The Diet Myth

A concise, entertaining book that demystifies the benefits of balanced microbes through healthier eating * KIRKUS * An extraordinary tract that makes the case convincingly that it is the condition of the bugs in our bellies that determines our overall health * EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES * A great book ... a lovely, easy, urbane read ... And it's very convincing. I'd advise anyone pondering a diet this season to read it first -- Alex Renton * The Food Programme, Book of the Year, BBC Radio 4 * Several popular books have appeared this year about our microbial guests, focusing on their role in promoting human health - and Spector, a world leader in genetic studies of twins, has written the best of them * FINANCIAL TIMES, Books of the Year * He makes a brilliant case -- William Leith * EVENING STANDARD * [Spector's] fascinating book explores the various elements of the human diet: fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, artificial additives, cocoa, caffeine, nuts, alcohol (and antibiotics)...if there is one thing he is convinced of it is that the microbes in our guts are the key to our optimum health and that we ignore them at our peril * GOOD BOOK GUIDE * Life-changer: This is a remarkable read. Spector is a highly respected scientist - I guarantee his book will change the way you think about food and healthy eating * DELICIOUS MAGAZINE * Witty, well-written and broad-ranging, littered with fascinating factoids and case studies. Spector thoughtfully explains the strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence, drawing on research on gut microbes as well as his long-running studies on the genetics of twins and his own often hilarious experiments with various diets * NEW YORK TIMES * Combining...fast-paced science with medical self-help...[A] model of clear, accessible and entertaining science writing * FINANCIAL TIMES * It's not often that a book changes my life in a mere three chapters...given my usual reluctance to jump on any nutritional bandwagon, I reckon this makes Tim Spector's work a rather compelling read. It's truly eye-opening stuff, and we owe it to ourselves and the 100 trillion friends inside our bodies to read this book -- Felicity Cloake * LITERARY REVIEW * I don't read diet books and I certainly never plug them, but The Diet Myth is a worthy exception that provides new insight into why we should think twice about what we put in our mouths -- Dr Mark Porter * THE TIMES * Tim Spector carefully explains that we are NOT what we eat, but rather that our trillions of microbial inhabitants have a thing or two to say. Lucidly written, The Diet Myth provides a first-class education about the conjunction of our microbes and our health -- Martin Blaser, author of MISSING MICROBES Ground-breaking -- Bee Wilson The Diet Myth is fascinating, and I'm now obsessed with microbes! -- Nigella Lawson Completely fascinating -- Sheila Dillon A fascinating and original look at the impact of food on our bodies underpinned by cutting-edge research -- Michael Mosley