handle it when we don't find just healthy food, or if we have a good time eating cake and candy and stuff.

Another comment: "Cheating, forget it! He suggests if you absolutely must eat things that are off the list, do it within an hours time to avoid any ill effects."
What he says, is a comment to you fulfilling the stages of the diet, especially the first stage. If you really need to break the diet, it's better to eat the "wrong food" in a concetrated period to minimize the damage to the system.

And at last: "As far as items off the list, we aren't just talking cheetos and soda. We are talking cow's milk cheese (goats cheese and milk is a must), and whole grain bread. Sprouted bread is okay in limited portions. Forget about eating out at restaraunts."
I don't this you really get the essence of what Ruben is communicating. He says that we of course will not always find the optimal food and stuff. But if you take the 40 day diet, our overall health will definitively improve. For the rest of your life you should try to avoid the unhealthy stuff, like mentioned in the bible (pork, shellfish, sugar, commercial milk products with antibiotics, hormones and stuff). And we should try to get most products organic/natural, without the poison and rich in nutrients.

Does that mean we can never eat anything else? Of course not. But still it _is_ good to try to avoid the bad stuff ...

As for those accusing Ruben of just trying to make money on the Bible. Please read the book first! He's not saying you need all the Garden of Life products for the rest of your life. He says we need dietary supplements, and those should better be whole food nutrients, not just the chemical stuff (which is not good for us). And for a while, to build up our immune system, HSO's would be very beneficial/helpful.

The book is also pretty clear that both prayer and excersise is an important factor to get well. An important decision you might have to take, is: Do I eat just for pleasure, or do I eat to feed my body the right fuel? To fuel it right will cost you both money and effort, but I think it's going to be worth it.

Mr. Rubin's maker did not supply him with the wholesome, widely varied, non-chemically modified, astonishing array of possible food my "maker" provided me. But I grew up on an "organic" farm (there was no other kind back then ). (City kids don't know what a farm is. They may never have seen a "real" vegetable or cow.) His two stars are for surviving despite his apparent efforts to the contrary. I considered only one star because he seems so reluctant to name the maker - who is probably more a figment of his own tentative supposition than [insert deity of your choice]. But the second one is for getting rich with it all anyhow.

I'm so glad I checked this book out at the library, because it would have been a complete waste of money had I bought it. As a Christian, I was quite excited about this book- I thought it would be a commonsense diet book that would bring my faith into play as well, making it more applicable and effective for me. What I got was far from what I expected. Some of the ideas are interesting, but most of the book's recommendations are ridiculously difficult to follow and based not on fact but the author's annecdotal miraculous recovery from Crohn's disease. He puts down many things that are scientifically proven to be healthy (including aerobic exercise! Give me a break!). Instead, he touts his incredibly expensive supplements throughout the entire book. Jordan gets 5 stars for making big bucks from the sales of this book and through his supplements website business, but 1 star for writing a worthless diet book that is based on almost no scientific evidence, incredibly difficult to follow, and unhealthy at times. It was an interesting read, but don't plan on getting much of anything out of it you can apply in real life.

The author has no credible education. His degrees are worthless.
The very fact that he is a Jew for Jesus tells you that he is one of those people who would do anthing to be popular. His book is an example of that. He found a huge nitch, the millions of religious folks who are looking to loose weight. Very few will follow his diet, but he will make money on the book and the sale of his supplements. Give the guy a credit - 1 star, for making big bucks while he was destined to be a low-paid peddler with no recognition. That's the real transformation!

The Maker's Diet is the most balanced book I've ever read concerning the topic of health and wellness. Over the past 15 years I've read so many books that give guidelines on how to stay healthy, or become healthy. The books have ranged from focusing on the physical, emotional or spiritual, but very few have incorporated all three parts. The Maker's Diet presents a holist approach and therefore gives insight into how to make it a part of your entire life, it doesn't just address eating. Most books present a plan that is extremely difficult to maintain for any period of time because they are so far from how most of us are accustomed to living and eating. I believe that The Maker's Diet gives a wonderful common sense approach to living. What I especially like about The Maker's Diet is that it is founded on the Bible. I believe that it is no accident that what God told the Israelites what to eat and what not to eat, so many thousands of years ago, still applies to all of us today, regardless of your spirituality. I encourage everyone to not only read this book, but to incorporate the principles into your life.

