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The Raw Truth
Raw is not a fad. This is real. Find out why.
205 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 22, 2011
Great for beginners. This isn't a book about fruits & veggies. It's not an extremist treatise on vegetarianism guilting you and telling you that you need to deprive yourself (author isn't vegetarian, but promotes healthy, fatty--yes I said fatty--meats and raw dairy). Chapters highlight the necessity of vitamin D from the sun, the importance of healthy gut flora (and the epidemic of dysbiosis and the multitude of diseases it causes/contributes to), juicing, cleansing, cultured/fermented foods, fiber, the low-fat farce, etc. In truth, the book is a marketing vehicle for his supplement line and includes a number of coupons (expire 3/'12). But it is very valuable aside from that as an educational tool. The recipes and resource listings alone make it worth the purchase price of free. ;) It's short and easy to read. Some are distracted by the inclusion of anecdotes and personal stories in health books, but I'm a big fan of the way they inspire me and bring a deeper understanding of where these ideas came from and how powerful the results can be. And anyone who brings himself back from the brinks of death (which included a milder form of chemical sensitivities & chronic fatigue but a very serious form of Crohn's) when doctors have nothing to offer, is someone whose brain I want to pick.
March 10, 2012
This isn't a genuine book, it is an ad for Garden of Life products. There is no subtlety in how the products are recommended whatsover. It is really a product brochure, with a few interesting facts added.
Although experts such as Mary Enig and Dr Weston Price are mentioned and help up as heroes in the nutrition field (which they are), it is misleading to imply that they agree either with the author's dietary recommendations nor the use of Garden of Life supplements, they absolutely would and do not! They strongly recommend vitamin D from fermented cod liver oil, and would oppose the sort of vitamin D supplement sold by GOL, for example.
This book would have been much better if all the product ads had been saved for one chapter at the end of the book, so there was at least some pretence of wanting just to give general helpful health information.
About 5 - 10% of the book provided useful information, the rest was an ad. I'm a fan of adding some raw and enzyme rich foods such as juices and sauerkraut and kefir to the diet, but in no way support an all or mostly raw diet as healthy for everyone, especially if it is also nearly or mostly vegan. So even this information has to be taken with a big grain of salt.
If you have an interest in raw food and can get a copy of this book free from iHerb it might be worth the few minutes of your time it takes to read it, otherwise, don't bother. Do not pay decent money for an advertisement.
Although experts such as Mary Enig and Dr Weston Price are mentioned and help up as heroes in the nutrition field (which they are), it is misleading to imply that they agree either with the author's dietary recommendations nor the use of Garden of Life supplements, they absolutely would and do not! They strongly recommend vitamin D from fermented cod liver oil, and would oppose the sort of vitamin D supplement sold by GOL, for example.
This book would have been much better if all the product ads had been saved for one chapter at the end of the book, so there was at least some pretence of wanting just to give general helpful health information.
About 5 - 10% of the book provided useful information, the rest was an ad. I'm a fan of adding some raw and enzyme rich foods such as juices and sauerkraut and kefir to the diet, but in no way support an all or mostly raw diet as healthy for everyone, especially if it is also nearly or mostly vegan. So even this information has to be taken with a big grain of salt.
If you have an interest in raw food and can get a copy of this book free from iHerb it might be worth the few minutes of your time it takes to read it, otherwise, don't bother. Do not pay decent money for an advertisement.
June 30, 2011
3 stars for the information, -2 for the advertisement of his supplements!
September 4, 2013
I don't mind that Jordan Rubin advertises his vitamin line product throughout this book. I am an easy sell. Half way through the book I went out and bought the whole line of products!
Just kidding! But, laugh at me if you want, I did buy his women's 50 and wiser multi-vitamin, and I am happy with it. It is a quality supplement. I would buy more of his products but I don't have the money, alas, so I will just have to juice my parsley and crunch my carrots. I found the book inspiring and interesting to read. Why should I criticize any book that helps? So I quit coffee (again), way decreased my sugar consumption, started juicing again, and eating more raw foods. And I feel better, well obviously.
One weird question, off topic; In talking about his grandfather he mentions, "George Washington's home in Monticello". As far as I know Monticello is the home Thomas Jefferson built and loved so much. If I am right I can only hope that Jordan Rubin's biological knowledge is better than his history.
Oh, also, in talking about Elie Metchnikof he says, "Metchnikof, born Jewish, grew up learning that the call of nature could not be delayed a minute longer than necessary, lest the bowels release more toxins into the bloodstream." I almost choked on my morning warm water and lemon juice. I have never heard this, nor noticed behavior among my fellow Jews that might indicate that they were acting on this principle. 'scuse me, hold that thought, I need to use the restroom' Maybe this health principle is from Maimonides?
OK, that is about it. I've finished my daily avocado and need to go now.
Just kidding! But, laugh at me if you want, I did buy his women's 50 and wiser multi-vitamin, and I am happy with it. It is a quality supplement. I would buy more of his products but I don't have the money, alas, so I will just have to juice my parsley and crunch my carrots. I found the book inspiring and interesting to read. Why should I criticize any book that helps? So I quit coffee (again), way decreased my sugar consumption, started juicing again, and eating more raw foods. And I feel better, well obviously.
