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The Good News About What's Bad for You . . . The Bad News About What's Good for You
Eat more steak, drink more whiskey, take more naps, lay off all the kale, and throw out your multivitamins and standing desk. In The Good News About What's Bad For You-The Bad News About What's Good for You author Jeff Wilser shares all the research that allows you to celebrate all your vices and stop feeling bad about not brushing your teeth after eating that extra slice of cake.
This book has two sides to it: one sharing all the good news, then the flip side contains all the bad news, making this the perfect gift that people will want to share and commiserate over with friends.
Told with wit, charm, and a large dose of humor, the author sprints through a broad range of topics-from coffee to green tea, tequila to Vitamin Water, to apologizing and swearing. Wilser sifts through each study to reveal everything from the merits of procrastination to the downsides of yoga.
In an age where so many people bend over backwards in pursuit of the most healthy and "pure" lifestyle, The Good News/The Bad News reminds readers to stop denying yourself pleasure and brings back to the tried-and-true golden rule of "everything in moderation."
This book has two sides to it: one sharing all the good news, then the flip side contains all the bad news, making this the perfect gift that people will want to share and commiserate over with friends.
Told with wit, charm, and a large dose of humor, the author sprints through a broad range of topics-from coffee to green tea, tequila to Vitamin Water, to apologizing and swearing. Wilser sifts through each study to reveal everything from the merits of procrastination to the downsides of yoga.
In an age where so many people bend over backwards in pursuit of the most healthy and "pure" lifestyle, The Good News/The Bad News reminds readers to stop denying yourself pleasure and brings back to the tried-and-true golden rule of "everything in moderation."
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Jeff Wilser
14 books78 followersJeff Wilser is the author of Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life.
He's also the author of four other books, including The Good News About What’s Bad For You… and The Bad News About What’s Good For You, which was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month.
His writing has appeared in print or online in GQ, New York magazine, Time, Glamour, Cosmo, VH1, Esquire, mental_floss, MTV, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Comstock’s, The Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Detroit Free Press, and The Huffington Post.
The topics? It varies. He has written about health, relationships, film, travel, the folly of juice cleanses, hashtags, monks, architecture, books, fashion (not that he’s fashionable), sneak attacks of World War II, how to pick champagne, the intersection of math and magic, Finland’s school system, and the shortcomings of General Custer. He also collaborated with Marc Ecko, the fashion designer and founder of Complex media, on the book Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out.
Jeff is likely the only person alive to have written for both GQ and The Knot. His TV appearances, where he occasionally pops up as the token male, have ranged from BBC News to The View. Business and marketing stuff? Sure, he does that too, providing customer-segmentation insights to a +$1 billion publishing company. He’s also the founding editor of ThePlunge.com, the primary website for grooms. (Jeff has never been a groom.)
He can’t tan.
He's also the author of four other books, including The Good News About What’s Bad For You… and The Bad News About What’s Good For You, which was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month.
His writing has appeared in print or online in GQ, New York magazine, Time, Glamour, Cosmo, VH1, Esquire, mental_floss, MTV, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Comstock’s, The Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Detroit Free Press, and The Huffington Post.
The topics? It varies. He has written about health, relationships, film, travel, the folly of juice cleanses, hashtags, monks, architecture, books, fashion (not that he’s fashionable), sneak attacks of World War II, how to pick champagne, the intersection of math and magic, Finland’s school system, and the shortcomings of General Custer. He also collaborated with Marc Ecko, the fashion designer and founder of Complex media, on the book Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out.
Jeff is likely the only person alive to have written for both GQ and The Knot. His TV appearances, where he occasionally pops up as the token male, have ranged from BBC News to The View. Business and marketing stuff? Sure, he does that too, providing customer-segmentation insights to a +$1 billion publishing company. He’s also the founding editor of ThePlunge.com, the primary website for grooms. (Jeff has never been a groom.)
He can’t tan.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 3, 2015
Full disclosure: I am biased in that I am the person who wrote this book.
January 10, 2016
This is a fantastic book. Reading the short essays about various health issues soon became addictive---is that good for your health?---as Wilser's contrarian viewpoint is such a breath of fresh air. I think I enjoyed the Good News side of the book just a mite more but it's a close call. Wilser's research into these health issues and his frequent quips make the pages fly by. So often in the news you read very one-sided reports on health issues that use scare tactics to garner interest. This book is the perfect cure for that.
