Listen to a sample
Ultra-Processed People
- Author
- Chris van Tulleken
- Narrator
- Chris van Tulleken
- Publisher
- Random House
- Publish Date
- 27 April 2023
- Run Time
- 12 hours 11 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Popular medicine and health, Food chemistry / Food science, Popular science, Cultural studies: food and society, Agriculture, agribusiness and food production industries
- Rating
- 4.8 (19 reviews)
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
FORTNUM & MASON'S DEBUT FOOD BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
A TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
AN ECONOMIST, DAILY MAIL, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING and AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONE'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
Chosen by the SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, FT and DAILY MAIL as one of their BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2023
This audiobook contains exclusive bonus content between Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken, where they deep-dive into what you've just listened to at the end of each part.
An eye-opening investigation into the science, economics, history and production of ultra-processed food.
It's not you, it's the food.
We have entered a new 'age of eating' where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food, food which is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it's doing to our bodies?
Join Chris in his travels through the world of food science and a UPF diet to discover what's really going on. Find out why exercise and willpower can't save us, and what UPF is really doing to our bodies, our health, our weight, and the planet (hint: nothing good).
For too long we've been told we just need to make different choices, when really we're living in a food environment that makes it nigh-on impossible. So this is a book about our rights. The right to know what we eat and what it does to our bodies and the right to good, affordable food.
'Clearly a brilliant book' James O'Brien
'If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one' Bee Wilson
'A devastating, witty and scholarly destruction of the shit food we eat and why' Adam Rutherford
©2023 Chris van Tulleken (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Critics Review
-
A brilliant book . . . a real eye-opener. The bottom line is that if we keep consuming sugar, salt and fat on the scale that we currently do, it is going to cost all of us an unconscionable fortune in the future.
James O'Brien
-
You’ve got to get this book in your life . . . Completely compelling . . . Read a page and think about it for the rest of the week
Chris Evans
-
A devastating, witty and scholarly destruction of the shit food we eat and why
Adam Rutherford
-
If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one. It will not only change the way you eat but the way you think about food. And it does all this without a hint of finger-wagging or body shaming. I came away feeling so much better informed about every aspect of ultra-processed food, from the way it affects the microbes in our gut to why it is so profitable to produce to why it's so hard to eat only a single bowl of Coco Pops to why any food that is marketed as 'better for you' is almost certainly not.
Bee Wilson
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
A wonderful and fascinating exposé of ultra-processed food, edible substances with strange sounding ingredients which are manufactured by some of the wealthiest companies on the planet and which, worryingly, form an increasing part of our diet. As Chris shows, not only have these foods been formulated to ensure that we eat them constantly and without thought, but they hijack our ability to regulate what we eat, primarily by affecting our brains. And he backs up his claims with a powerful self-experiment, along with lots of rigorous and often shocking research. Reading this book will make you question what you eat and how it was produced
BBC presenter and bestselling author of The Fast Diet
-
Packed with "I never knew that" moments, Ultra-Processed People is a wonderfully playful book that changed forever how I think about what I eat and why
Hannah Fry
-
Everyone needs to know this stuff
Tim Spector, author of SPOON FED and FOOD FOR LIFE
-
An engrossing, infuriating read. Ultra-Processed People makes most fictional villains look quaint. Read it and fight back!
Rob Delaney
-
A much-needed, eye-opening exposé. Beautifully written, each page reveals hidden truths and asks you to re-think and re-connect to food in a way that has been lost for decades. Truly mind-blowing!
Megan McCubbin
-
The past 10 years has seen an inflection point in human history, where more people in the world are now dying of eating too much, than of eating too little. This urgent and captivating read digs deep into one of the huge reasons, the rise and rise of ultra-processed food'
Giles Yeo
User Reviews
Book 4.8
Narration 5.0
-
5.0 5.0
The author provides compelling explanations regarding the harm Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs) inflict on individuals and entire societies, and on the systemic issues that result in their prevalence. Their scientific and evidence based approach remains at the foreground, while their passion and writing stye ensure the book remains engaging throughout. It is read by the author which adds much to the experience: their passion and enthusiasm shine through. It has called me to action. I consider this a life changing book. I think many others will respond in the same. Please, give it a listen.
pb171 2026-06-29 -
5.0 5.0
Not an easy listen but fascinating and confirms much of what I have thought and felt as a lifelong failed dieter! I knew I was addicted and not lazy or greedy, thank you for saying that out loud!!
Bagqueen1 2025-04-28 -
5.0 5.0
Total eye opener. I work in sales, know a bit about marketing and thought I knew a bit about nutrition, turns out that what I knew had been diluted over the years by false claims.
The science is made easy to understand, the market forces are obvious, when pointed out and the revelations huge.
I cut out UPF before even finishing the book.
For context I’m 52, vegetarian since I was 15 but have had some hormone issues over the past few years. A medical treatment led to huge weight gain over a couple of months and not being able to eat whole foods, fruits etc without feeling nauseous. I switched to diet food, took supplements and felt like hell.
I now feel nauseous trying to eat in the I would prefer but assume that I. A few more days this will be over and the addiction cycle broken.amble 2025-01-19 -
5.0 5.0
Excellent!
terry stevens 2024-09-23
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
4.0 5.0
Although I found some of the sciency jargon tricky to get my head around (I intend going back and listening to some bits again) this book was a really good read. Without being doctoral or condescending Chris the author gives lots of food for thought and I now certainly think twice now before putting food in my mouth and choosing from a menu.
Lel 2024-08-25 -
5.0 5.0
Brilliant and insightful
suzannemarston 2024-06-06 -
5.0 5.0
This audio book is a must-listen if you want to understand what you are heavily encouraged to eat and how it is leaving you craving for more. It’s one of those rare books that can transform your understanding of a key issue and can be a catalyst for a food revolution. The audio recording is a pleasure to listen to despite all the uncomfortable truths it contains than to Chris van Tulleken’s warmth and honesty about his own struggles with UPF.
amandine alexandre 2024-04-21 -
5.0 5.0
Really interesting and insightful read.
Changed the way I think about food and opened my eyes to some of the trickery used by the industry.
Hopefully the lessons learned will help to improve my relationship with food and control cravings and snacking by making better choices.nixon_26 2023-12-06 -
5.0 5.0
Chris is very talented to collate, write and READ so well. This is a subject dear to my heart. I listened to every word, some of it twice. I'm a lazy cook, live on my own, am over 70 and overweight. This is not the only thing that has revolutionised my eating and health but has made me see those tempting shelf-fulls of upf for what they are. Avoid upf, batch cook, 30 plants a week, cut out sugar, eat nuts. I've lost a bit of weight, but that's not what this is about. I plan to be around for decades yet, this book helps.
Phinna B 2023-11-26 -
4.0 5.0
Really informative and insightful, it made me rethink my relationship to food
raquelboso 2023-05-13
Details
- Author
- Chris van Tulleken
- Narrator
- Chris van Tulleken
- Duration
- 12 hours 11 minutes
- Release Date
- 27 April 2023
- ISBN
- 9781529196481
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Random House
- Genre
- Popular medicine and health, Food chemistry / Food science, Popular science, Cultural studies: food and society, Agriculture, agribusiness and food production industries
- Rating
- 4.8(19 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(19 reviews)
Synopsis
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERFORTNUM & MASON'S DEBUT FOOD BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024A TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023AN ECONOMIST, DAILY MAIL, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING and AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONE'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023Chosen by the SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, FT and DAILY MAIL as one of their BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2023This audiobook contains exclusive bonus content between Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken, where they deep-dive into what you've just listened to at the end of each part.An eye-opening investigation into the science, economics, history and production of ultra-processed food.It's not you, it's the food.We have entered a new 'age of eating' where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food, food which is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it's doing to our bodies?Join Chris in his travels through the world of food science and a UPF diet to discover what's really going on. Find out why exercise and willpower can't save us, and what UPF is really doing to our bodies, our health, our weight, and the planet (hint: nothing good).For too long we've been told we just need to make different choices, when really we're living in a food environment that makes it nigh-on impossible. So this is a book about our rights. The right to know what we eat and what it does to our bodies and the right to good, affordable food.'Clearly a brilliant book' James O'Brien'If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one' Bee Wilson'A devastating, witty and scholarly destruction of the shit food we eat and why' Adam Rutherford©2023 Chris van Tulleken (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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 $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. 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.