If you love this book, then you will love another book called The Truth About Caffeine : How Companies That Promote it Deceive Us and What We Can Do About It. The author is a reformed coffee addict and founder of a non-profit organization called the Caffeine Awareness Alliance. She puts her heart into her quest to make readers understand how caffeine affects the body, the mind and well-being in general, and how the makers of caffeinated products will deceive the public into thinking they are in no danger at all as they chug down eight grande lattes and two cans of Red Bull...in one sitting. I simply was shocked at what I discovered. You will be too so get this book. It is a must read for those searching for health, as well as a balanced lifestyle.

The author's story is a truly inspiring and up lifting one. And as far as a translation of Judaic dietary laws into an approachable guide for modern Christians, this book is excellent. But it's just absolutely not pragmatic: financially, socially, or as far as natural cravings go. There's nothing wrong with enjoying modern culineary delights, so long as we don't over indulge. In my opinion, this author's view of food, though understandable because of his miraculous healing, is obsessive (because to follow the letter of this would require CONSTANT thought about meals), unrealistic (the financial constraints have been mentioned already), and rather judgmental towards those of us who feel no guilt in partaking of modern food in a reasonable fashion.

There is some interesting information in this book. You will learn things and look at other health-related things in new ways. However, the author is very subjective in his style and often does not cite enough sources for his claims since many of them are due to the health-diet connection he made with the Bible. This is his interpretation and his strong viewpoints may or may not be factual or applicable to certain people. For example, he is completely against soy-based products without making a clear case against soy (numerous studies have pointed to the positive benefits of soy). He considers vegetarians as `wimpy' even though the vegetarian diet is healthy and low in cholesterol and unhealthy fats while also kind to animals and the environment. He has a section on what is `bad' for you with few references and proof points. If you buy the book expecting these pros and cons you will be happier with your purchase.

leaving the fact that I have no religion or politics affiliations apart,Jordan's story is entretaining to read some of the facts that he express are valid but I found it a little exaggerated in many aspects, also it's obvious that he had made a really good bussines out of it, all the products that he recommends come from his online store and are quite pricey. But as I said, it's interesting to read...

This was a wonderful book. I'm just beginning the diet and it makes perfect sense. The book was good reading and very informative.

The Maker's Diet is the most balanced book I've ever read concerning the topic of health and wellness. Over the past 15 years I've read so many books that give guidelines on how to stay healthy, or become healthy. The books have ranged from focusing on the physical, emotional or spiritual, but very few have incorporated all three parts. The Maker's Diet presents a holist approach and therefore gives insight into how to make it a part of your entire life, it doesn't just address eating. Most books present a plan that is extremely difficult to maintain for any period of time because they are so far from how most of us are accustomed to living and eating. I believe that The Maker's Diet gives a wonderful common sense approach to living. What I especially like about The Maker's Diet is that it is founded on the Bible. I read recently, in an interview, that the author attributes inspiration for the book to being in excellent health. Said having quit all forms of caffeine help free the mind for more creativity. I say amen to that as I too am free with a little help from a book called "The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote it Deceive Us and What We Can Do About It" They have an excellent resource section that helped me find great tasting alternatives that I simply adore. I want to thank the author for writing a really great book.

Maybe three stars for this book is a little too little, but four stars would be too much. Ideally, I would give it three-and-a-half star if I could. Here is why:

This book reads almost like a novel. Jordan's journey is an interesting read, and there are many valid points about proper nutrition and food combination. However, I find it exaggerated. It almost feels that you need to sacrifice all joys of eating just to stay healthy! I think nature provided our bodies with many organs (liver, kidney, intestines, etc) that can well cope with "not so ideal" nutrition. I am not for eating junk food and drinking pops (I do neither of them, nor do I drink any coffee), but I am in favor of a balance. And that refers not only to a balanced nutrition, but to a balance in all aspects of our lives. An exaggeration in any direction is not good. Also, the supplements that author suggests seem to be on a pricey side. For more balanced approach to nutrition, health, and longevity I suggest books by Tombak instead (especially "Can We Live 150 Year")

I'm grateful to have been given this book (it was a give-away at the Vitamin Shoppe), because it got me started using probiotics to heal my food allergies.

