Eat Drink and Be Merry [Paperback]

Dr. Edell, a well-known Radio and TV personality, seems to assume that the book will be read primarily by his listening and viewing audience. As a result, many important points that need deeper explanation for clarity have been abbreviated, presumably to save the reader from having to wade through a too-familiar refrain. But the unfamiliar reader gets short-changed on comprehension -- to a degree -- as a result.

This is not to say that the newfound fan will not get a myriad of worthwhile facts and insights; quite the contrary. But the reader who is unfamiliar with Dr. Edell's style and position may find some of his statements to be without consideration or insight, for the lack of an explanation that the familiar reader would possess. And, worse, the reader who holds dear a belief that cannot withstand the scrutiny of science (yet resolutely declares, without any but anecdotal evidence, that a thing MUST be true) will find themselves challenged here to put up or shut up, often with the sketchiest of explanation as to why they should. Pre-knowledge of the doctor's well-thought-out views is helpful!

An alternate title to this book might have been "The Other Half of the Truth" for the many, many additions that he provides to the "half-truths" (or downright inaccuracies) that are expounded by the medical profession and the media. Reading this book will fill in many of the gaps-in-knowledge that have been infused into the American public's awareness by a variety of self-serving information sources.

But this is not to say that Dr. Edell does not have an agenda or a point-of-view; he does. But his objective seems to be to educate through the encouragement of common-sense and the promotion of good research: Help yourself achieve a healthy body through healthy skepticism; ask for proof; use your brain! "...And quit worrying so much! You are better off than you think!"

It is tempting to give this book a higher rating than the four stars given (allowing that the format does not give the opportunity for half-stars), but the writing is not quite up to the standards one expects from a "professional" journal, in spite of the presence of a co-writer. It is conversational, much like the radio personality, but loses some of the weight that a better written text would have: Good writing sinks into the brain deeper, it seems. This book's writing is "adequate". But this alone should not prohibit an interested reader from acquiring this book: It is well worth owning! Only, be prepared to listen on occasion to the doctor's radio show to understand WHY he takes some of the positions he ascribes to here (Of course, had he fleshed out all the explanations, the book might have tipped the scales at 600 pages and no one would read it!).

Buy this book -- and read it with the skepticism that he encourages! But when you apply the common sense that he also encourages, you're going to enjoy life more and find a key to banishing many of the stresses of modern life! Read it!

He moves next to nutrition, then obesity, then to exercise. These three probably affect more Americans than all the rest of the health scams combined. He discusses alternative medicine from the point of view of a former hippie, which he was at one time.

His discussion of sex is enlivened by the hilarious description of a visit to a sex club in the 1970s.

The whole book is such a healthy antidote to much of the misinformation in the media that I am going to recommend it to my freshmen medical students as a quick start in medical education.