December 12, 2017
The good news is that this is a light, entertaining read; there are some very funny bits, and author does not take himself too seriously.
The bad news is that it’s a very superficial treatment of many different topics and you’ll have to make up your own mind about what in it sits right with you.
The good news is that the material is presented in an original style, using a flip-over book to emphasize the good/bad principle.
The bad news is that the layout is gimmicky, and as a result lots of people probably won’t take it seriously.
The good news is that the author explores and presents many different points of view.
The bad news is that the gist is basically do anything you want, as long as you do it in moderation. This is old advice and unhelpful for most people.
The good news is that the author tears up the self-help book industry.
The bad news is that this is probably considered a self-help book.
The good news is that this is a bit of an overdue send-up of many issues that weigh heavily on many people’s minds and create needless guilt. With a fresh box of New Year’s resolutions looming with another annual opportunity to kick yourself in the face, we probably all need to read books like this in December.
The bad news is that the guilt issues will likely retain their gravity, even for those of us who read this book.
The bad news is that it’s a very superficial treatment of many different topics and you’ll have to make up your own mind about what in it sits right with you.
The good news is that the material is presented in an original style, using a flip-over book to emphasize the good/bad principle.
The bad news is that the layout is gimmicky, and as a result lots of people probably won’t take it seriously.
The good news is that the author explores and presents many different points of view.
The bad news is that the gist is basically do anything you want, as long as you do it in moderation. This is old advice and unhelpful for most people.
The good news is that the author tears up the self-help book industry.
The bad news is that this is probably considered a self-help book.
The good news is that this is a bit of an overdue send-up of many issues that weigh heavily on many people’s minds and create needless guilt. With a fresh box of New Year’s resolutions looming with another annual opportunity to kick yourself in the face, we probably all need to read books like this in December.
The bad news is that the guilt issues will likely retain their gravity, even for those of us who read this book.
February 18, 2016
I mostly skimmed this book just to find excuses to continue with all my vices and ignored the ones that didn't apply to me. The basic summary is EVERYTHING has both good and bad effects and, no matter the preference, moderation. Plus, bonus points for making me laugh.
May 22, 2023
This is what you call an insightful book. This book is informative and filled with related research in the topic that discussed in the book. At the same time, Jeff is really witty so this book is fun to read because of his comedy sense.
I probably recommend you to read The Bad News About What's Good For You first because this part actually isn't as good as The Good News one. So I recommended this to make sure you enjoy this book from the start until finish.
If you read it carefully you'll find the main point of this book is that everything isn't good if it's used excessively.
The Good News one will focus that something that we consider as bad/evil is not as bad as what we think. For example, alcohol. Alcohol in proper amount is good for our heart. Gluten free diet is only for someone with celiac disease so if you don't have it, it probably not a smart decision to not eat any bread. Selfishness is useful to make sure that you take care of yourself before you helping others.
The Bad News highlighting something that we call good/healthy but actually it's not as good as what we think. The example is kale. Yes, kale is good but the other veggies are good too. Fruit juice is not as good as the real fruit because it's mainly contain sugar and the fiber is removed. Ball Chair is a stupid idea because it doesn't have any real benefit.
I probably recommend you to read The Bad News About What's Good For You first because this part actually isn't as good as The Good News one. So I recommended this to make sure you enjoy this book from the start until finish.
If you read it carefully you'll find the main point of this book is that everything isn't good if it's used excessively.
The Good News one will focus that something that we consider as bad/evil is not as bad as what we think. For example, alcohol. Alcohol in proper amount is good for our heart. Gluten free diet is only for someone with celiac disease so if you don't have it, it probably not a smart decision to not eat any bread. Selfishness is useful to make sure that you take care of yourself before you helping others.
The Bad News highlighting something that we call good/healthy but actually it's not as good as what we think. The example is kale. Yes, kale is good but the other veggies are good too. Fruit juice is not as good as the real fruit because it's mainly contain sugar and the fiber is removed. Ball Chair is a stupid idea because it doesn't have any real benefit.
May 7, 2016
A fun and informative book. The common wisdom of what is good or bad for you, as we all know, constantly flip-flops. One great example, which is covered in the introduction of this book, is fat. Most of us were told that fat makes us fat - so avoid. WRONG! Fat is extremely beneficial for your health. On the other hand, sugar, which you can almost guarantee is in all "fat-free" or "low-fat" products, is extremely fattening.
So please do yourself a favour: read this book and have your world turned upside down. Or if you already had a hunch, have it become more concrete. You'll hear about an Eskimo tribe that eats exclusively meat, and are some of the healthiest people on Earth (and that's only one example).
Wilser is not a doctor or a scientist, which means you don't have to endure tedious and dry statistical writing. This book is actually quite funny, and thoroughly engaging.
So please do yourself a favour: read this book and have your world turned upside down. Or if you already had a hunch, have it become more concrete. You'll hear about an Eskimo tribe that eats exclusively meat, and are some of the healthiest people on Earth (and that's only one example).
Wilser is not a doctor or a scientist, which means you don't have to endure tedious and dry statistical writing. This book is actually quite funny, and thoroughly engaging.
April 30, 2017
This was an interesting book. There is nothing really new in the book the author took a lot of facts about different things that are bad for you such as whiskey, fat, beer, etc. and shows that not everything bad is a do not touch. Most things are good in moderation. The book also breaks down the things that are believed to be good for us and show some of that bad facts. Some examples are apples, vitamins and yoga.
It was a fun book full of facts from people in different professional backgrounds all put together in one convenient book. It is not a life changing read, so don't revolve your life around your readings.
It was a fun book full of facts from people in different professional backgrounds all put together in one convenient book. It is not a life changing read, so don't revolve your life around your readings.
March 1, 2016
A fun book, but gives cursory looks at various thing that are "good" and "bad" for you - at 300 pages, with around 150 topics covered, nothing gets too in depth. Spoiler: moderation is good.
March 22, 2016
4.5 stars!! Both witty and informative, reads very quickly. The big takeaway I got from this - whatever you're doing, it's probably fine in moderation. Highly recommend.
February 11, 2017
You won't feel guilty about having a candy bar for breakfast after reading this, A fun, informative romp through all the latest research.
February 24, 2017
Great info and some fairly shocking ideas and revelations...also some laugh out loud moments..I like the authors style!
March 27, 2024
This book is a joke. I read the first half; "The Good News About What's Bad For You". And I stopped there. It would have been a disservice to myself to continue on.
It is really hard for me to pick whether I should talk abt how shitty the "studies" in this book are or how douchy of a dude the author of this book seems... Ugh.
The studies - they suck. With almost every study he referenced I could see major flaws in the methodology, sample size and/or selection. In addition to using bad studies, he seems to be incapable of drawing conclusions from sets of data. He literally tries to argue that porn is a positive for diversity acceptance because there are popular search tags like "latina" "asian" etc. - as if it isn't well established that this fetishizes and oppresses these groups even more. Like c'mon!! ... "Like c'mon!!" is basically how I felt abt all of his "studies". I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
The author. My God. The majority of his sense of humor is funny but TONE. IT. DOWN. Something is funny when it's like a little punch line here & there not when you are trying to make every single sentence a joke... But wayyy more than that is how douchy he is. There are multiple times in the book when he thinks he is telling jokes but really he is just talking mad shit abt other people. Not cool and why I'm allowing my review to be so blunt.
If I could only pick one word to describe this book it would be "cringey". It is actually terrifying to me that this book exists and that some people might buy the bullshit or even worse laugh at this dudes jokes.
It is really hard for me to pick whether I should talk abt how shitty the "studies" in this book are or how douchy of a dude the author of this book seems... Ugh.
The studies - they suck. With almost every study he referenced I could see major flaws in the methodology, sample size and/or selection. In addition to using bad studies, he seems to be incapable of drawing conclusions from sets of data. He literally tries to argue that porn is a positive for diversity acceptance because there are popular search tags like "latina" "asian" etc. - as if it isn't well established that this fetishizes and oppresses these groups even more. Like c'mon!! ... "Like c'mon!!" is basically how I felt abt all of his "studies". I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
The author. My God. The majority of his sense of humor is funny but TONE. IT. DOWN. Something is funny when it's like a little punch line here & there not when you are trying to make every single sentence a joke... But wayyy more than that is how douchy he is. There are multiple times in the book when he thinks he is telling jokes but really he is just talking mad shit abt other people. Not cool and why I'm allowing my review to be so blunt.
