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50th out of 66 books
—
30 voters
Sugar Blues
It's a prime ingredient in countless substances from cereal to soup, from cola to coffee. Consumed at the rate of one hundred pounds for every American every year, it's as addictive as nicotine -- and as poisonous. It's sugar. And "Sugar Blues", inspired by the crusade of Hollywood legend Gloria Swanson, is the classic, bestselling expose that unmasks our generation's grea...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
March 17th 1986
by Grand Central Life & Style
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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.
This is s...more
This is s...more
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 and shoe polish. It is store food that has...more
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 and shoe polish. It is store food that has...more
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. Yet somehow...more
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. Yet somehow...more
This book changed my LIFE! I was seriously addicted to sugar, like the little girl in that John Waters film with the dark circles under her eyes, only into adulthood. Would drown my sorrows in half a batch of brownie mix, then wonder why I was even more depressed. Quitting cane sugar (and HFCS) was one of the best things I've ever done. I had to stop completely for a few months, then found that if I ate something with sugar I'd want more, the craving would come back as surely as it does for any...more
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
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
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, or refined whit...more
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
Sep 27, 2010
Aron
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in the history of sugar
Shelves:
food-nutrition-health
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 that I'm somewhat...more
I read this book based on a recommendation and the fact that I'm somewhat...more
1 like · like · see review
D-
Seriously. I didn't give this book an F for one reason - it helped me to eat (a little) less sugar than I used to - and to buy unrefined sugar (and flour) at the grocery store now. A little change like that may make a big difference. We'll have to find out.
I was recommended this book by a friend - she told me, "If you read this book, you'll never want to eat sugar again. This book teaches you how to eat correctly and how to get rid of sugar in your life." She was (kinda) partially right. It he...more
Seriously. I didn't give this book an F for one reason - it helped me to eat (a little) less sugar than I used to - and to buy unrefined sugar (and flour) at the grocery store now. A little change like that may make a big difference. We'll have to find out.
I was recommended this book by a friend - she told me, "If you read this book, you'll never want to eat sugar again. This book teaches you how to eat correctly and how to get rid of sugar in your life." She was (kinda) partially right. It he...more
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-free wagon...more
This book has a couple of good places that talk about what sugar does to your body, and the history of sugar is very interesting.
That said, although I think Dufty takes an irreverent tone - perhaps because the topic is actually so serious -- he uses the racist slur "Coolie" a couple times. I can't tell if he uses that not from his own point of view, but from the point of view of white racist sugar-producers, but because it's not certain and used on more than one occasion, I find it very disturbi...more
That said, although I think Dufty takes an irreverent tone - perhaps because the topic is actually so serious -- he uses the racist slur "Coolie" a couple times. I can't tell if he uses that not from his own point of view, but from the point of view of white racist sugar-producers, but because it's not certain and used on more than one occasion, I find it very disturbi...more
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, if I could tell...more
I would recommend this book, if I could tell...more
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 sugar back in her house...more
Well, over time my mom let sugar back in her house...more
Aug 26, 2008
Sara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Sara by:
a health-nut friend :) (she INSISTED!)
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 autho...more
Aug 22, 2008
Jason
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Sugar eaters <- or like pretty much everyone
Recommended to Jason by:
Tyler Self
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 miracle. Ex...more
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. Reading abo...more
I'm currently trying to get off sugar entirely. It simply doesn't react well with my body. Reading abo...more
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 book published...more
For a book published...more
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.
First published in the 70s, this book has even more relevance today. Dufty provides a comprehensive look at sugar by tracing its effects on various civilizations--addiction, exploitation, illness, among others. His statistics are shocking, and 40 years later, far worse. A real incentive to get off of sugar. Lots of information, often presented with amusing sarcasm.
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!
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.
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....more
May 15, 2009
Eveline Chao
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.
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.
I believe that excessive sugar does cause disease and depression, but urge you to read a book founded on facts and research.
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.
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.
If you are wanting to learn more about healthy eating, this is a good place to start.
Completely altered my perception of modern society, the American Medical Association, and the food industry. Indispensable, I'll probably read it again within the next year because I didn't retain as much information as I wish I had, there was just too much.
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.
This book really makes you think before eating sugar laden food. I think sugar might be the reason for my constant fatigue, and this book has motivated me to reduce significantly my sugar intake.
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May 12, 2011 01:02pm