However, I find it to be a rip off of other authors, in particular, Drs. Haas, authors of 'Management of Celiac Disease' (now out of print), Elaine Gottschall, author of 'Breaking the vicious Cycle' (which I HIGHLY recommend) and another book 'Paleolithic Diet'. It would be nice if Jordan Rubin gave credit where credit is due.

And, as others have mentioned, it is one big advertisement for his over priced supplements. Which, by the way, why do you need if you're eating a healthy diet?

Still, I gave him 3 stars because he does give some sound dietary advice.

This book was different than what I thought it was. I am a Christian woman who was intrigued by the title of the book. Since I struggle with my weight but believe that God made our bodies perfectly and they were made to work perfectly, I wanted to read the book, The Maker's Diet. I didn't read any reviews, I had read a little bit about the author in our local newspaper, as he was doing a book signing or something and I read a little about it. However, this book isn't about weight as the title implies as much as it is about healthy eating. I agree with the author but I'm not as emphatic about the different natural foods and products that he advises to use as in the Biblical times. I don't necessarily disagree with him, I do agree that we as Americans eat terrible, use our earth terribly, and our products are about waste and toxins. He is correct. And we have over medicated our children with antibodics to the point where they have no immunities built up on their own. We are not wise about the ways we live and we would all do well if we changed our ways back to a more simplistic way of life. Especially if one suffers with health issues such as he did! I'm all in favor for living like God intended for us to live. However, there are some things that are just not practical for the normal, every day person to practice. My life is not dependent on whether I use all natural deoderant and clothing and I just need to be wise in what I do use and wear. I am happy I bought the book, found it very interesting, and will put into practice some things. But realize, that at this time my health is not declining besides being overweight and needing to shed (wisely) some pounds. I agree that as Americans we are definitely out of control with our diets in general. There are so many unhealthy diets created to lose or to gain weight and when we go off them, we just gain it right back and our bodies were made to ingest fat, red meat and all the other things that God created for US! But we do need to be wise and make wise choices and stop eating when we are full, (not stuffed!) and not eat until we are hungry, and to eat good, healthy food, instead of the synthetic make-believe boxes and cans of man made products.

I am pleased with my purchase of The Maker's Diet. It's a good book to help one evaluate your diet and work on changing to a healthier lifestyle. I recommend it to anyone who wants to pursue a healthier you.

The good point of this book is Rubin's advocating unprocessed foods. Cutting out the junk we eat, the refined flours and sugars, is almost a guarantee for anyone to lose weight and lead a healthier life.

Now that I've dealt with that, let's start with the bad.

I hold a Ph.D. in biology. Rubin claims to have a Ph.D.. If my dissertation looked anything like what he's written here, or researched as poorly and uncritically as he has done, I'd not only have flunked my defense, but would've been asked to leave the program--don't slam the door.

I've been working on improving my own diet for a couple of years and have been reading everything I can get my hands on. There is a lot of junk out there, and reading all of it with a critical eye is, well, exhausting.

Rubin's "arguments" in support of biblical justification of his diet are one-sided, and don't even speak to or acknowledge the other realities out there. Chinese civilization, which is ancient, is given a whopping paragraph or two, and focuses on an alarmist news article that SARS was maybe perhaps, kind of maybe, due to eating the wrong animal--but this is offered as proof that eating like the Chinese do is bad. Huh? I know nothing more about this culture, and how it compares (because he probably can't win the argument?) He doesn't address convincingly at all that the quality of life of the Biblical ancestors, health-wise, was really superior. You really can't. The Bible is an oral tradition that was finally put down in writing. It didn't bother with things like death statistics (as would be compiled by an epidemiologist; yes, I know, there are plenty of statistics of numbers smitten, etc., but that's not what we need here), incidence of cancer, etc. One explanation for lower cancer rates: lower life expectancy. Cancer is more often a disease of the older. If you expect to live to your 40s, tops, then you're not going to see much cancer . . . The Bible has much more urgent things to talk about. As an aside, Rubin doesn't address the all-mannah diet, either.