If I could only pick one word to describe this book it would be "cringey". It is actually terrifying to me that this book exists and that some people might buy the bullshit or even worse laugh at this dudes jokes.
January 16, 2019
I won this book through GoodReads First Read program way back in December of 2015. I procrastinated reading it till now but I found out procrastination can be a good thing for you in that it allows you to think of an answer or response instead of just reacting. Not completely true. I didn't procrastinate reading this book, I just had a lot of books to read first. It is true that procrastination can be good for you according the book though.
Everything in moderation. Calories in, calories out. Those are two of the main points I took home from this entertaining book that examines all the things that are both good and bad for you and then finds the counter point. It also does this in a humorous way. Bad things looked at include: McDonald's; Tequila; Napping; Masturbation; Worrying; Obesity; and Ice Cream. Good things looked at include: Frozen Yogurt; Eye Contact; Q-Tips; Diet Soda; Standing Desks; and Marriage. These are only a sample of the issues examined by Wilser. He also backs up his findings with medical research. Aren't there studies about everything now?
Fun read that will arm you with information to argue about the latest trends and faux pas with friends and co-workers.
Everything in moderation. Calories in, calories out. Those are two of the main points I took home from this entertaining book that examines all the things that are both good and bad for you and then finds the counter point. It also does this in a humorous way. Bad things looked at include: McDonald's; Tequila; Napping; Masturbation; Worrying; Obesity; and Ice Cream. Good things looked at include: Frozen Yogurt; Eye Contact; Q-Tips; Diet Soda; Standing Desks; and Marriage. These are only a sample of the issues examined by Wilser. He also backs up his findings with medical research. Aren't there studies about everything now?
Fun read that will arm you with information to argue about the latest trends and faux pas with friends and co-workers.
January 22, 2020
Now I feel like I can lead a much healthier life!!! 😉 😉 Haha...
I like the authors view on most of it, but just remember that it is his view and you may or may not agree with it! Hey look... a chapter on Masturbation!!!!
I like the authors view on most of it, but just remember that it is his view and you may or may not agree with it! Hey look... a chapter on Masturbation!!!!
December 29, 2021
My sister loved it and I don’t really love it just because it is kinda superficial in my opinion (med student here). But 4 star cause it is a great read for those who don’t really know much about these stuffs. Good to build GK.
May 6, 2017
Reads like the TV show Adam Ruins Everything. Quick and fun.
April 16, 2019
Funny, readable, informative and witty.
September 14, 2024
funny, easy to read, and thoroughly educational
really enjoyed reading! 4.5
really enjoyed reading! 4.5
June 6, 2016
I really wanted to give this book a better rating. It seems like a lot of information is valid, but there is one problem and it’s a very big one. The section on herbal supplements is complete, utter fiction. The section starts off by claiming that herbal supplements all boast they’re “natural” and have been used for “thousands of years”. In all the supplements I’ve come across and I have seen hundreds, I have yet to seen these claims. Technically, the claims are accurate to some degree. All herbs are natural, though the negative implication is natural is not automatically a good thing as some plants are poisonous. It’s not clear what negative implication results from herbs having been used for thousands of years. (It could be that Wilser simply doubts that fact, though no proof is given.)
Wilser quotes from one person who has written extensively touting the supposed dangers of herbal supplements becaue they are unregulated. Now this last point is technically true. But all this means that buyers need to beware and they should obtain supplements from reputable suppliers. Sources like ConsumerLab, which test herbs, can help here. There are many reputable suppliers of herbs out there.
At the same time, the expert makes the over the top claim that because an herbal supplement may contain hundreds of chemicals that that somehow means it’s more dangerous than a pharmaceutical that contains just one compound. This may come as a shock to this expert, but the foods contain hundres of compounds. Simply containing hundreds of compounds doesn’t make it dangerous. Indeed, one reason why herbs tend not have as many side effects as drugs is that the mix of compounds negate the side effects.
He quotes again from this lone expert, who is blatantly biased and painfully ignorant of herbal medicine, that there is no evidence that herbs are effective. Wilser also claims, falsely as far as I can tell, that the NIH has tested herbal supplements and found them ineffective. I actually looked on the NIH website and while I can see some references to NIH-funded research, not the same as just the NIH itself, most of the claims were relating to lack of in depth pharmaceutical-level testing, which is true relative to what’s required for approval of a drug. After all, who would pay for it? Certainly, not the NIH.
The truth is that herbs have been used for a long time with success and if he actually examined the literature he would have easily found tens of thousands of papers demonstrating they have medicinal effects. One can read http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Prac... for a good summary of the research on herbal therapy. Mr. Wilser neglected to do any research in this field and was swayed way off base by one biased, ignorant self-proclaimed “expert”.
Now this doesn't necessarily mean the rest of the book is this way. For other topics, he does seem to quote some papers here and there. Interestingly, Wilser seems to have found evidence for green tea, which is an herb and for marijuana, also an herb.
Wilser quotes from one person who has written extensively touting the supposed dangers of herbal supplements becaue they are unregulated. Now this last point is technically true. But all this means that buyers need to beware and they should obtain supplements from reputable suppliers. Sources like ConsumerLab, which test herbs, can help here. There are many reputable suppliers of herbs out there.
At the same time, the expert makes the over the top claim that because an herbal supplement may contain hundreds of chemicals that that somehow means it’s more dangerous than a pharmaceutical that contains just one compound. This may come as a shock to this expert, but the foods contain hundres of compounds. Simply containing hundreds of compounds doesn’t make it dangerous. Indeed, one reason why herbs tend not have as many side effects as drugs is that the mix of compounds negate the side effects.
He quotes again from this lone expert, who is blatantly biased and painfully ignorant of herbal medicine, that there is no evidence that herbs are effective. Wilser also claims, falsely as far as I can tell, that the NIH has tested herbal supplements and found them ineffective. I actually looked on the NIH website and while I can see some references to NIH-funded research, not the same as just the NIH itself, most of the claims were relating to lack of in depth pharmaceutical-level testing, which is true relative to what’s required for approval of a drug. After all, who would pay for it? Certainly, not the NIH.
The truth is that herbs have been used for a long time with success and if he actually examined the literature he would have easily found tens of thousands of papers demonstrating they have medicinal effects. One can read http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Prac... for a good summary of the research on herbal therapy. Mr. Wilser neglected to do any research in this field and was swayed way off base by one biased, ignorant self-proclaimed “expert”.
Now this doesn't necessarily mean the rest of the book is this way. For other topics, he does seem to quote some papers here and there. Interestingly, Wilser seems to have found evidence for green tea, which is an herb and for marijuana, also an herb.
April 21, 2016
It's a light and humorous devil's advocacy on your well being. I enjoy the entertainment factor and the random information on a variety of subjects, that makes it worth the read. Most of leanings of the research were ambiguous and some sections it was more of a highbrow National Lampoon's debate like defense of life 'said less advised' decisions.
June 17, 2016
VERY entertaining, often informative, and at times actually kind of profound. I was already hip to most of the ideas in here - let me sum it up - "moderation". (The author even suggests making a drinking game of "take a drink everytime I write 'moderation' - because drinking is good for you...in moderation).
February 14, 2016
Humorous debunking of so many cultural fads, lies, distortions, and marketing campaigns. Not much data, just short summaries using empirical information. Generally quick, fun read. Nice to pair with "Do You Believe in Magic" by Paul Offit. Skeptics unite!
Want to Read
January 3, 2016I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
January 1, 2016
I liked the catchy way that this book was split in two. It was a fun book to read, confirming what I always suspected about health news.
May 29, 2016
Very good book and talented author. Will read more from him!
He says what everyone is thinking, makes it fun, and explains it clearly.
He says what everyone is thinking, makes it fun, and explains it clearly.
August 23, 2016
tl;dr science, and our knowledge of what is good and what isn't, is constantly evolving, so you may as well go and live your life as you want and just bloody enjoy yourself. ✌️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2016
Such a clever book, and a good one.
January 16, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads giveaway. Fun facts.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews