The Paleo Solution

Feb 08, 2013 Jennifer Connolly rated it 1 of 5 stars

I bought this book at the same time I bought The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson because it seemed like it was even more popular than Mark's book and so I thought it might be worth a read. Big mistake. I made it about halfway through. I'm sure there is lots of great information in this book, but Robb Wolf's "voice" is so horribly obnoxious that I just can't get past it. He writes like an online marketer. The entire book reads like one of those one page 20K+ words sales letters you occasionally s...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Healthy Curls rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you're already familiar with Paleo Nutrition, you'll likely find this book redundant.

If, like me, you've never heard of it, this is a great introduction.

Other reviewers have complained about the "science-y sections." Wolf says it best when he says, before those chapters even start, that if the detailed nutritional info isn't your cup of tea you're perfectly welcome to skim or skip those sections and go straight to the "how to." Odds are good that once you start seeing results you'll want to l...more If you're already familiar with Paleo Nutrition, you'll likely find this book redundant.

If, like me, you've never heard of it, this is a great introduction.

Other reviewers have complained about the "science-y sections." Wolf says it best when he says, before those chapters even start, that if the detailed nutritional info isn't your cup of tea you're perfectly welcome to skim or skip those sections and go straight to the "how to." Odds are good that once you start seeing results you'll want to learn more about why you're experiencing what you're experiencing. In my case, he was completely right.

Quick background: My doctor had recommended I cut out gluten, and I'd been struggling to do so for about a year. The Paleo Solution made sense to me, and seemed much easier to do than what I'd been attempting on my own. So, I decided to give Wolf the 30 days that he was asking for. Within 4-5 days I felt so amazing that I knew I was never going to go back to the Standard American Diet (SAD) that had been making me ill for so long.

Wolf was right - once I started experiencing all the positive benefits of a Paleo lifestyle, I got curious, and went back to re-read the "scienc-y sections."

I just wish that the cover didn't display the word "DIET" so prominently. In the classic sense, this isn't a fad weight loss diet. It's a nutritional plan that one can happily live with for a lifetime, not something that someone suffers through for a short period of time in the hopes of losing a few pounds.

In short, if you have any health issues at all (depression, IBS, migraines, weight problems, seasonal allergies... anything at all), read this book.

EDIT: January 29, 2012. It's been almost a year and Wolf's suggested nutritional plan is still working wonders for me. I've dropped from a size 14 to a size 6, my chronic fatigue is gone, my allergies don't bother me anymore, my skin has cleared up, my brain fog is gone, and, furthermore, friends and family have become inspired and have achieved similar results. Can't recommend this book highly enough.(less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Daniel rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nutrition

If you want to read a book by a guy with a serious savior/martyr complex and intense government paranoia, then this is the book for you. Also, everyone who 100% agrees with his every word is smart and everyone else is stupid, sinister, or both.

Part One

First, I'm subjected to a sad story about how the author was basically the victim of the horrible religion of vegetarianism and how awful it all was, which forms the introduction to a book devoted to his new (This time he's really really right, he...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Kathleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I was prescribed this diet over 10 years ago by a physician to help with Acid Reflux that had taken its toll on my voice box. In addition, I was told NOT to use spices at all. I ate the Paleo way faithfully for 4 months and I did great. It was the lack of spicing and flavor that eventually got to me. For myself, this way of eating absolutely works. I lost weight steadily, and was satiated by eating the "caveman" way. I had no desire to cheat.

I chose this book because I was looking for something...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Gordy rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you have, or suspect, autoimmunity issues and want to save your life you need to read this book.

The book actually claims it may save your life which may sound like a bold - possibly outlandish and ridiculous - statement to make, until you learn that it's very likely going to save mine. To understand this, I need to give you a quick background as to why I came to read it...

In 2010 I began a journey that would lead me on a search to find answers to why my mental health was deteriorating and I...more If you have, or suspect, autoimmunity issues and want to save your life you need to read this book.

The book actually claims it may save your life which may sound like a bold - possibly outlandish and ridiculous - statement to make, until you learn that it's very likely going to save mine. To understand this, I need to give you a quick background as to why I came to read it...

