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Food Rules: An Eater's Manual Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Michael Pollan (Author, Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
4.4 out of 5 stars 4,829 ratings

#1 New York Times Bestseller

"A useful and funny purse-sized manual that could easily replace all the diet books on your bookshelf."—Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times

A definitive compendium of food wisdom

Eating doesn’t have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings welcome simplicity to our daily decisions about food. Written with clarity, concision, and wit that has become bestselling author Michael Pollan’s trademark, this indispensable handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely, one per page, accompanied by a concise explanation. It’s an easy-to-use guide that draws from a variety of traditions, suggesting how different cultures through the ages have arrived at the same enduring wisdom about food. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this is the perfect guide for anyone who ever wondered, “What should I eat?”

"In the more than four decades that I have been reading and writing about the findings of nutritional science, I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible and simple to follow than the 64 principles outlined in a slender, easy-to-digest new book called Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, by Michael Pollan."—Jane Brody, The New York Times

"It doesn't get much easier than this. Each page has a simple rule, sometimes with a short explanation, sometimes without, that promotes Pollan's back-to-the-basics-of-food (and-food-enjoyment) philosophy."—The Los Angeles Times

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  1. Listening Length
    1 hour and 20 minutes
  2. Author
    Michael Pollan
  3. Narrator
    Michael Pollan
  4. Audible release date
    April 14, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B085FV622C
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 1 hour and 20 minutes
Author Michael Pollan
Narrator Michael Pollan
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 14, 2020
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B085FV622C
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4,829 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a definitive compendium of food wisdom presented in a simple, easy-to-understand format. They appreciate its wit and humor, with one customer noting how the sixty-four rules are shared with humor. Moreover, the book serves as a great reminder and features nice graphic design work. While some customers consider it a good value, others feel it's not worth the price.

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Information qualityEase of readReadabilityCommon senseHumorMemory retentionVisual styleValue for money
525 customers mention "Information quality"511 positive14 negative

Customers praise the book's information quality, describing it as a definitive compendium of food wisdom that provides simple ways to understand healthy eating.

"Glad I read this book. It is informative and useful. And it is a short and easy read...." Read more

"Good advice, a nice pocket guide to making better choices about food...." Read more

"...book was broad the rest of book however was very practical and very informative. A 4.5 Star Book for those trying to be healthier...." Read more

"Clear and concise. Informative and make sense to the food that is not beneficial and best to avoid." Read more

472 customers mention "Ease of read"467 positive5 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand and concise, with a straightforward list of rules that is quick to read.

"Simple, proven, common sense rules for eating, that removes both the fear and preoccupation with food and diets. Love this!" Read more

"...Don't eat something a third grader can't pronounce. It is an easy read with plenty of humor and highlights a direct approach to making better..." Read more

"...It's a simple, breezy read that might offer more if you are completely clueless about where to begin a diet program...." Read more

"...It is a quick read. It makes a lot of sense. It takes into account the fact that we eat for more reasons than to add nutrients to the body...." Read more

427 customers mention "Readability"410 positive17 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and indispensable, with one customer noting it's to the point.

"Great book, a must read! Everyone should own a copy of this book, including kids...." Read more

"...I like the short and sweet aspect of the novel, it’s not a wordy or a complex read, the author gives his readers just the facts in an easy way to..." Read more

"...to Michael Pollan for creating something simple, down to earth, and to the point...." Read more

"...Last time it took me not even 2 hours all the way through. Short and simple! Would recommend for basic nutrition lessons." Read more

162 customers mention "Common sense"128 positive34 negative

Customers appreciate the book's logical ideas, with one customer noting how it breaks down complicated concepts into simple, practical ones.

"...It is practical, wise and is about not losing sight of the forrest for the trees...." Read more

"Practical and common sense advice, a book about getting back to the basics of eating...." Read more

"A smart, quick read. Great for those who want to improve their eating habits and for those who need encouragement to stay on point." Read more

"Nothing new but great for anyone feeling overwhelmed. Short and sweet. Enough to satisfy any craving. "Oh..is that all I need to do?"" Read more

61 customers mention "Humor"61 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it witty and entertaining, with one customer noting how the sixty-four rules are shared with humor.

"...Overall, this book is fun and somewhat cute - it's classic Michael Pollan in tone. Most of his food policies are doable and helpful...." Read more

"The information in Pollan's book is simple, funny, and neatly organized. Perfect for a quick read and to hear some sound advice on food...." Read more

"...Interesting and Funny at the same time.It changed my mind about many things.Low quality paper." Read more

"It is a quick, entertaining, very knowledgeable read that quickly leads you to a healthier, more enjoyable diet. I love his slogan "Eat food...." Read more

31 customers mention "Memory retention"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content easy to remember and appreciate as a great reminder.

"...The rules outlined in the book are straightforward, easy to remember, and, most importantly, make sense when you think about them...." Read more

"...In other words they are crisp, memorable, and quotable...." Read more

"...Yes, Pollan has been a busy man and he's doing great work educating the public about what healthy eating is all about...." Read more

"...In one hour of reading you'll absorb memorable rubrics that DON'T fade into oblivion the day after you've read the book...." Read more

27 customers mention "Visual style"23 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual style, noting its nice graphic design and clear layout, with one customer highlighting how the illustrations give it a playful feeling.

"...In other words they are crisp, memorable, and quotable...." Read more

"...Overall, this book is fun and somewhat cute - it's classic Michael Pollan in tone. Most of his food policies are doable and helpful...." Read more

"...Michael Pollan brilliantly lays out the foundations and principles for our primary fuel, food...." Read more

"This is a nice little manual on eating - very well written. Nothing too fancy, just short concise guidelines...." Read more

61 customers mention "Value for money"27 positive34 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money, with some finding it good value and worth the purchase, while others consider it not worth the price and describe it as insipid.

"Not worth the money..." Read more

"...control for longer than many of you young-uns have been alive, it's good value...." Read more

"This is really just a waste of money. About 5 pages worth of words in total, I really liked the chapters with no text...." Read more

"...Point taken. This book is reasonable and well written. I loved it. I need a chart of the titles. Just to remind myself." Read more

Mini Guide Book
5 out of 5 stars
Mini Guide Book
Has the essentials on basic knowing for how to be better with dieting away from the western diet.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Live Outside
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great layout and words of wisdom that is easy to remember
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This was a short novel but I enjoyed all the little bits of information that was inside. The book’s sole purpose is to give you some guidelines for eating.

    The links between diet and health according to this novel is that individuals who eat a Western diet (lots of processed food, food with added sugar and fat, and lots of refined grains) will suffer from Western diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardio diseases. That totally makes sense to me but I didn’t know it was known as a Western diet. The second link is that if you eat a traditional diet (a lot of different varieties here) you will not suffer from these diseases. Which basically means, no one diet is perfect but as humans we have adapted to different diets to make them work for us. The Western diet, as it stands now, is the diet which makes everyone ill. Inside this novel, there are 64 rules to live by to eat a healthy diet. These rules are explained further with a brief explanation, if needed.

    Some of these rules I had heard about before but about half of them were new to me. There are three parts to the novel: What to eat? What kinds of food should I eat? And How should I eat? Each of these parts have different rules to follow. I liked that these rules are, for the most part, something I could memorize on my own and therefore, I could recall when need be. There is the rule about not eating food that you cannot say, rule about eating a variety of colors, and a rule about eating at a table, these are a few of the rules I already knew.
    Here are a few of the rules that I really enjoyed:
    Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry.
    So, cellulose, thiamine mononitrate is not something I would have on hand, therefore this product should not be in my house.
    Avoid food products that contain more than 5 ingredients.
    Wow, that would eliminate a lot of the processed foods I have on hand.
    Avoid food products that contain ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.
    Again cellulose, thiamine mononitrate are out and I need to start thinking simple.
    Cook food that has only been cooked by humans.
    Again, lots of preservatives, added sugar, and other interesting items are added which we don’t need.
    Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.
    This one is a killer. I have literally cut down on the number of French fries I eat as I think this rule says it all. I’m not physically making French fries out of potatoes every time I want them, it’s too time consuming and too much work. The novel says there is nothing wrong with sweets, soda and other sweet snacks as long as you prepare them yourself. If I had to prepare potato chips, snack crackers, or cookies as much as I consume them, my consumption would really go down.
    Spend as much time enjoying your meal as it took to prepare it.
    Amen!

    I think this book has a lot to offer, things you might know and things that you should know. I like the short and sweet aspect of the novel, it’s not a wordy or a complex read, the author gives his readers just the facts in an easy way to think about them and how to apply them to their own lives. I’m ready to jump on board and I know it will take some time, strength and willpower to incorporate these rules but I know the benefits will be worth it.
    66 people found this helpful
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  • K. Scott Proctor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Place to Start Learning about Food and Health
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Michael Pollan's "Food Rules" offers an excellent reference to begin learning about the relationship between food and health. Not just a beginner's guide, this book also serves as a nice (and brief) compendium of Pollan's writing across a number of his other publications.

    There is a great deal of practical wisdom and advice in this short and easy-to-digest book. Pollan offers 64 "rules" for eating. He breaks these rules into three major themes: (1) What should I eat?, (2) What kind of food should I eat?, and (3) How should I eat?. Written in a balanced and easy-to-understand style, this is a great place to start learning about the complex relationship between food and health.

    The topic of food in general is a touchy one. As the author Jonathan Safran Foer said in a CNN interview*:

    "Even the most political people, the most thoughtful and engaged, tend not to "go there." And for good reason. Going there can be extremely uncomfortable. Food is not just what we put in our mouths to fill up; it is culture and identity. Reason plays some role in our decisions about food, but it's rarely driving the car."

    Pollan points out two important facts in the book's Introduction that "are not in dispute" related to the links between diet and health:

    "(1) Populations that eat a so-called Western diet -- generally defined as a diet consisting of lots of processed foods and meat, lots of added fat and sugar, lots of refined grains, lots of everything except vegetables, fruits and whole grains -- invariably suffer from high rates of the so-called Western diseases: obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Virtually all of the obesity and type 2 diabetes, 80 percent of the cardiovascular disease, and more than a third of all cancers can be linked to this diet.

    (2) Populations eating a remarkably wide range of traditional diets generally don't suffer from these chronic diseases."

    Pollan notes that these two facts are agreed upon by all the contending parties in the nutrition wars. Moreover, he notes that these facts are "sturdy enough that we can build a sensible diet upon them." This, I think, is a good context with which to explore the relationship between food and health.

    I strongly recommend this book to all readers. It is a useful addition to two of Pollan's other books, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, and to two books related to other aspects of food and health, Fast Food Nation and Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track.

    * [...]
    8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Krupa Chirravoori
    5.0 out of 5 stars Short and succinct - but very useful
    Reviewed in India on February 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I feel the book condenses a lot of confusing advice into short, clear, 'do this' kind of sentences that stuck to my mind.

    I now feel I don't have to bother as much about the exact nutritional content of some food - as much as noticing how close to the source that food is. Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking at some simple, irrefutable, and quick rules to eat healthily minus the jargon.
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  • Darren Rathbone
    5.0 out of 5 stars A concise complement to in defence of food.
    Reviewed in Australia on April 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    In defence of food is still I think the best book I have read about what we should eat. For those hat have read it, this is a quick easy refresher. For those that want a taste of what that book is about, this is a quick easy place to start. If we all followed this advise, we would all be a lot healthier. My fav is rule 43, I’m good at that one!
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  • Dee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Common sense information
    Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book. It was much smaller than I expected, and I read it in an hour. I recommend it because it is information that we need to keep in mind for our daily eating habits and can refer back to often when feeling like our eating is starting to get out of control. It is an easy, fun, read!
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  • Karina Frabetti
    5.0 out of 5 stars More food for though
    Reviewed in Brazil on October 17, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Not just rules but topics to think about our day by day relationship with the universe of food. Not a diet, an adjust of our path.
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  • hattiekins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simple et précis
    Reviewed in France on October 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ce livre était super. Il est écrit d'une manière simple et précise en listant des notions vraiment importantes de comment manger sainement. J'ai vraiment apprécié les infos du livre qui sont logiques en plus mais qu'on a besoin d'entendre et re entendre pour que ça rentre. C'est vrai que c'est dur de manger sainement dans la société dans laquelle on vit aujourd'hui avec tous les fast food, tout le sucre et sel cacher dans notre nourriture. Je souhaite m'impliquer plus dans tout ce qui est santé et bien être donc si quelqu'un a des recommendations ou suggestions de nouvelle lecture ou autre oeuvre dans le même genre, envoyez moi un mail que je continue ma croissance personnelle :) - harriet-lane@laposte.net
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