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Nov 20, 2010

Bob rated it:

This book, written in 1975, gives a historical, social, and nutritional survey of sugar, and concludes that it is one of the most unhealthy and pernicious substances around. It's written in a conversational style not out of place for the mid-70s, but that doesn't mean it is without rigor. While Duffy's breezy style initially made me think this was merely pop-culture fare, 35 years of trends since he published it only reinforce what he was saying. My own research also confirms his facts.

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1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jun 24, 2009

Amanda rated it:

This book is fueling my fight. It basically says that sugar is responsible for every personal physical or emotional problem in the U.S. I am sold. Some memorable quotes:

We want to have our health and eat our sugarcake too.

"Let us go to the ignorant savage, consider his way of eating and be wise," Harvard professor Earnest Hooten said in Apes, Men and Morons. "Let us cease pretending that toothbrushes and toothpaste are anymore important than shoebrushes More...

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Oct 18, 2009

Gina rated it:

Dufty's sprawling, inflammatory writ of a rant is disorganized and preachy, with a colloquial tone, liberal manipulation of fact, and touch of fanaticism that tempts the reader to dismiss it entirely.

BUT, it is also a punishing and deserved slap in the face for our socially-selected ignorance about sugar. The historical, economic, and chemical truths about sugar refinement and it's effects on us, the over-consumers, were old news at the time of this book's publication in the mid-70s More...

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Jan 15, 2012

Emily Mellow rated it:

I wasn't sure if this book would have much new info for me, since it's from the early 80's, but it's actually really great. It's an very informative history of sugar: how the sugar industry increased the slave trade; how no one had cavities in all these traditional cultures that lived off plants and meats and milk, until sugar was introduced into their world; how abundant cavities are in the most sugar-laden cultures; how everything else gets the blame for disease but when any scientists point t More...

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Mar 04, 2010

Morgan rated it:

I agree with his basic premise, that sugar is BAD for our bodies. I also agree that much of what ails us can be traced back to our diet. However, I disagree with the idea that sugar contributed to things like schizophrenia, the bubonic plague or tuberculosis. Just because the same populations that can afford sugar happen to be the same populations that contract certain illnesses does not mean sugar is to blame. Too many confounding variables. He makes a lot of outrageous assumptions to support h More...

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Jul 19, 2009

Mrs. Lahti rated it:

Since I'm running an experiment with myself this summer, kicking my sugar habit, reading a chunk of this book every day the past weeks has been the support I needed to stay committed to my goal. Although the book is old, it's filled with useful info. Some of the historical background got rather dry, but it was purposeful in showing how society evolved to be "refined" and the illnesses that resulted. Dufty explains that sugar is like a poison. There is no benefit to refined sugar, o More...

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Dec 30, 2011

Rhi rated it:

A great read about some very interesting facts an opinions on sugar consumption throughout history. While a great deal of the information is Extremely out of date (the entire lat three chapters) much of the information is as relevant as it was when published in 75. I did think that much of the information was unsubstantiated with sources which always makes me wary, but of read from a historical perspective and If one does their own research on the science behind the claims most of Duffy's assert More...

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Sep 27, 2010

Aron rated it:

I would really only recommend this book to someone interested in the history of sugar's refinement and its integration into societies. For that, this book is excellent (or at least appears to be - more on that shortly). Beyond a history lesson though, it falls seriously short. The author is clearly a fanatic, as evidenced by his blaming everything from mental illnesses to the Bubonic plague to freckles on sugar consumption.

I read this book based on a recommendation and the fact th More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Kat rated it:

Read this in 79 a few years after it came out. Swore off sugar then. Was off all sugar except for honey in my coffee/tea. No soda, no pastries, no candy bars. Was lean and stayed that way. Succumed to sugar after three years off it and have been gaining weight ever since, have high blood pressure and elevated triglycerides. Funny my doctors only advise lowering fat intake when it's sugar that causes high triglycerides in the blood. Am going to read this again and get back on the sugar-fre More...

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Mar 20, 2010

Sarah rated it:

Such an interesting book about the history of sugar, the effects of sugar on the body, and why we should just stop eating it. It's funny, cause I've already been on my way to doing so cause I started noticing I didn't like how I felt after I ate sugar (and the more I went without it, the worse effects there would be). Still, this motivates me to be even more thorough with my sugar avoidance. I'm grateful for natural sugar substitutes, that's for sure!

I would recommend this book, i More...

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Oct 01, 2008

Annmarie marked it as to-read

Have you heard me say that "my mom thinks sugar is evil"? Now I know why I've thought that all these years. My mom read this book when it came out in 1976 and soon after took out the sugar from our home. I remember a little bit of that time and my brother likes to remind me of me liking Honey on my cereal. ??? I don't remember that. I eat it plain now - I can't imagine eating it with sugar or honey unless it's like plain oatmeal or something! (:
Well, over time my mom let More...

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Mar 03, 2010

Sara rated it:

I was surprised at how interested I was in a health-related book! This one did get me hooked and I genuinely looked forward to picking it up again each time. Perhaps because it was so sensational and historical. But the more I read of the conspiracy-like tone and material the more I raised my eyebrow. And after finishing the book I heard that the author's claim that sugar actually depletes the body of its nutrients is completely false, so that makes me wonder what else was untrue... To the More...

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Mar 03, 2010

Jason rated it:

This is one man’s saga to explain every single feature about sugar that ought to ensure you never touch the stuff again. It would seem that a whole slew of the world’s problems can be traced to one source of strife: sugar. It is the cheapest fuel to pick up the white man’s burden. Because it is manufactured in such a way that provides an abundant amount of caloric energy for little cost, and its services as a refined crop have so much use in preservation of food—it would seem to be a miracl More...