Another example of his mistaken deductions: people in cultures that live in the sun all the time have a lower incidence of skin cancer than in modern Western civilization. Therefore, the sun isn't bad. Ignored: fair skin v. dark skin. If I tried to live without protection in a tropical, sunny environment, your wagers would be very good that this blond-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skin guy would be sporting some impressive melanomas sometime in his life. This doesn't detract from the health benefits of the sun (vitamin D manufacture, Circadian rhythms, etc.), but shows the weak reasoning that prevails.

By the way, if you take his pro-Biblical arguments to the extreme, then Leviticus should replace the law of the land. Stoning, anyone?

He also repeats a lot of lies and falsehoods--the whole fluoridation thing and chlorination. Please; this has been re-hashed needlessly for so long, and is a favorite of government conspirists. The same people who think that Oswald didn't act alone in the Kennedy assasination. His grasp of many things scientific is weak at best. Mercola had some good ideas, but not every idea was gold; no need to repeat the bad, inaccurate, or just wrong.

Another sin that Rubin constantly engages in is confusing correlations with causations. This is mortal sin. Correlations give the impression that two things are related, but what meets the eye is not always reality. Causation shows a relationship between two things, e.g., one thing caused the other. It's a big difference, and one to be very careful about. His discussion on physiology is, well, never mind. It's not convincing, to put it mildly.

The lack of citations, and the quality of what is cited, are suspect. His attempts at qualifying his sources stretch credibility.

The organization of the book is hopeless. The only part where there is any flow worth talking about is his telling of his remarkable personal story. After that, all bets are off. His attempts at organization is the over-use of headings that are in large, bold-face, newspaper-headline-worthy type.

Having said that, Rubin's recovery from his devastating illness, whatever it was, was remarkable. It's hard to tell if it was divine intervention or diet. While his diagnosis was Crohn's, I wonder if it was (or accompanied by) gluten sensitivity (Celiac Disease), which is treatable by eliminating grains containing gluten? But admittedly, I'm not trained in diagnosing disease.

If you take out all of the baloney, the hype, the mis-information, this volume would be a lot slimmer. But heck, there are so many better sources of the same quality information, and furthering this work of a well-meaning, if mis-directed, man is a disservice to the public.

As someone with a MAster's degree in nutrition and health,I had high hopes when purchasing this book. My family is very religious, so I'd planned to pass it along to them in hopes that they would clean up their diets. Sadly, with it's strong emphasis on meat and neglect of the positive effects of vegetables, I couldn't in good conscience recommend this diet to them. One example of this is his review of vegetarian (NOT VEGAN)diets. He states that the reader shouldn't eat soy based products. He also states that vegetarians are less healthy, that meat eaters have lower cholesterol, and that vegetarians have more heart disease and live no longer than meat eaters. He offers one article as scientific evidence to support his claims. He makes no allusion to the vast amounts of real scientific research that refute these statements.

This book isn't all bad. It does make some good recommendations concerning organic foods,the avoidance of chemicals and drugs, and cites the Bible's list of meats to consume and avoid. That's where the Biblical foundation ends,and where the marketing begins... From that point forward, it is anectodotal and an advertisement of something else he wants to sell. Considering his reliance on unhealthy saturated fats and extraordinarily large amounts of animal proteins, it is clear Mr.Rubin did experience a miracle in his life. That is the only explanation for his recovery. It certainly is NOT his diet that did it!

Here's what I don't like about this kind of book (or movie or music): It's formulaic and here's the formula - figure out what is selling well in the non-christian bookstore, type up the text, insert a bible verse every now and then along with a 'praise the lord,' package it for the Christian bookstores, and, bam!, you've got yourself a best seller. Really sad. Sheep.

Maybe three stars for this book is a little too little, but four stars would be too much. Ideally, I would give it three-and-a-half star if I could. Here is why:

This book reads almost like a novel. Jordan's journey is an interesting read, and there are many valid points about proper nutrition and food combination. However, I find it exaggerated. It almost feels that you need to sacrifice all joys of eating just to stay healthy! I think nature provided our bodies with many organs (liver, kidney, intestines, etc) that can well cope with "not so ideal" nutrition. I am not for eating junk food and drinking pops (I do neither of them, nor do I drink any coffee), but I am in favor of a balance. And that refers not only to a balanced nutrition, but to a balance in all aspects of our lives. An exaggeration in any direction is not good. Also, the supplements that author suggests seem to be on a pricey side. For more balanced approach to nutrition, health, and longevity I suggest books by Tombak instead (especially "Can We Live 150 Year")