In 2010 I began a journey that would lead me on a search to find answers to why my mental health was deteriorating and I was experiencing symptoms consistent with Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome at the high end of the autistic spectrum. The symptoms, which probably crossed over between the two, included disrupted executive functions; inability to concentrate and focus attention, poor working memory, an intense dislike and inability to function in a social setting (making conversation, reading body language, etc), and an inability to prioritise tasks. I was now dangerous when driving because my mind would wander instead of concentrating on the road and traffic ahead, and university study was a constant battle because I was in an almost permanent state of 'brain fog' which I can only describe as akin to trying to look at the world clearly after drinking a bit too much alcohol.

My journey took me to see numerous health professionals (in the UK that meant the NHS) whose opinions would range from not having a clue what was wrong, that there was nothing wrong with me, or simply patronizing me with arrogant and ignorant attitudes, devoid of any constructive plans of action. Suffice to say, I wasn't going to find any answers to my problems here. Nevertheless, the diagnostic findings resulting from these hospital appointments were informative. They confirmed damage to the Cerebellum area of the brain, inflammation and a small ulcer in my gut, and the presence of an auto-antibody in my blood.

Only after reading Robb Wolf's book did all the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place. I learned about the connection between auto-immunity and how susceptible individuals can have an adverse reaction to grains (wheat, barley, rye, oats, etc), dairy or legumes. These substances can penetrate the gut wall and cause the immune system to mount an attack which ends up with the immune system destroying healthy cells in the body because it confuses them with almost identical protein signatures from external substances. In my case, working backwards, the cerebellar damage was being caused by the immune system inadvertently attacking the cells in the brain which then were causing my symptoms. The presence of the auto-antibody in my blood was evidence of this immune response taking place and the inflammation in my gut was suggestive of the root cause of the problem. No doctor had ever suggested this connection, including a neurologist who almost laughed at my early suggestion that gluten (a protein in wheat) may be a causative factor in neurological problems. In his words, he had never heard of any connection between gluten and neurology.

Now, this is important, to be clear Robb's book did not specifically link the neurological symptoms I had with auto-immune disease; that link came from over a year of personal research that involved reading hundreds of academic medical journal articles. What Robb's book did do was tie up the other end of the equation, giving me a root-cause for the auto-immunity to take place. Furthermore, the book actually identified one of the known causes of this type of food-induced auto-immunity as being a type of cancer known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The auto-antibody in my blood is specifically linked, in the medical literature, with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

To cut a long story short, I radically changed my diet, following the advice in Robb's book (eating mainly meat and vegetables) and have slowly started to feel better. A full recovery may now take many months, even years; but I've started this process by starting to heal my gut and, little by little, each day I feel a bit better. For the first time in years I am actually experiencing total clarity and focus in everyday life. The next step is healing the damage to my brain which, with no guarantees, will take a lot longer. Without this book I would never have found the root-case of my problems and the solution. The ‘Paleo Solution’ is so called because the author has seen the resolution of similar complaints from thousands of people; in my case, and after searching in vain for answers in the most obvious places, it was the only solution.

Thanks Robb... saving people’s lives for under a tenner, now that’s impressive(less)

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Feb 16, 2013 Aaron George rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will start by saying that I and my family have been living this way for a couple years, and the only drawback has been trying to tolerate other peoples' attitudes. Try telling your mother that all the great food she makes is just plain poison. Having said that, I will agree with the negative reviews of Wolf's style. It is not for everybody. Not everyone shares what is quite obviously an irreverent, somewhat juvenile sense of humor. However, I believe that more people will remain engaged becaus...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Jennifer rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book is awful for a number of reasons

1. He sounds like an arrogant jerk.

2. It's Contradictory (I didn't even finish it but found several contradictions) ie, trans fat is bad NEVER EVER eat trans fat, except the small amount of trans fat in grass fed meats... or paleoliths lived long healthy lives-then fast forward a few chapters and he labels their lifespan as 30-35 years

3. Not well cited or sourced just a bunch of general "it's well known that carbs cause heart attacks" etc not data to bac...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well this is a slight modification of the South Beach diet but, I think, reasonable enough, knowing as little about human chemistry and evolution as I do but he makes sense.

More to the point he does it in a way that had me laughing out loud. When's the last time you can say you did THAT for a "diet" book.

At any rate, it's not a hard "regime" in any sense of that word and works for those of us who don't really feel the need of grains, flours, and dairy products (including sadly cheese).

However...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, food-and-health

Wolf explains the scientific reasoning behind the paleo diet, with chapters for different nutrient types (fats, etc.), then recommends a few exercises, then finishes with an eating plan and recipes. Success stories are interspersed throughout. The entire book is written with a sort of wry humor, which I enjoyed at first, but then found distracting. He refers to scientific studies in general terms. For example, he mentions a study finding children with diabetes have a much higher frequency of cel...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very good book on the 'Paleo diet' system. As I train a lot, I'm always looking for ways to cut back on body fat as well. I could never understand how, when I was training 3 times a day 5 days a week I still had a big belly.

This book helped me sort that out. For 3 weeks I followed the diet in this book (though not 100% religiously) and found I had much more energy and dropped 7lbs and 2.5% in body fat, which was an excellent achievement in 3 weeks.

The diet was relatively easy, but you have to...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I appreciated this outline of the Paleo nutrition and exercise concepts but didn't enjoy reading it that much. Robb Wolf does a decent job outlining the components of our diet that are most important and explaining how modern research (that kind not influenced by government guidelines or big ag.) has identified the role of each in health. He draws a basic outline of Paleo eating and goes into decent depth about Paleo exercise. My biggest complaint about the book is that it starts out very detail...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Kevin rated it 3 of 5 stars

All in all, it was a good read. It's one of the few "diet" books I'm read where the pages are all filled with sales-pitchy hype. Haven't tried the diet yet, so all I can attest to is that the author makes some rather convincing arguments against consuming grains/dairy/legumes. And since I'm already lactose-intolerant, what's a few more restrictions, right? ;)

The book was written with a fairly casual, friendly, and entertaining vibe to it. Often, it made the really technical/boring stuff a bit mo...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Michael rated it 2 of 5 stars

While this book contains some useful practical information in its final chapters and has some succinct definitions of rather confusing health terminology, the overall attitude and arguement of the author is wildly disappointing and aggravating. Given that the author had such a difficult time in his personal life with nutritionists and doctors, it's understandable that he'd take them to task. However, he begins the book by disparaging vegetarians and vegans, stopping just short of calling them st...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Most of my friends know that I'm a foodie. And most know of my struggles with weight loss brought on by my struggle to defeat Cushing's Disease. While no cause for Cushing's has been identified, I've long suspected that since it throws off hormonal balances (namely cortisol), the root of the problem may be other things that cause hormonal imbalances.

After watching Food, Inc. several years ago, I knew my suspicions were not unfounded. I adopted a mostly organic lifestyle, mainly organic meats. I...more Most of my friends know that I'm a foodie. And most know of my struggles with weight loss brought on by my struggle to defeat Cushing's Disease. While no cause for Cushing's has been identified, I've long suspected that since it throws off hormonal balances (namely cortisol), the root of the problem may be other things that cause hormonal imbalances.

After watching Food, Inc. several years ago, I knew my suspicions were not unfounded. I adopted a mostly organic lifestyle, mainly organic meats. I did not give up whole grains or dairy at this point, but I did switch to organic dairy and free-range, vegetarian eggs.

Now that I have successfully battled Cushing's Disease, I am trying to get rid of the weight. I have tried nearly everything in the past. Low calorie, low fat, Weight Watchers, California Weight Loss, South Beach, The Zone, the fen/phen fad. Nothing has worked. I have been resistant to higher-protein diets, especially from animals, but since it's the only thing I haven't tried, I decided to at least read a book on it before completely ruling it out.

A fellow Cushie sang the praises of a Paleolithic lifestyle, so I researched Robb Wolf and purchased this book. IT BLEW MY MIND.

Some may say the scientific sections are boring, but not to me. If someone tells me something, I say "Why?" I want to know. Robb provides the information in layman terms. He writes for his audience and explains quite simply that which is a overly complex process.

