X-Book

Eat Like the Animals

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

A New Scientist Best Book of 2020

How is it that a baboon and a blob of slime mould instinctively know what to eat for optimal health, balancing their protein, fat and carb intake in perfect proportions?

In new, groundbreaking research that is transforming our understanding of nutrition, animals from locusts to lions and yes, humans too, demonstrate the remarkable science behind appetite.

Appetite communicates the body's nutritional needs to the brain, and eating in accordance with your body's demands, like the animals, should ensure optimal health, but the modern fast food world wreaks havoc on this evolutionarily honed system.

In several landmark studies, Raubenheimer and Simpson prove that appetite can be hacked – we can eat for optimal health, for increased fertility or for a longer lifespan. Understanding the science of the appetite offers tremendous power in shaping our bodies and controlling our lives.

Critics Review

n

Praise for The Five Appetites
‘Raubenheimer and Simpson are known for their deep knowledge of biology and its application to areas of nutrition that are of exceptional interest these days: evolution, feeding behavior, proteins, and insects. These, they weave together into a compelling narrative that should fascinate readers concerned about the science of what we eat as well as the influence of our food environment on our biology.’ Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat

n

Praise for David Raubenheimer and Stephen J. Simpson
‘This outstanding book provides the first comprehensive theoretical framework for analyzing the roles of nutrition across a huge swath of fields, from ecology and evolution to conservation and human health. The Nature of Nutrition is creative and scholarly yet approachable. I know of no other book like it.’ Bernard J. Crespi, Simon Fraser University

n

‘Strikingly well-written … The clear language and enlightening examples allow for the educated layman interested in biology to be astonished by the enormous implications of the nature of nutrition.’ American Journal of Human Biology

n

‘A really good read.’ Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

n

User Reviews

Book 3.0
Narration 4.0
3.0
4.0
The book is for lay readers, therefore the description of experiments and results is a bit simplistic. The protein leveraging theory is intuitive, appears to be common across various forms of life. This will make one think that it is valid for all ethnicities across Homo Sapiens. However, the author themselves mention that humans and their diets have evolved. They also mention that mixing of food into recipes makes it even more complicated. Besides, agriculture changed a lot over the years and has influenced dietary habits. Given these factors, I am still doubtful of this theory's validity to various ethnicities.

The authors have explained the challenges faced during core research extremely well.
drishM 07/11/2025

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.