I have bought this book, along with "Patient Heal Thyself", and have read it along with numerous other health books. Dr. Jordan Rubin's books are the ones that make the most sense. I would recommend this book to anyone that needs to know the "Why?'s". I am an "ask why" type of person myself. This is basically the diet that my Mother always tried to have us eat growing up, that we strayed from later in life wanting to do our own thing, and then started to become ill when we were grown. If we don't know why we are to do or not to do something, then we are not always compelled to follow others advice. Just telling me some thing is or is not healthy, is not good enough, I need to know the "why's".

Those of you who wrote negative reviews, I highly recommend that you re-read the book. He does not mandate that you take a truck load of supplements, he recommends many, but they are not required. The title is "The Maker's Diet", should we expect less than a perfect diet to be recommended to us?? Are we perfect? Can we follow something perfectly? No! However, even if you only made two of the changes that he recommends - eliminating refined foods such as enriched flours, white sugar, white rice, etc., and eliminating pork, your health would benefit. I recently heard him in an interview say "It's all about choices.", and that he'd rather us eat non-organic fruit, but eat whole sprouted organic grains; or, eat non-organic broccoli, but eat organic healthy beef. Organic is best, but if we can't go all organic, then the organic meat is more important, and whole grains - not refined are too. The book states to eat organic "when ever possible". This is not a mandate, it's a wise recommendation. I don't completely agree with the total elimination of raw turbinado sugar, dark brown sugar, and molasses, but have cut back on it considerably (some of his supplements include molasses, so I still use small amounts in my baking). This is the one subject I wish he would have elaborated on further.

I personally have some food allergies, and have a child who has severe food allergies to over fifteen different foods, some seasonal allergies, allergies to dust and dust mites, cats, dogs, and asthma. We could not follow the diet exactly as my son's allergies automatically eliminate many of the foods the book recommends, such as beef, milk (cows and goat), and eggs. My son and I are not able to use the Garden of Life's hygiene products, or many of it's supplements due to specific food allergies that we both have (coconut, mango, etc.). We have, however, made the changes that we could, and are taking the "Primal Defense" supplements.

We decided to start with the basics, and go from there. I went back in the book and looked at what Jordan Rubin was doing just before he was healed, and to what he attributes his healing to, and am trying to copy that. If it was good enough to heal him, than why not us? He didn't have all those other supplements back then, just the diet changes and the healthy soil organisms and nutrients ("Primal Defense") that are missing from our soils today. He gives a very brief one paragraph description of his one and only supplement he was taking at that point, and his original "biblical" diet on page 26 which included kefir made from raw goat's or cow's milk. Cow's milk is not the milk he recommends, but it's not totally off limits on this diet either. He even gives sources where you can buy it in the back of the book (other companies, not his). You should be getting organic and raw milk if at all possible. He does say that goat's milk is preferred, and gives many reasons why. (Unless you can get fresh raw goat's milk, it'll be hard to switch - this is the only way you can get close to the same flavor.) We buy many of our groceries including organic cheese (for the rest of our family) at Trader Joes as they offer many organic foods at a more reasonable price than the health food stores (it is fresher too). Even the small health food section of my local grocery store provides certain things a a reasonable price. The foods I buy there don't always meet "all" of "The Maker's Diet"'s recommendations, but they are much closer than my previous food choices were. As more people are making healthier choices, the markets are changing and these foods are becoming more readily available. Don't give up, just make the changes that you can, and keep moving forward. He has stated in the book that the diet recommendations and suppliments have been greatly improved since he was first healed, and there is truth in that statement, it is worth striving towards, but our family could not do all of it at the start. Some diet improvements are better than no improvements at all. Besides, most family members would be more open to making diet changes a few steps at a time. Try to find replacements that are similar to what they like, just made with healthier ingredients.

We have been doing this since this summer - only a few months. My son and I have greatly improved. We live in a high seasonal allergy area, and have hardly any allergy symptoms to speak of, while others we know are already suffering. My son has two inhaler medications, and three nebulizer medications. We just threw away several boxes of medications because they expired before we needed to use them. That has never happened to us before. I am convinced that this book is an answer to prayer for me, and many others who are ill, or have children who are ill. I know that buying organic can be more expensive, but I'd rather spend that money on healthier food than on medications.

I feel so strongly about the positive impact that this book has made on me and my family that I have given at least five copies of it to people I know that need healing. God's word is perfect, the diet he gave us was perfect. Even though we are not perfect or cannot follow this diet perfectly... shouldn't we strive to for our own sake? The only people I know that did not receive the information in this book openly where those that loved their foods too much to give them up (pork is a big one). I was that way about a few foods at first, but now I realize the benefit. Now that I am used to the changes, I woundn't have it any other way.

If I can do this with a very high maintenance allergic child, then anyone can. I'm not doing it perfectly either, but what I am able to do is helping tremendously. Slow and gradual is better than not at all.

Eat to your good health!

I've no problem reading bad books--though they make me sad (waste of paper & potential); in fact, I maintain a whole mental collection I'd label "crummy books, which nonetheless contained good or at least interesting ideas." (Many are parenting manuals, and any new parent will relate.) A subcategory would be bad books completely devoid of useful ideas that nonetheless sparked thought, just as a conversation with a boring person you hate can stimulate thinking--the mental equivalent of auto-eroticism. This book! This book wins a special prize: the worst book I've read that also contained multiple good or mildly interesting ideas. (Some of the ideas? Sally Fallon, who contributes recipes to the book, lists in her review the following: "the importance of natural sunlight, regular sleep and good healthy sweat, and the dangers of megavitamins, fluoride, artificial sweeteners, chlorinated water, immunizations, strong electromagentic fields, commercial skin and hair care products...etc., etc." By the way, in my opinion, recipes and descriptions of intestinal parasites do NOT belong in the same book. Too nauseating!)

I wouldn't advocate Rubin's 40-day-shock-your-life-plan, a particularly bad idea for anyone with children who benefit from parents' emotional stability; I don't think cold-turkey caffeine & sugar withdrawal combined with once-a-week fasting supports family harmony. Much smarter to make gradual long-term changes, to stop buying processed foods and instead buy organic produce and meat, sprouted bread, raw milk. And no need for tricky supplements. Here's the kind of thing that thawed my icy heart a bit: Rubin's morning and evening ritual of anointing one's head with oil while thanking one's Creator for a fearfully and wonderfully-made body; this concept of hygiene makes celebrities and their Crème de la Mer seem off-mark. However, if you think I'm going to spring for Rubin's Alpha & Omega Aromatherapy--. (The obvious joke here would be "Money-Maker's Diet.") It's not the capitalism I resent but rather the presentation: everything with the subtlety of a WWJD bracelet. The piggy-back marketing concept--that is, linking the diet, the sales of supplements and supplementary multi-media to an evangelical small-group setting--may be brilliant, but I found it ultimately distancing. (The joke here might be "The Purpose-Driven Lunch.") Considered in an Emersonian context, it's curious, a sort of anti-individualistic streak within the tradition of rugged individualism in the Protestant Church.

The reader of above-average intelligence (I'm still waiting for the Mensa Diet) who doesn't enjoy the equivalent of paying to watch an infomercial would do well to bypass the logical and theological flaws (unclean foods? I guess we should be eating Kosher then, as well) in Rubin's book and to search for the more anthropologically-based, intellectually rigorous Sally Fallon or Weston A. Price instead. Which causes me to ponder Fallon's alliance with Rubin, but then I guess that's obvious.

I've no problem reading bad books-though they make me sad (waste of paper & potential); in fact, I maintain a whole mental collection I'd label "crummy books, which nonetheless contained good or at least interesting ideas." (Many are parenting manuals, and any new parent will relate.) A subcategory would be bad books completely devoid of useful ideas that nonetheless sparked thought, just as a conversation with a boring person you hate can stimulate thinking-the mental equivalent of auto-eroticism. This book! This book wins a special prize: the worst book I've read that also contained multiple good or mildly interesting ideas.