One weird question, off topic; In talking about his grandfather he mentions, "George Washington's home in Monticello". As far as I know Monticello is the home Thomas Jefferson built and loved so much. If I am right I can only hope that Jordan Rubin's biological knowledge is better than his history.
Oh, also, in talking about Elie Metchnikof he says, "Metchnikof, born Jewish, grew up learning that the call of nature could not be delayed a minute longer than necessary, lest the bowels release more toxins into the bloodstream." I almost choked on my morning warm water and lemon juice. I have never heard this, nor noticed behavior among my fellow Jews that might indicate that they were acting on this principle. 'scuse me, hold that thought, I need to use the restroom' Maybe this health principle is from Maimonides?
OK, that is about it. I've finished my daily avocado and need to go now.
April 2, 2011
the entire book is an advertisement
the only reason it gets any stars is because some of the biographical information on the "health legends" is nice, but everything is just an ad for different garden of life products. the second star is because well, i already was using most of the products and like them and i guess maybe more people need to start using them. but i was kinda hoping for more indepth information.
bunch of good recipes though and hey its a free book, so i shouldnt have been expecting another maker's diet type epic
the only reason it gets any stars is because some of the biographical information on the "health legends" is nice, but everything is just an ad for different garden of life products. the second star is because well, i already was using most of the products and like them and i guess maybe more people need to start using them. but i was kinda hoping for more indepth information.
bunch of good recipes though and hey its a free book, so i shouldnt have been expecting another maker's diet type epic
June 4, 2011
I'm glad that I was warned about this book before I started it. I knew that it was an advertisement. Jordan Rubin covers each of his new Garden of Life products and why you should use them. It wasn't quite what I had in mind... However, I did enjoy the recipes in the back of the book. I tried the pasta sauce this evening. (It was quite spicy...!) I also enjoyed how for each section of the book he spoke of a scientist who had researched that particular topic.
If you are not seriously into the RAW lifestyle then this book would be a waste of time for you.
If you are not seriously into the RAW lifestyle then this book would be a waste of time for you.
December 16, 2011
Easy to read. Educational. Right to the point. Broken down into 2-3 page sections for different health topics like: probiotics, protein, etc., with the light, history of who started or discovered the benefits of that area as it pertains to our optimal health. Lots of good recipes and SOURCES for RAW foods and products. Not overwhelming, but very doable to change your lifestyle and become a healthier you.
June 9, 2012
This is a marketing book published by Garden of Life. I got the book for basically free. Yes, it has their products mentioned and recommended in it. It also has a lot of good basic information on eating a raw diet and the nutrition of such. It also has a resource directory in the back and mentions several experts throughout the book and in a section at the end, which makes for great starting points to go to in order to learn more.
June 25, 2012
Yes, this is an advertisement-- what do you expect from a free book?
However, it really is a good resource. It has a lot of information on raw dieting, great for those just becoming interested in a raw diet. It also has awesome recipes and an amazing list of resources for raw food supplies.
I picked up several copies of it for myself and a few friends who were looking into raw diets. Why not, it was free!
However, it really is a good resource. It has a lot of information on raw dieting, great for those just becoming interested in a raw diet. It also has awesome recipes and an amazing list of resources for raw food supplies.
I picked up several copies of it for myself and a few friends who were looking into raw diets. Why not, it was free!
November 14, 2013
This is basically a big advertisement for all the garden for life products. However, there is lots of other very good information in it. Moreover, i' ve used several garden for life products and they are great products. Also, there's a detox program, nutritional plan, and lots of recipes that make this book worth holding onto.
April 15, 2011
I had much more appreciation for this book after attending a seminar by the author. I'm trying hard to incorporate more raw foods into my diet. Worth a read!
June 18, 2012
I'm loving this book, it like it's written in a language I totally get. Trying to sneak more raw foods into my family's diet.
November 16, 2025
This was an okay read. While it does indeed contain much information and many resources about the raw-living lifestyle, at bedrock, it is mostly an ongoing advertisement for the Garden of Life product line. Yes, you'll find several good recipes in here and you'll learn about some raw "Health Legends." The incessant mentioning of Garden of Life's powders, pills, and potions gets tired pretty quickly. The book's publisher is also Garden of Life, LLC, and not a mainstream publishing house. This would have been a more interesting, stronger book if the author had written from a less subjective viewpoint.
Keep in mind that this book came out in 2010, so it's somewhat outdated in terms of resources and the homogeneity of the Health Legends and the Raw Resources Experts.
Keep in mind that this book came out in 2010, so it's somewhat outdated in terms of resources and the homogeneity of the Health Legends and the Raw Resources Experts.
September 8, 2025
Good info!
January 22, 2011
Despite the advertisements in this book (it was free, what can I say?), it was filled with a plethora of resourceful (and very timely for me..) information from some of the most amazing health experts in the world. I found so much of the information in this book to be personally useful and beneficial.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews