The Case Against Sugar

By: Gary Taubes

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

From the best-selling author of Why We Get Fat, a groundbreaking, eye-opening exposé that makes the convincing case that sugar is the tobacco of the new millennium: backed by powerful lobbies, entrenched in our lives, and making us very sick.

Among Americans, diabetes is more prevalent today than ever; obesity is at epidemic proportions; nearly 10 percent of children are thought to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. And sugar is at the root of these, and other, critical society-wide, health-related problems. With his signature command of both science and straight talk, Gary Taubes delves into Americans' history with sugar: its uses as a preservative, as an additive in cigarettes, the contemporary overuse of high-fructose corn syrup. He explains what research has shown about our addiction to sweets. He clarifies the arguments against sugar, corrects misconceptions about the relationship between sugar and weight loss, and provides the perspective necessary to make informed decisions about sugar as individuals and as a society.

©2016 Gary Taubes (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"[Taubes] helps us understand how to make better decisions regarding sugar as individuals and as a nation." ( Library Journal)

"The obesity epidemic is an ever-growing threat to the overall health of our nation. In making the case against sugar, Gary Taubes details the often insidious efforts by the sugar industry to hide how harmful it is, just as the tobacco companies once did. This is required reading for not only every parent, but every American." (Katie Couric)

"This deeply researched, well-reasoned exploration of the history and biology of sugar would convince any supreme court of nutrition that it is sugar, not fat, that should be indicted and limited. Doctors, scientists, policymakers, and concerned eaters would do well to heed Gary Taubes's advice." (Mark Hyman, M.D., author of The Blood Sugar Solution)

Powerful and Eye Opening

As a prediabetic I need to know more about this subject. This was awesome. I highly recommend it

Absolutely fascinating!

This insightful book should be required reading for all medical professionals regardless of discipline. As a speech and language pathologist, most of my patient caseload is made of up of people suffering from the many conditions the author points out as attributable to sugar and other processed foods. I can't go back in time to prevent their diseases but now I have a better understanding to help them lead a possible healthier life. This has definitely made me take a look at my own diet and that of my family. If I can prevent these diseases in my children, then it is well worth it.

now you tell us

and we thought cigarettes we're bad, hey Mikie, he likes it, of course he does, addicted to sugar like all other humans.

Very informative!

A definite second time listening must go into this one. This one of those books that has something about it, where in someday in the future, we'll say, Mr. Taubes had warned us about this. Very grateful for people like him in this world to inform us of such atrocities. Two thumbs up for this one!

Learn the Truth and Myths Around this Substance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very good explanation about a lot of myths -- often promoted by the industry -- about the use of sugar. A substance that has dominated in a stealthy manner, the Western culture, and has negatively hurt many people. Must read to learn about this problem in a comprehensive fashion (science, history, culture, economics)!

Brilliant!

Should be required reading for virtually everyone. Of course sugar is toxic, but the rationale in the book for the conclusion is worth the price.

Lots of research

Tons of research delivered in this book. It's a little overwhelming at times. However it is a good book and it's well executed in this format.

A Game Changer

Wow. Besides the fact that this was well written, concise and well researched, the information is so compelling, I will seriously need to reboot my medical education thinking. Everything I thought I knew regarding diet is flawed. Although I eat markedly better than the average American, and am thin, sugar will be eliminated from my diet as soon as possible. And the word "moderation" as we define it needs some critical evaluation.

A universal addiction, killing millions?

We don't know. Millions died early deaths last year from "Western diseases", was the primary cause of these deaths simply to much sugar.

After centuries of seeming overuse of a substance, and a concurrent outbreak of disease in epidemic magnitude, we have refused to even look. We seem to frightened of disparaging the God, sugar, to even look at the possibility that, in its present rate of consumption, it is toxic.

So, we fall victim to the sugar "pushers" that feed our addiction, and victim to the drug companies and others that claim to fix the damage caused by our addiction to sugar. For hundreds of years physicians have suggested that sugar might be the primary cause of the "diseases of civilization", which has been renamed "western diseases".

Though I'd like to blame the ignorance problem on our "aristocracy" of big sugar, big drug, and their cohearts in research and government (they are both capable and successful at clouding the evidence), it's really our problem as "users" and addicts.

I believe, in this capitalist culture, it's their obligation to take advantage of us as addicts. It is not the obligation of the rich management of Coke, Hershey, and "big sugar" or the big drug management to commit financial suicide, in order for millions of us "sweet" addicts to live full lives. Our health and continued life is our job.

As I see it, our primary affliction is that the "enemy" is organized, and we are not. In the case of general consumerism, we can become little more than slaves, in this case of possible toxic substance addiction, the early death toll last year was likely well over one million, more likely as high as 10 million.....we just don't care to know!!

Gary Taubes's has done a tremendous job gathering information, though I don't fully agree with all his information, I do agree that we are possibly dying early deaths due to an organized effort to cultivate our natural desire for sugar.

With over 10 million deaths last year by what could be sugar related causes, it's time we start paying attention....even 100 years late is better than continued ignorance.

time to get real about sugar

I so wish I had read this 30 years ago. I am now a Gary Taubes junkie