I wouldn't advocate Rubin's 40-day-shock-your-life-plan, a particularly bad idea for anyone with children who benefit from parents' emotional stability; I don't think cold-turkey caffeine & sugar withdrawal combined with once-a-week fasting supports family harmony. Much smarter to make gradual long-term changes, to stop buying processed foods and instead buy organic produce and meat, sprouted bread, raw milk. Here's the kind of thing that thawed my icy heart a bit: Rubin's morning and evening ritual of anointing one's head with oil while thanking one's Creator for a fearfully and wonderfully-made body; this concept of hygiene makes celebrities and their Crème de la Mer seem off-mark. However, if you think I'm going to spring for Rubin's Alpha & Omega Aromatherapy--. (The obvious joke here would be "Money-Maker's Diet.") It's not the capitalism I resent but rather the presentation: everything with the subtlety of a WWJD bracelet.

The reader of above-average intelligence who doesn't enjoy the equivalent of paying to watch an infomercial would do well to bypass the logical and theological flaws (unclean foods? I guess we should be eating Kosher then, as well) in Rubin's book and to search for the more anthropologically-based, intellectually rigorous Sally Fallon or Weston A. Price instead. Which causes me to ponder Fallon's alliance with Rubin, but then I guess that's obvious.

I am not knocking this diet. I am in fact trying to live it. I gave this book 2 stars because of its hipocrisy. This book will one day be given away free just to get you to buy the outrageously priced products. Before you buy this book just go to the author's web site. Its easy to find, just put a dot com at the end of the book's title. After you see what is there you are ready to make an informed decision. To run this diet right you will need at least $300 a month for supplements plus what it takes to eat organically.

I agree wholeheartedly with most of the ideas about food and what is healthful according to The Maker's Diet. It feels intuitively right to me that we would be the most healthy if we as individuals, and as societies, would stop "messing" with food so much and eat it in as natural a form as possible. It is arrogant the way modern societies have changed food so much as to be practically unrecognizable from its original and intended form. We have been playing God thinking that our scientific knowledge can create food that is superior for our bodies (e.g. pasteurization) in the name of food safety and shelf life. Is it any wonder that people are getting cancer and heart disease like never before in history?

However, I am giving it just three stars because I have some real issues with how the ideas in this book are presented. Jordan Rubin does not seem to acknowledge how truly difficult this diet is to follow in the modern world for most of us. He makes it sound as if we all can just run on down to our local health food store and all the allowed foods will be waiting there for us. Fine, perhaps, if you live in a large, relatively liberal city. For those of us in smaller or even medium-sized towns, this is not quite so realistic. My city has a health food store, but it is not even close to sufficient for meeting the needs of this diet, particularly when it comes to organic produce.

Not to mention, you can pretty much NEVER eat outside of your home if you plan to be truly faithful to this diet. Rubin says if you break the diet (and you'd better have a very good reason!), just go back to square one (the strictest part of the diet) for a few weeks. Oh, that's all I have to do?? Not realistic if you want to have ANY kind of social life outside of your own home, if you travel at all, etc...basically if you do anything other than stay holed up in your home all day.

I liked that his theories of nutrition are based on the Bible. Yet, most of the time Rubin simply states, "The Bible mentions the use of "X" food "Y" number of times." I didn't feel he presented convincing arguments that the Bible mandates us to eat these particular foods in all cases.

It turned me off that there is a requirement of buying a whole line of supplements and hygiene products in order to correctly follow his health plan. To me, that seemed to contradict his message that you shouldn't need all these "extras" if you were truly eating right.

The nutrition information is great, and I do think this book is worth a read to educate yourself about what is and isn't healthy. But I feel this could have been a more effective and palatable message if Rubin presented it in an honest way that acknowledged the difficult barriers that must be overcome to follow this diet. Everything about American agriculture, food processing, packaging, grocery stores, etc. goes contrary to this diet, so it's certainly NOT as easy to follow as he makes it sound. We don't all have a Whole Foods just down the street from us and a load of cash to spend on organic and specialty foods. It's too bad it's not that way...believe me, I wish it were...but it just isn't.

Maybe three stars for this book is a little too little, but four stars would be too much. Ideally, I would give it three-and-a-half star if I could. Here is why:

This book reads almost like a novel. Jordan's journey is an interesting read, and there are many valid points about proper nutrition and food combination. However, I find it exaggerated. It almost feels that you need