X-Book

Diet Cults

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Listen to a sample

What to expect

From the national bestselling author of Racing Weight, Matt Fitzgerald exposes the irrationality, half-truths, and downright impossibility of a "single right way" to eat and reveals how to develop rational, healthy eating habits.

From "the Four-Hour Body" to "Atkins," there are diet cults to match seemingly any mood and personality type. Everywhere we turn, someone is preaching the "one true way" to eat for maximum health. Paleo Diet advocates tell us that all foods less than twelve thousand years old are the enemy. Low-carb gurus demonize carbs, and then there are the low-fat prophets. But they agree on one thing: there is only one true way to eat for maximum health. The first clue that this is a fallacy is the sheer variety of diets advocated. Indeed, while all of these competing views claim to be backed by science, a good look at actual nutritional science suggests it is impossible to identify a single best way to eat. Fitzgerald advocates an agnostic, rational approach to eating habits based on one's own habits, lifestyle, and genetics and body type. Many professional athletes already practice this "Good Enough" diet, and now we can too—and ditch the brainwashing of these diet cults for good.

Critics Review

“Noting that there’s no single approach that works for everyone, but that
each approach has effective elements (though some are only effective in
the short term), Fitzgerald identifies what works and what doesn’t
within each of the major weight-loss programs…Noting that motivation is a key component, he focuses on common sense:
eat lots of fruit and vegetables, avoid processed foods, incorporate
healthy oils, eat high-quality meat and seafood, and, of course,
exercise.”

Publishers Weekly

“[Fitzgerald’s] eating guidelines are basic: eat mostly from a list of essential and recommended foods—vegetables, fruits, nuts, healthy meats and fish, whole grains, and dairy—and eat less refined grains, processed meats, sweets, and fried and processed foods…The conversational writing is enjoyable and the content informative.”

Library Journal
Author Matt Fitzgerald
Narrator Stephen R. Thorne
Duration 9 hours and 23 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781482993356
Format Audiobook
Publisher Blackstone Publishing
Genre Diets and dieting, nutrition
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.