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Mar 06, 2010

Sarah Jane rated it:

This book ended up being more of a history lesson rather than a science-related one, which is probably best because history doesn't change much, but science does. Considering that this was written 35 years ago, it's still incredibly relevant - not much is different as far as the Standard American Diet goes. The majority of folks are still in total denial about proper nutrition. It's sad, really.

I'm currently trying to get off sugar entirely. It simply doesn't react well with my body. More...

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Apr 27, 2011

Suzanne rated it:

I agree with the basic premise of this book - sugar is BAD. I found the history of the refinement of sugar and how it worked its way into what it is we eat very interesting. Some of the science is out of date, specifically as it applies to the glucose/fructose components of sugar, but despite that, the message doesn't change. I'm not sure I completely buy that sugar is the root of many psychological/physiological evils, but I am willing to believe it is a contributing factor.

For a b More...

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Sep 17, 2009

Lois rated it:

This book basically outlines the history of sugar and some roles it is thought to have played in some fairly significant historical events. I would classify it more as historical than nutritional. If you are wanting to cut back or eliminate sugar but are lacking the motivation...this book will do it. For me, I personally find that I am much more emotionally stable if I stay away from the stuff...so this book has helped strengthen my resolve.

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Nov 29, 2008

Sara rated it:

an oldie but goodie. a classic in terms of nutrition literature (and i've read a lot lately). everything in it is still true, or MORE true today, the information is timeless. the author would likely be traumatized by the eating trends in this country since the book was written. anyone with sugar or carb cravings, diabetes, or kids, should read this!

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Feb 26, 2011

Ryan rated it:

Entertaining and informative but a little far fetched. Dufty would have you believe that sugar is responsible for genocide and global warming if he could. Since I respect his goal to encourage healthier eating, I can overlook or laugh off the wilder claims. For those of you who demand solid research and zero embellishment, stay away.

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Nov 11, 2009

Lisa rated it:

If you don't already know about the health risks that come along with consuming sugar, this is a crucial read. If you already know it, this will strengthen your resolve to stay away from sugar, battle your carb addictions, and it includes early studies from the 1920s of doctors who warned back then about the health risks of sugar.

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May 15, 2009

Eveline added it

This was a bizarre exercise in viewing the entirety of history through a random lens. In this case the writer explains that everything from the fall of entire empires to schizophrenia were all caused by sugar. I would say it's worth reading, though, if only cause it's always good to be reminded: sugar bad. Healthy stuff good. The end.

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May 17, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

The take away lesson is sugar is bad. The author tries to explain that sugar and man's excessive lust for it has shaped civilization since the advent of trade, but he comes off as a zealot. Many of his observations are written as fact and his foot usually contain a funny story rather than a credible source.

I believe that excessive sugar does cause disease and depression, but urge you to read a book founded on facts and research.

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Nov 25, 2008

Maria added it

This is a very well written book that illuminates the history of sugar(sucrose) and how it came to be known as a food, instead of the drug it really is. As I continue to observe sugar's effects on my body and moods, I am constantly reminded of what I, and most, already know. Sugar is poison.

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Oct 12, 2011

James rated it:

Seems a little overblown, but much of it is very believable. After finishing this one, I was very convinced that sugar was guilty of nearly every disease in the modern world.

If you are wanting to learn more about healthy eating, this is a good place to start.

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Jan 11, 2010

Jessicat rated it:

This is a no brainer for me... SUGAR is EVIL. I think this book makes good points and does a nice job finding sugar history, but there are so many good anti-sugar books out there. This one was just the first.

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Feb 15, 2011

Angela rated it:

From the history of the incorporation of sugar into the human diet, to scenarios showing sugar's undeniable harm to the health of entire populations, and personal stories from the author... this was convincing, educational and life-changing. A little eccentric at points, but the rest is worth it.

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Jan 03, 2009

Barry rated it:

I appreciate the point, but a lot of it reads like a vast anecdotal conspiracy theory. Still, I've reduced my sugar load because of this book and the Dr. Oz telling me to.

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Dec 17, 2007

Bro (Dave Kurimsky) rated it:

This is a really good book. My dad talked about it for years, and I finally read it. It's a history of cane sugar and to a lesser extent, the western diet. It's broad in it's scope, angry and funny. The author basically asks you to look at sugar as more of a drug than a food. And the sugar industry more as drug pushers. I think the book was first published in the early 70's. The author writes in a very vernacular jive sort of tone, which is enjoyable. I can't vouch for the erudition of the autho More...

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Jun 08, 2011

Susie rated it:

I can say after I read the book I went off sugar and took my family off sugar for a year. It was the best year of our lives. Some of my children were too young to remember but the older two do and give me a bad time about it but they do say it was a good year. they first thought I was crazy but as adults they try to avoid sugar as much as they can.They feel better when they do avoid sugar. It helps my husband's and my health as we try to avoid it. There is samething to the theory about eating su More...

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Oct 02, 2008

Chak rated it:

This is a revolutionary book and by that, I mean it is a book for revolutionaries. Completley over the top, way off the deep end, and so far out there that only a person pre-convinced of its premise (refined sugar is the root of all evil in the world, throughout history) can take it seriously. I am one of those people. I love, love, love this book and will probably read it ten more times before I die, but seriously, it's completely insane and actually does trace the evils in the world through More...

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Jan 30, 2008

Jo rated it:

Take the Sugar Blues with a grain of salt and you will get a lot out of it. I haven't eaten any sugar since reading it about five years ago. There have been many more recent studies to back up and expound on what Dufty says about this opium of the masses.It is a good beginning if you are delving into the truth about why, as a nation our health is going down the tubes- physically and mentally. Candy should have warning labels like cigarettes, in fact WHO tried to legislate that and got shot down More...

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