So You Think You Know What's Good for You?

by Norman Swan

We all want to be healthier, but do you know what's good for you?

For over thirty years, Dr Norman Swan has been delivering straight, honest, common-sense health information to ordinary Australians as both a physician and much-loved broadcaster. And when Australia needed clear, scientifically backed COVID-19 facts and advice, it was Norman Swan who stepped up every day to provide the answers we required.

After many years of listening, Norman Swan knows what medical issues people are curious and concerned about. Drawing on the questions he hears time and again, from millennials to baby boomers and all the generations between, So You Think You Know What's Good For You? is a one-stop handbook that will settle fruitless anxieties and allow people to focus on what matters to them. Replace medical myths, half-truths and misconceptions with the information you need to make better decisions about how to eat and how to live to put your mind at ease and ensure your and your family's health is the best it can be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Science, Nutrition, Ebooks

540 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2021

Reviews

[Ros Gaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, funny health advice for fans of the wonderful Dr Swan

[ana sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would not recommend

Full transparency, I only managed 50% of this book before I gave up. There’s a lot I would have changed in how this was structured and written. With no in text referencing I also sometimes can’t tell what’s conjecture, anecdotal or backed by studies. But mostly I stopped because of the weight loss section, the 10 habits of people who lose weight successfully is a 101 on how to develop an eating disorder and create a lifelong unhealthy relationship with food, something anyone in this area of medical research knows and I am disgusted that in 2021 this was allowed to be printed under the guise of health advice.
Overall this book reads outdated. I’m sorry Dr. nothing personal but I expected better.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swan writes in an accessible and readable way. This book covers every area of health in a light way. I didn't really learn anything new but I still enjoyed reading it.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

When COVID-19 hit our shores, we tuned in to listen to Dr Norman Swan - a familiar and trusted voice for many. In fact, for decades he has provided honest and upfront facts to Australians. He has become the trusted voice.

‘It's all about what I spoke of at the beginning of the book: our goals and the insight into how these change. The ‘life’ bit is, of course, about the four ‘F’s - fun, family, friends and freedom.’

Drawing on his wealth of knowledge and experience, we yet again turn to this trusted physician for answers regarding all things supposedly ‘good’ for us. And does he provide them! Jam packed into this book, the reader will find an astounding range of questions and answers about all things good for you - or so you thought!

‘This control thing isn’t some namby-pamby, squishy, lefty idea. There’s hard science behind it.’

Myths and misconceptions are all put under the spotlight in this far reaching reference book that covers so much on health and wellbeing for the everyday person. You cannot help but embrace his no-nonsense approach and find the facts and advice both readily accessible and sensible. His natural, easygoing manner is evident through each page and topic covered. He is honest and that cannot help but ‘speak’ to people at their own level about how we can make our lives and those of the ones we love better.

‘So if you look at it this way, it’s not a crisis at all. The thing is that the women in these popular culture accounts aren’t necessarily broken. But many women in this
group feel lost and stretched to a point that they feel they’re likely to snap.’

This does not have to be a cover to cover read and will serve as a handy ongoing reference for many people. His wit and dry humour will make the steps towards a healthier living doable as he breaks down and puts in plain words many misconceptions and misleading falsehoods that are ever present in our society today. Thank you Dr Swan for both your honest and frank assessment of the perplexing world of wellbeing we find ourselves inundated with.

‘This book is about knowledge - that’s information plus analysis. It allows you choice and gives strength to some of the key decisions you have to make about how to feel good; sometimes feeling okay about feeling bad; what you put into your body; what you take out of it; what you can add to it; how to ignore ageing as a concept; as well as stuff about sex, drugs, kids and recognising bullshit.’




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

So You Think You Know What's Good for You by Dr. Norman Swan is a no nonsense approach to looking at your health. It is jam packed with a lot of information about all aspects of health and particularly looks at many misconceptions that are about. Some of the information is provided in an anecdotal way and a lot of the information is very basic, but I felt that some of the information was itself unproven and incorrect. I particularly enjoyed his presentation on the myth of wellness and that good enough is a better term to use. His discussions on burnout were particularly relevant to me but I don't think he really provided any answers to dealing with this. I listened to the Audible version of this book and it was entertaining and easy to listen to. The information provided though was very basic and I don't think he really provides many answers. Having been a medical practitioner in Australia myself, he really presented mainly information that is taught to us, but hasn't really examined the evidence or looked at any of the controversies. Medicine is evolving all the time with new information emerging. What suits one person, may not suit another and some practices become outdated quickly.

[storytime-reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

So You Think You Know What’s Good For You? is an easy read, broken up into questions and answers, so it’s easy to skip through to the sections that interest you if you don’t want to read the whole thing.

However, I read the whole book and really enjoyed it. I learned some new things, whilst other things I believed were confirmed. But it’s an enjoyable read either way, because Dr Norman Swan infuses this book with his personality and some fun anecdotes that make So You Think You Know What’s Good For You? genuinely amusing.

Importantly, Swan attempts to make his answers as uncomplicated as possible, and makes simple, helpful suggestions for improving your life. He is very much focused on the big picture and that nothing exists in a vacuum – as such, he advocates for a common sense approach. Swan focuses on the pros and cons, the myths and fads, following the evidence and trends to explain what has changed based on new knowledge.

He does reveal his biases, although I’m not entirely convinced he’s always objective, or that the evidence he cites is enough to make a conclusion either way.

But overall, this book is an interesting read that makes you think about your own life and what you could improve. I personally was quite happy to see some confirmation about the things I do.

[Robin Bower · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone interested in health and living their best life. Written by an authentic professional medico and journalist, the information is scientifically researched and provable. It’s also an entertaining and funny read with loads of personality. A book to use as reference for dipping in and out of topics at a later date so keep it by the bed!

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘We all want to be healthier…’

Many, many Australians know who Dr Norman Swan is. He is the broadcaster I turn to when I want facts about COVID-19. I trust his opinions on matters medical so was delighted to pick up a copy of this book.

This is a book that can be browsed by topic of interest or read from cover to cover. The choice is yours. And largely, that is what Dr Swan provides in this book: the information you need to make informed choices. This is all made more human by Dr Swan including anecdotes about his own struggles to do healthier things.

I think that the most valuable message in this book is that it is better to focus on the complete picture rather than its individual parts. For example, think about the meal you are preparing and sharing rather than each of the ingredients. And, the more plants you include in your diet, the better.

Well worth reading.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Listened to the audiobook version read by Norman Swan. If you listen to and love The Health Report and/or Coronacast then you’ll love this direct no nonsense approach to what’s good for you. Norman covers a lot of ground skimming the surface on loads of things while pointing out which popular advice is supported by research’s new which isn’t.

A great listen for long walks and car journeys. Would recommend.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent no nonsense read, I read it up to the sleeping bit and then found myself distracted, I may reborrow it sometime again from the library, once my current reading slump has passed.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norman Swan is an incredible source of knowledge about medicine and health, and he has packed an enormous amount of it into this book. He writes with wit and authority. A terrific book to have on the shelf for dipping in to when needed!

[Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have scanned read and will return to pick up more in detail when required.

An excellent discourse on medicine, health and life. Well written easy to read and enlightening.

[Rachel Coutinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful book that answers common health questions for the majority of the population.

[gemsbooknook Geramie Kate Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘We all want to be healthier, but do you know what’s good for you?

For over thirty years, Dr. Norman Swan has been delivering straight, honest, common-sense health information to ordinary Australians as both a physician and much-loved broadcaster. And when Australia needed clear scientifically-backed COVID-19 facts and advice, it was Norman Swan who stepped up every day to provide the answers we required.

After many years of listening, Norman Swan knows what medical issues people are curious and concerned about. Drawing on the questions he hears time and again, from millennials to baby boomers and all the generations between, So You Think You Know What’s Good For You? is a one-stop handbook that will settle fruitless anxieties and allow people to focus on what matters to them. Replace medical myths, half-truths, and misconceptions with the information you need to make better decisions about how to eat and how to live to put your mind at ease and ensure your and your family’s health is the best it can be.’

This book was awesome.

I was shocked by just how much information this book contained. It covers so many different areas of life yet it is easy to read and doesn’t just throw facts and studies at you. The information is broken down into different sections so if you want specific information you don’t need to read the book from cover to cover. I also thought that the tips given in this book on how to live better were simple and easy to put into use.

Books like this can sometimes feel like the author is judging you or preaching to you, but that isn’t the case with this book. Dr. Swan includes anecdotes about his struggles and truths about the difficulties he has had implementing some of the things that we should all be doing for our health.

One of my favourite things about this book is Dr. Swan’s wit and humour; especially when he is debunking popular fads that we are constantly being fed. After reading this book I honestly feel less anxious about all the things I am and aren’t doing to improve my health.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book and I truly believe that everyone can learn something from it; while also enjoying the read.

So You Think You Know What’s Good For You? by Dr. Norman Swan is a must-read for all Australians.

Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a basic 101 guide to health. It covers the obvious stuff we should already know and it is common sense with a lots of justifying factual numbers. Despite it being basic stuff this is a book everyone should read to reinforce good habits.

I was disappointed when the main text finished at just under 60% of the book, the rest was references and index. But after some reflection consider this is justified. This is an intro and reminder if you want greater detail the book would be impossibly large. If you want greater detail in any area then you can go to the references.

Ultimately, as I got from the book, we are all a little bit different and what happens next is entirely up to you.

[Bala Mudaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging read for individuals, families, and professionals. Norman Swan writes like he speaks, in a relaxed and accessible language, keeping medical jargon to a minimum. A vast range of topics are covered in this book: from cognitive behaviour therapy, divorce, obesity, benefits of sex to screen rules for kids. It's much of an introductory source for reliable and current information on physical and mental health, and social wellbeing. Certainly not 'the ultimate health guide' as stated on the front cover.
Dr Swam seems to prefer a cautious, sensible, middle-of-the-road stance on most topics – not too prescriptive. While there may be fads and popular claims, research on health matters is invariably tentative, or inconclusive. Always a work in progress
He is keen for the reader to know that he’s a regular bloke - human, vulnerable and given to mistakes.

A few take away quotes for me:
• Don’t get mugged by reality
• Humans come as a package
• Life’s a fatal condition
• Freedom is more about control

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot more in this book than I wanted - I was looking for nutrition. It seems a bit unfair to rate the book only on the approximately 20% that I read in detail, but I'm going to anyway, and am not calling this a DNF.
To be honest, I felt disappointed at how little useful information I got out of the parts I read, given the author's reputation. They seemed overly general, and although the ideas sometimes confirmed what I had read elsewhere, that didn't really help me.
I also was not impressed by the use of bad language from time to time. The author is supposed to be an expert - why does he need to feel matey with readers? This to me is inappropriate in a scientific type book.
The author was not above using useless similes, and pointless data.
There is a very extensive list of references, so I guess if anyone wants more than just the superficial treatment given, they can read some of those.
That really sums it up - very wide topic coverage but at a superficial level.
Rating 2.8.

[Cate Searson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked: the bigger picture science and statistics that underpin the "why" of attending to one's health. What I didn't like: the generalisations and the lack of context for many of Dr Norman's statements. For example the broad statement that we get enough Vitamin D from the sun. Actually because of sunsafe practices that's not always true, and people with osteoporosis and even low level depression may benefit from vitamin D supplements. And the scary statements of early mortality for those living with serious mental health conditions. Give us the context! 1) that many mental health medications cause dramatic weight gain and changes in metabolism and b) that other factors play into this for example common co-morbidity with other conditions ie addictions. Please don't frighten those with mental health disorders without the background and, please, a solution or suggestions for help.
Finally, the dieting advice is quite outmoded. Calorie counting can assist some but can lead to obsession around food intake based only on energy and not other factors ie more protein is needed as people age in order to maintain muscle mass. And daily weighing? No no no....
Sorry Dr Norman, a splash of olive oil isn't necessarily the panacea for every ill.

[Sarah Mck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of Norman Swan was stoked to have the opportunity to met him when he came to my state to give a presentation. He was as wonderful to listen to in real as he is on the radio.
Just as he talks, his book is easy to read, simple but detailed enough to feed hungry brains.
Health and wellbeing are becomming complicated topics and it seems the more you look into a particular topic (gut health, vitamins, sports performance, weight loss....etc etc...) the more conflicting information you find and it all becomes far too hard
Norman cuts through all the Bullsh*t and covers everything you need to know
Was a lot of fun to read, lots of it brought genuine laughter and I found myself highlighting a lot too for further reading
Highly recommend if you want a quick, easy, FUN snapshot.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to read such a well presented book on health that wasn't patronising or so technical to be incomprehensible. Swan writes in a way that is easy to understand and follow. I was impressed by the structure that allows for people to dip in and out of the book and just look at the parts that were of interest to them. Although I read the whole thing, my partner was content to just look at particular topics. I was really impressed by the way evidence was presented so that it was clear which things had good evidence and others not so much, so it allows readers to make informed choices. The realistic and amusing approach really helped convey the important messages about health and the decisions we all make. Recommended.

[Bodhi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading this but found the author's tone to be patronising an condescending -- I probably should have expected this from the title. It felt like the author was more interested in demonstrating the superiority of his knowledge and making the reader feel bad for their ignorance than he was interested in actually sharing knowledge. From what I read, there was a lot of snide commentary about how the average person's knowledge about health is wrong, but very little information about how to correct that.

[Dr Dabbler · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit patchy. I felt the style was a bit incongruous with how Norman Swan portrays himself in the media: more (mild) swearing than I would expect in a book on health science.
As I tend to be relatively well-informed about many health fields due to my interest in it, I didn't learn a great deal (that I wanted to learn), but it may be useful for others. It was interesting to read a bit about Swan's background, although naturally this was a tiny portion of the book.
Some of the content was presented with humour, but the writing could have done with more editing than it received.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to hear Norman Swan read this book. I like his perspective esp on questioning cause and effect and an insistence on holistic health (no mind body split). Based on his advantage of years of interviewing recent medical experts on abc’s Health Report program, most of it was unsurprising but did motivate me to calculate my bmi and whr! He doesn’t understand psychotherapy enough - it gets short shrift due to this.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed his reports all through the COVID crisis, so when I saw he was appearing at Writers Week, I wanted to hear him speak. The book covers all aspects of how to achieve good health. I took away some good advice on how to tweak what I do daily, from exercise, to sleep, to diet. Others may get other good simple advise. The writing is very straight forward, avoiding medical jargon as much as possible. Worth having a read, and on a handy bookshelf to use as a reference

[Bill Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get the vibe that Dr Norman is not in preaching mode here, but telling us in understandable language his take on a broad range of issues. With which we may choose to agree, disagree, or more appropriately pursue further by digging deeper. And it's not like a who-done-it, you don't need to read every section. Don't care about devices? Skip it.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humourous, honest and accessible discussion of health and wellbeing. Dr Norman Swan is one of my favourite people, so I was going to enjoy this regardless. Some sections that were irrelevant to me I glossed over, but I was happy with the conversational way that he wrote. Nothing really new or groundbreaking, but engaging nonetheless.

[Hamza Tariq · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has a lot of raw information in it. A kind of opinion on anything. It basically tells you about hundreds of different factors that are responsible for your current health situation. How each and everyone can effect you in different situations. If you are looking for a diet guide it is not it. Its just a ton of info on everything relating food and body.

[Bennor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent reference on a lot of health related topics. The subject matter is interesting and there was a lot of good information early on, but the later sections of the book took me an eternity to get through because it is very repetitive in structure. Most sections start with a summary and often the detail feels like filler.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic and broad health guide told in a very conversational style. A lot of advice from this book (especially about nutrition and work) has already planted itself in my head, and I'm sure I'm better off for having read it.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read common sense advice about everything. Lots of personal disclosures that were unexpected but added to the trust factor. I’m not usually into the self help territory but this was an exception. No doubt bolstered by his excellent work throughout the. COVID-19 time