The Philosopher's Diet: How to Lose Weight & Change the World

by Richard A. Watson

Rich food for thought―a philosopher’s guide to losing weight, and keeping it off, by embracing a whole new approach to life.

In this slim volume, a middle-aged philosopher takes on the weighty double challenge of comprehending an expanding universe while fighting an expanding waistline. Witty, thoughtful, and practical, this is a thinking person’s guide to the how―and why―of watching what you eat.

“I urge you to live at the peak of enjoyment of life,” Richard Watson writes. “Descartes said that the essence of the soul is self-consciousness. If you want to enjoy your life, pay attention to what you are doing. Control as much of your life as you can. Live in full consciousness. And don't stop thinking for yourself.”

Here’s an erudite and fascinating combination of common sense, Cartesian philosophy, and the presumption that understanding the mysteries of weight loss and the universe are somehow compatible, even sympathetic, ambitions. If Descartes had written a treatise on losing weight as a way to maintain discipline amidst life’s vicissitudes, it would have read much like this. Richard Watson wants you to lose weight, as he did, while gaining new wisdom about yourself―and what you eat.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Self Help, Food, Health, Diets, Reference

109 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Richard Watson is a recognized and pre-eminent Cartesian scholar and until his retirement was a professor of philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis. He now lives in Missoula, Montana.

Reviews

[Jo Switten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost allready 8 kilos before I started reading this book. It is a very inspiring little book. Most of the things the author describes you allready know, but he presents it in a way which is both funny and educational. As a matter of fact, this book inspired me to start running again after so many years. I also solved a problem in my neighboorhood! When I go running now in the morning, I take a small plastic bag with me and I pick up the litter laying around in the streets surrounding my place. So I am working on having a good contidtion and helping a bit to improve the world :p

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long before the current spate of "eat local, eat moral" books (think Animal, Vegetable, Miracle or Michael Pollan, there was The Philosopher's Diet. Based on an article published in the mid-80's in The Atlantic Monthly, this book neatly and in a no-nonsense fashion tells you how to do what must be done: eat less, move more. The writer's style is witty and entertaining, an important point when he's telling you to do stuff that no one (let's face it) really wants to do.

I read this book when it first came out. Recently I revisited it, and was surprised to see many of the same things we see today in many new food movements: buying locally produced food, eating low on the food chain, avoiding processed foods. Maybe if we'd all listened to him back in 1985, we would have changed the world.

[Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired and really enjoyed this book. I found it hilarious, thought provoking and that it pointed out the obvious- we already know much of what we need to do in order to accomplish what it is that we think we want, it's just that we need inspiration to keep at or start a life long commitment.
He closes with what Descartes said "human foibles should be treated with charity and understanding, and that no one living should disdain the mundane pleasures of love."

[Mystie Winckler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended by MMV. Amusing, if you can tolerate the crass atheism.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author offers good advice but advice I didn't need. On a personal note, I'm totally bummed that he says to do everything I've already done (well, let's be honest - I don't exercise enough) and I'm still fat. Crap. But if I am to think about it for the person who hasn't done any of these things yet, of course it's good advice - and hopefully they will be more successful.

In a nutshell: opt out of processed and fast foods particularly those heavily laden with sugar and salt. Pay attention to what you eat. Cook. Expend more than you take in. Exercise (that's the tough one, you know.)

A very fast read and well written. Worth it as an inspirational read (as the author says it is a number of times) but in no way a "diet plan". He does offer a bran muffin recipe but otherwise, it's common sense.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book!!!! Maybe I was in the space to listen. Whatever...it was inspiring, informative, funny, thoughtful, simple, and motivating. I truly enjoyed it and am going to follow his philosophy for taking control, making being healthy a life project, and accomplishing something really hard in my lifetime. Loved it!

[Malika · Rating 3 out of 5]

The philosophy in this book is fascinating. The diet/exercise recommendations (900 calories per day, plus run for one hour every day) are CRAZYPANTS. Still worth a read if you're interested in the philosophy of dieting, self-control, regaining power over your food life and the food chain of the world, and the importance of doing something difficult.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in the used book sale and had to pick it up - with a subtitle "How to lose weight AND change the world," how could I not?!? And Dr. Watson did not disappoint me! Nor am I the target demographic for his book, but I think he knew that would happen too.
Originally published in 1986, soon after the Cooper study came out and Aerobics was published, when Ronald Reagan professed his weakness for jelly beans, it is interesting to note that a lot of the science behind weight loss that he quotes still holds true.
And how does weight loss change the world? By eating more heathfully yourself, shunning refined foods, and wasting less food, you set an example, and perhaps the people around you will start to take note and change their habits as well, having a positive effect on the food industry.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There is only one way to stay on track; you must simply make (______) come first, whatever else there is to do. You must decide that nothing you do in a day is more important than (_______)." - pg 57 Here the author is talking about running or swimming but you can replace the activity with whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. "In the long run, you do it for the form of the thing, to learn to take control of your life." - pg 58 "If you would like to do one difficult thing in your life that requires total commitment...then content matters, but it is the form that carries you through, the form that counts." - pg 98 "it really does not matter much to the rest of us what you do, so long as you don't hurt anyone. But if you don't do something you will be proud of later on, it will matter to you." !!! - pg 103

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book in a bookstore that was going out of business. Browsing through the a few pages in the middle convinced me to buy it as it was witty and clever.
To repeat what many others have said, it puts everything you already know about losing weight in a very logical, common sense and funny sort of way. It is also very philosophical. I will definitely read it again and again, but what I got from it (at least this time, might be something different next time) the most was what commitment and taking charge of oneself really means.
Funny author. Definitely going to see if I can find some other of his books and possibly some of the ones that he mentions as well.

[Dorcas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book started out good but after the first few chapters the author seemed to have lost his way. It seemed to me that the author had a great idea for an article or an essay but then thought wow if I write some more this could be a book!! So in order to get to appropriate book length and to throw in material to impress us with his knowledge and education he continued to write!! And what started out as an interesting artcle became an over long book that digressed from his original topic and was just plane boring.

[Giorgiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can already tell this will be in my top 10, if not my top 5 of the year. It's a funny, deep book that pretends to be about dieting, but is about so much more. Chapters called 'Sex', 'How to Live', 'How to Die' gave me a lot to think about and I thought of them as I watched my friend dying. I often think of the line, "Write your book today." It's quite nearly a perfect book, inspirational while being smart, smart while keeping it real, real while keeping it funny and not a drop of fat shaming. Also it's short.

[Lona Brunton · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who has tried a zillion diets, this book is refreshing. It isn't anything new ... it is just a broader look at how and why we eat ... and explains how the way we eat is not very earth friendly. It is simple and honest and a very good way to live. I'm trying to adopt his philosophy - so I should be just the size I want to be in about 80 days or so ... and then I should be that size forever :)!!!! What a deal hu???

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren’t many books that truly change your life. But this one was key to my maintaining 100+ lbs weight loss for 13 years.

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A work of philosophy by a philosophy professor. Diet information a la 1985. Some sensible, some not so much. Thought provoking but a little long and repetitive. Quick read.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short silly diet book satire. You’ll find cute pithy statements about eating and life, spoken in a friendly tone. However, at times the author is redundant in his reminder to avoid “white” sugar and flour along with processed foods. Additionally, certain facts are not true, for example, he says that there is not enough food in the world for everyone even if we redistributed the current food we have equally. A simple google search confirms this is not true: https://www.oxfam.ca/there-enough-foo.... Perhaps it is a mistake to blame the author given the book is about 20 years old. I’m not sure if this statement was true then. In many ways the book is dated and in other surprising ways it was ahead of its time. Ultimately, it’s worth borrowing from a friend or library. You’ll definitely smile at least once reading the first chapter.

[Stephanie Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast read, with some antiquated ideas on dieting and severe restriction on calories when the author is talking about his actual concept for a diet (900 calories a day for a woman at 5'3 is far too restrictive), however, where this book is interesting and engaging is in the final chapters where it develops a greater focus on the philosophical aspect of diet and food. The ideas expressed in the chapters "How to Live" and "How to Die" will stick with me for quite a while, particularly those focused on the importance of making a choice and enacting mastery over one's own life.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book. I really enjoyed the content.

[Chris K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The diet part wasnt all that helpful. Buy still some good knowledge and entertaining.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to the author, dieting is simple mind over matter. Would that everyone would see it the same.

[Robin Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book falls under the "I know what to do, I just don't do it". Read this book with a highlighter so you can re-read to keep motivated.

[Donnajo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a okay book some of the was interesting. A good book to take in small bits if you don’t normally read NF or about diet etc.

[subzero · Rating 3 out of 5]

good old common sense + practical advice + philosophical titbits (and a chapter on sex that makes no sense at all)

[Barış Kaplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

good...

[Joy Weese Moll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here are the chapter titles:

1. Fat
2. Food
3. Roughage
4. Running
5. Sex
6. How to Live
7. How to Die

I’m finding it difficult to summarize this slim volume. It invites short, pithy, smart-aleck summations like, “Life’s a beach and then you die” or the more conventional and less optimistic version. Or something much longer — but it’s a short book, you might as well read the book rather than my summary.

Possibly the most important thing to note about this book is that Richard Watson is a bona fide philosopher. In fact, he was a Professor of Philosophy at my alma mater and my most recent place of work, Washington University in St. Louis. He is an expert on the work of Descartes. Possibly, though, he is most famous as a speleologist (an explorer of caves), contributing to the exploratory efforts that proved that Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world’s longest cave and co-authoring the book that tells that story, The Longest Cave by Richard Watson and Roger W. Brucker.

More at the book review on my blog: Book Review: The Philosopher’s Diet by Richard Watson.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read about this years ago in Bas Bleu as an anti-diet, diet book, so eagerly bought it at a used bookstore several years ago (and for those of you who know me, I am not going on a diet; I was merely looking for a quick read!). While the Bas Bleu description is semi-accurate, I was actually surprised by the amount of actual dieting advice the first part of the book contained -- from espousing a whole foods lifestyle to praising exercise. But, the book hits its stride when it takes a turn in the end, becoming real philosophy rather than mere obvious advice. I liked this part very much, but it didn't really compensate for what seems sort of pedantic and obvious about the book's early bits. Moreover, I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone who is actually wanting to go on a diet, which may be the indication of why the Bas Bleu description was right after all!

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhnn. I can't believe anyone would describe this book as "good advice" about losing weight (unless they'd never read anything about the physiological or metabolic bases for losing weight prior to this book). The book is mostly a repetitive, aren't-I-clever ramble through Richard Watson's lens on life and health. It's dated, but I expected that. It's also sexist, in some very distasteful ways.

I was looking for some philosophy--a discussion of principles of pleasure, denial, resource-sharing, a vision of the self. A different way to look at consumption and reasons to reduce that consumption. Didn't get it.

[Genine Franklin-Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may not (okay, almost certainly won't) follow the author's advice on losing weight (which is excellent)but I will read the book again ...and again. There's a lot of wisdom here (duh, the author's a philosopher, for Pete's sake!) And, I had thought that I should read David Hume after reading several of the Isabel Dalhousie books;I even got the book down from one of my bookcases. It's still sitting on my end table. Now I feel a renewed desire to read Hume. Not bad for a slim (102 pages on Nook)little book. eh?

This is so worth reading.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by an acquaintance who is a respected family physician, and for that reason I took the suggestion seriously. I enjoyed the direct, plain language and honest tone of the book. Also, I believe the advice concerning long-term health and well-being is reasonable and founded. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for straight explanations about what we can do to be more healthy.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not a diet book, but not really a philosophy book either; more of a way for a guy to expound on his theories of how to live (there's actually a chapter called, How to Live.) Simple stuff and the writing was entertaining and at times illuminating but I felt like if I met the author, I would think he was a jerk. And vice-versa.