Review: How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an important book and has a lot of information I wish I had come across earlier. Other than the fact that the book is based on evidence and has good nutrition advice, it is also brave – challenging the politics which prevents most people knowing the full facts. Also, much of the medical profession is focused on diagnosis and cure of diseases, with limited understanding of the role of nutrition.

The first and biggest section of the book deals with various serious ailments and how they can be overcome with diets based on plant food, grains, spices & nuts. There is detailed information on the harm meat, fish and dairy causes us. It will appear as if the matter is repeating across sections since the recommendation is straightforward – you need to eliminate processed food, meat, diary, all animal products from your diet to be healthier. There is a good amount of research referred in the book and the case histories certainly makes this credible reading. Apparently, while a lot of medical profession knows about the risks lurking in the foods we eat – only a few are inclined to take on big industries and the politics involved.

So, is Dr Greger advocating a strictly vegan diet? Dr Greger clarifies that his recommendations are based on what is good for health rather than what to avoid for ethical or other reasons. As he points out, he comes across many vegans stuffing themselves with French fries and guzzling a lot of beer. He, advocates a whole food, plant based diet and there is detailed information on what to include and what not.

I would certainly recommend this book – it as a wake-up call to eat healthier.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.


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Review: 2019 on Goodreads

2019 on Goodreads by Various
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

2019 was a great year for reading (while a difficult year otherwise). I read many excellent books and am providing a summary below. The below are the standout books for me in 2019 (I top rated all of them).

1) Recursion by Blake Crouch: Great story & mind-blowing pace with highly plausible science as the backdrop. Read his ‘Dark Matter’ first if you have not already read it.
2) My Name was Five by Heinz Kohler: An exceptional account of a normal German caught in the fallout of Nazism and the Second World War.
3) Pathways to Bliss by Joseph Campbell: There is no better way to learn deep life lessons than by reading Joseph Campbells. Amazing insights from mythology and how they can help life full lives.
4) Colombiano by Rusty Young: A gritty story of how children get embroiled in gangs.
5) 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari: Brave, intellectual & thought provoking – continues the impact he set by Sapiens & Homo Deus.
6) A View across the Rooftops: A beautiful moving story of love & survival set during the Second World War.
7) Brain Food: How to Eat Smart and Sharpen Your Mind by Lisa Mosconi: Has very important information on eating right for brain health.
8) An Elephant in My Kitchen: What the herd taught me about love, courage and survival by Francoise Malby-Anthony, Katja Willemsen: A real life account on how Francoise continues the work on the Thula Thula sanctuary. Read ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ first if you have not already read it.
9) Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking: A journey of intellectual excellence. You may not agree with all his conclusions, and yet the brilliance shines.
10) The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak: Another beautiful moving story of love & survival set during the Second World War.
11) Leadership Dharma by Raghu Ananthanarayanan: Deep insights into human behaviour based on Indian philosophy.
12) Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown: I cannot think of any other author who writes as profoundly about the need for authenticity as Breene Brown does.
13)The Boss by Caz Finley: A very good gang-based story.
14) Boss Girl by Emma Talon: A very good gang-based story.
15) Sita’s Sister by Kavita Kane: An imaginative retelling of Indian mythology from a lesser discussed point of view.
16) The Girl from the Sea by Shalini Boland: A fast paced thriller, as are all of her books.
17) The Silent Victim (Jessie Tucker Mystery #1) by Dana Perry: A good crime novel with pace and a story.

There were a number of other good reads: The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli, The Second Wife by Sheryl Browne, Finding Grace by K L Slater, The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne, The Men's Health Little Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell, India Wins Freedom: The Complete Version by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, I See You by Clare Mackintosh, Big Billion Startup: The Untold Flipkart Story by Mihir Dalal, Single by K L Slater, The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia Puigcerver (Goodreads Author), Francesc Miralles (Goodreads Author), Magic Square by Salini Vineet, DareDreamers by Kartik Sharma and Ravi Nirmal Sharma, Muhammed Bin Tughlaq by Anuja Chandramouli, A Man from Mandu by Manoj Jain, The Murder Suspect by Rani Ramakrishnan, Bridgital Nation: Solving Technology's People Problem by Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, Roopa Purushothaman.

A number of the above were review copies from authors either directly or via NetGalley, and am grateful for their generosity.

Despite the inroads made by the visual media, reading remains unique in the experience it offers isn't it? Happy reading in 2020!

Thanks for your support, friends!


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