Even better, there's an entire chapter dedicated to cortisol, which is the culprit that stole my body and five years of my life from me. That was the chapter that convinced me to try. Other diet practitioners discuss fat, and calories, and sugar...but hardly anyone addresses cortisol!!! Since its the hormone that controls not only stress but how your body processes fats, you may want to listen.

I started the lifestyle three weeks ago. It is amazing. I love to cook, and I'm making great-tasting, colorful meals. My "diet" is far from boring. I do not miss bread/grains AT ALL. There was no detox period like on South Beach and other low-carb diets. I have to take several prescriptions to live now that I am without a pituitary gland, but in three weeks, my legs have stopped hurting, I have tapered further on my hydrocortisone (synthetic cortisol), and I have completely stopped taking one pill. My sleep patterns are perfect, and I sleep through the night. My depression is gone, and my skin has cleared. My migraines are gone (or at least so rare I can't remember the last time I had one). I have tons of energy and vitality. My upset stomach has ceased completely. I also lost 7 pounds my first two weeks!

My goal is to lose 100 pounds and with Paleo I know that I can and I will. This book will change your life. Trust me.(less)

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Sep 20, 2011 David Taitelbaum rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is probably my favorite of all the paleo-esque, primal books. Wolf has a great sense of humor and does a great job describing the science as far as how the human body absorbs and utilizes nutrients. Being an endurance athlete I don't think I'll ever be able to go full paleo while doing hardcore marathon training; however during times when my endurance training takes a back seat to my other endeavors (gettin' pumped up yo) I think it makes sense to try and eat as clean as possible and i...more

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May 19, 2011 Russell Miles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very good description of the Paleo diet and its potential benefits to humanity. Rob is well-studied in all things Paleo and is absolutely confidant the science behind it is sound. The best part about this book is that he knows for most people without a degree in biology or nutrition, sifting through a lot of the science behind the paleo diet can be tedious. He does a great job of presenting the science stuff without putting you to sleep. I also love how he keeps reinforcing that if you just try...more

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May 18, 2011 Audrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Exercise your brain; you CAN read this book! You don't have to memorize anything for a test, so get over your issues with "geek speak". Reading this information WILL transform how you look at food and your health (and particularly if you watch the documentary "Food, Inc.") and hey, you might even feel good about brushing up on some science! The combination of this book and that documentary turned my perception of the food pyramid, and what I had previously considered to be "healthy foods", compl...more

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Jan 24, 2011 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: public-libraries

I came close to creating a new shelf just for this book, titled "couldn't finish." There's a lot of interesting, potentially useful information in it, but the author's tone is obnoxious. If his goal was to persuade me, he failed, and not because of his data. Rather, it was that I felt that he didn't understand his audience. He thought he did, but his sense of it was clearly based on people who'd come to him looking for help, and people who'd opposed him from the start, and there was no room for...more I came close to creating a new shelf just for this book, titled "couldn't finish." There's a lot of interesting, potentially useful information in it, but the author's tone is obnoxious. If his goal was to persuade me, he failed, and not because of his data. Rather, it was that I felt that he didn't understand his audience. He thought he did, but his sense of it was clearly based on people who'd come to him looking for help, and people who'd opposed him from the start, and there was no room for the curious but somewhat sceptical reader.

Two things I found particularly naive were his belief that living a Paleo diet was easy and straightforward for everyone (he tends to take his own experiences and generalize wildly from them - he got very sick on a vegetarian diet, so he assumes that anyone eating such food _must_ also be sick, even if they feel healthy, for example), and that it's just a matter of prejudice or lack of will that prevents their success. (He even mocks one woman who failed his program for her attitude - nice.)

In fact, he never mentions the expense of going Paleo - those tasty free-range meats and wild-caught fish and organic veggies aren't available everywhere*, and when they are available, they tend to cost more. So strike one. Second, he doesn't factor in the time involved in this diet - not just the time to prepare the food but also the time needed to shop for it. As "evil" as grain-based and legume-based foods may be, one thing they do have going for them is a stable shelf life. If you don't want to spend your time shopping every other day for your fresh veg and meat, you're going to have to include something else in your diet. So strike two. If you live in a food desert, or work a double-shift, or live on food stamps, sorry, folks. If you're fat and unhealthy, it's your fault for not going Paleo.

I was hoping to be persuaded that the Paleo diet was feasible - and instead I came away feeling scolded and irritated and condescended to by someone I couldn't respect. Perhaps this is what works for some people; it didn't work for me.

*This is the Alice Waters problem. It's reasonable to advise people to eat only local in-season vegetables when you're in a place like California where a variety grows year round. In many parts of the country, however, you're looking at several months of turnips, potatoes, onions and squash - and that's if your grocery store even carries local produce.(less)

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Jan 11, 2011 Craig rated it 5 of 5 stars

The challenge Robb Wolf faces with this book is that not only does he have high technical knowledge of his field, but many devotees of this regimen themselves come to the table with a considerable base of knowledge. So the problem at the onset is not merely how to distill the more technical aspects of the science down to something palatable for novice intake, but how to do this while providing a level of content to invigorate the already converted. Additionally there are those who come Wolf look...more The challenge Robb Wolf faces with this book is that not only does he have high technical knowledge of his field, but many devotees of this regimen themselves come to the table with a considerable base of knowledge. So the problem at the onset is not merely how to distill the more technical aspects of the science down to something palatable for novice intake, but how to do this while providing a level of content to invigorate the already converted. Additionally there are those who come Wolf looking for improvement in often major health conditions along with elite athletes hoping to top their latest personal record.

While The Solution errs on the side of benevolence towards newbies and takes ailment as the point of departure, Wolf does indulge in enough explanation for those who want to understand the whys of their nutrition. Mostly he handles this with (often humorous) prefaces, segregating prescription from explanation with something along the lines of, "Here's the part where it get's a bit technical. This knowledge will enhance the understanding of those who want to geek out on this stuff, but is not necessary for those who just want to be told what to do; the latter can skip ahead to chapter..."

While marketed as a diet book, no misconceptions should persist in the minds of the curious: this is not a diet book, as in lose-some-weight-then-going-back-to-eating-the-crap-you-love. This is a primer on paleolithic nutrition and exercise meant to keep aging and disease at bay so long as one adheres to it. Results depend on individual investment. Well aware that he flaunts both the entrenched standard medical dietary advice and the far more visceral pasta addiction that much of that diet's adherents face, Robb incorporates a mix of good natured and sardonic humor to ease novitiates into better health. His mantra is "Try it for thirty days and see how you look, feel and perform." He wants people to have fun and tinker and very much tries to avoid turning this into The Cult of Paleo, as it has on some blogs and forums.

For what it's worth, I've been eating this way myself for nearly five years and continue to see nothing but improvement in my health and levels of contentment.(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Robb Wolf talks to you, as if you are there with him. What follows is an entertaining, insightful and surprisingly logical discourse about nutrition. He makes it clear he doesn't care about the "purity" of a Paleo-diet. He only cares about what works and warns against turning Paleo in the sort of religion that veganism has become.

Paleo assumes that we aren't eating right. That we evolved with a certain diet and that agriculture is a relatively new change. We changed our diet to include agricult...more

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May 08, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

It amazes me how many negative reviews for this book there are out there. And I feel the need to write a decent review for this one. I'll concede that I guess I can see how his tone is obnoxious, but anyone who's ever been to a gym or worked with a trainer probably won't see it that way because the great trainers get in your face and don't let you back down. I actually think he's funny. I like the irreverent tone to be honest, for example, "lack of sleep cock-blocks weight loss."C'mon. Lighten u...more It amazes me how many negative reviews for this book there are out there. And I feel the need to write a decent review for this one. I'll concede that I guess I can see how his tone is obnoxious, but anyone who's ever been to a gym or worked with a trainer probably won't see it that way because the great trainers get in your face and don't let you back down. I actually think he's funny. I like the irreverent tone to be honest, for example, "lack of sleep cock-blocks weight loss."C'mon. Lighten up people. Part of that though I read as a challenge, like, "okay smart person. You think I'm a jackass? Gimme 30 days. Prove me wrong. If you do, great, but step up to the challenge." And I hate to say it, but his irreverence toward doctors I think is justified. Doctors aren't nutritionists (and most nutritionists aren't either really), and the default always seems to be supplements and pills or the USDA/gov't endorsed "My Pyramid" (which is a holy hell mess, and you don't need this book to tell you that).

As a former vegan, like Wolf, I have to admit that he is harsh, probably correct, but harsh in his treatment of vegans. And he does actually offer a vegetarian (ironic as that may be) version of Paleo eating. But he's trying to make a point. And that point is that it's not meat that's bad for you--it's FACTORY FARM meat that's bad for you.I mean, what do you think is better? A block of processed tofu or a whole unprocessed (save for head, feathers, and guts removed) non grain, properly fed chicken? And there seems to be a lot of criticism about how expensive it is and how snobby he is about certain foods. He's clear in arguing that if you can and when you can, you need to buy the best meat possible. How is that NOT good advice for anyone??

In comparison to all of the vegan books that I have, none of them emphasize the importance of sleep, stress management, or exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. And just like anything, those who half-ass it are going to think it's crap because you can't half-ass it.

Studies show that more and more people legitimately have problems with gluten and corn. Why? Because more and more products are filled with variations of wheat, rye, barley, and corn. Check the labels. So I think he's probably pretty fair in saying that most people don't realize the impact it has on their bodies until they cut it out. But even still, just about anyone can benefit from this.

It's better researched than any of the vegan/vegetarian books that I have.

Legit research shows that diets that focus on grains and cut out fat expand our waistlines and cause CVD (see Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy). Serious scientific nutritionists advocate a limit on grains and absolutely NO refined or white grains at all, including potatoes, and a limit on starchy veggies like corn. Paleo just goes one step further and says just don't eat it. So I honestly don't understand the disconnect. I'm still on the fence about beans and peanuts, to be honest, but I get it, and I don't miss beans, and I have come to prefer almond butter anyway.

I have to say that I'd recommend this book if you're interested in the really sciency stuff and the practical stuff as well. Or if you're just interested in paleo living. But seriously, how much more balanced can a meal get than lean meat, an abundance of veggies, some fruit, and good fats, for every meal? I have yet to figure out what in the world is so wrong with that way of eating. (less)

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Dec 20, 2011 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this book to find out more about the Paleo diet, which a lot of people seem to be doing and have had great success with.

This book reads very science-y which is fine. And most of it makes sense, when broken down that way. But it’s not a hard read, if you’ve ever taken a biology class.

However, I can’t believe that all grains/dairy/legumes are going to kill me. I just can’t, it doesn’t make sense to me. I feel and look much better after having switched from white to whole grains several ye...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Before I critique this book I have to say that I have been living paleo for about 10 months now and I love the food, the lifestyle and the way I feel. Because I love the paleo "diet" so much I gave this book 3 stars. If I was not already a firm believer in paleo I would have given it at best two stars. I wanted to get more information about the technical/scientific aspects of the paleo diet and this book certainly provides that information. However, I found it to be a little too technical and sp...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Desiree rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to attend Robb’s Paleolithic Solution Seminar in Atlanta on 9/11/10 and I received a copy of this book at the end of the seminar, before it was released to the general public. I wanted to read it cover to cover before adding my review here – I just finished it last night. It was an excellent read and a book full of knowledge and advice that will truly change your life if you have an open mind and are willing to try it out for yourself.

I love how Robb’s personality and wit com...more I was lucky enough to attend Robb’s Paleolithic Solution Seminar in Atlanta on 9/11/10 and I received a copy of this book at the end of the seminar, before it was released to the general public. I wanted to read it cover to cover before adding my review here – I just finished it last night. It was an excellent read and a book full of knowledge and advice that will truly change your life if you have an open mind and are willing to try it out for yourself.

I love how Robb’s personality and wit come through in his writing. I am not a science geek and I don’t like reading through too many minute details of science, but I didn’t have a problem getting through this book. He explains the science to just enough detail for one to understand it without getting overwhelmed. He also uses plenty of analogies and humor to make the concepts stick once you read about them. That being said, there is a TON of information in this book and I will be keeping it handy to use as a reference as my understanding of the Paleo lifestyle increases.

I can say that I have experimented with Robb’s advice over the last 9 months and it has made a tremendous difference in not only my life, but in my body composition. I easily lost over 25 lbs and decreased 3 to 4 pant sizes in the process and I am stronger now and have more energy than ever before. People have actually told me that I look like a completely different person than I did a year ago. The transformation is truly incredible. The bottom line – this stuff works, folks! This book explains how you can get those same results and experience life in a whole new way. I have so much more energy now and I love my new, slender body.

The hardest part about learning about Paleo is not spouting it off to every single person that you know in your life that could benefit from this information. It’s hard to keep my mouth shut when people complain and whine about their issues managing their weight or chronic health issues. It’s hard not to sound like a “know it all” once you’ve been enlightened to this way of life.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to have an open mind when reading this book. It challenges everything we’ve been told by the traditional medical community and even our own government. Keep an open mind, try it for yourself and you’ll see the results. For many, implementing these changes will ultimately result in a total lifestyle change. This may take time and some adaptation, but the benefits are worth it. Believe it or not, you will get over not having bread and pasta - the cravings disappear soon after you begin implementing Robb’s advice. I feel so much better living within the Paleo lifestyle guidelines. Every aspect of my life has improved. I just wish more people would be open-minded and TRY it!

Robb is the real deal, folks. He is not looking to get rich quick by selling you some silly supplement or magic potion. This is truly his passion and he is doing everything he can to spread the knowledge he’s gained while trying to live an ultimately healthy life. He not only gives this advice, but he lives his life according to what he preaches. How many other authors of “diet” books can say the same thing? If you want living proof that this works, there are plenty of case studies.

Robb also answers many of the traditional questions that come up when people first hear of this way of life like “What about Fiber?”, “Aren’t whole grains healthy?” and “This is too hard”. He responds to these questions, doubts and whining with tough love, truthful advice. He doesn’t sugar coat anything and deals with these doubts by first backing it up with the science to support his case and finally by asking readers to try it for 30 days and see if they look, feel and perform better. He also addresses some realistic situations in the book – for example, the question of drinking alcohol. Instead of ignoring the subject or saying “you should never drink alcohol”, he gives you realistic advice on how to have a drink or two without completely falling off the wagon. It’s tidbits like this – along with Robb’s humor, and tough love personality that make this book not only worth reading, but enjoyable to read.
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Dec 23, 2012 Matt Herold rated it 4 of 5 stars

While working part-time at a bookstore a few years ago, I had trouble finding a copy of "The Paleo Solution" for somebody. When I did find it, a few of the chapter titles made me laugh ( “From your pie hole to your Hoo-Ha in 453 easy steps”) so I got a copy. As I read it, I kept thinking "IF this is true, no wonder I'm such a mess". Then, the author listed 12 effects of elevated cortisol and I got quite choked up. I was battling with all but one of them. Decided then and there to try full-on for...more

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Nov 27, 2010 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW!!! READ THIS BOOK!!!

If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired - this is your answer. If you're trying to gain weight, trying to lose weight, trying to stop being sick or having freaky weird symptoms your doctor sucks at explaining... if you just want to look good naked - this is the book you've been wishing/hoping/praying for!

I have been reading a lot about nutrition (small obsession) for many years now. Only recently have I been able to find the truth about how our bodies work. It ta...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Years ago, I heard the term Paleo Diet and the general description of "eat what our genetic ancestors ate and collect your winnings."

I remember thinking "Back in the paleolithic, as I've heard it, there was a lot of living in caves and a pretty subsistence existence. Surely we have come up with something more effective in the last few million years!"

So years, and several fresh new pounds, later I came across a little more detailed description of the idea. I heard Robb with Joe Rogan and his id...more Years ago, I heard the term Paleo Diet and the general description of "eat what our genetic ancestors ate and collect your winnings."

I remember thinking "Back in the paleolithic, as I've heard it, there was a lot of living in caves and a pretty subsistence existence. Surely we have come up with something more effective in the last few million years!"

So years, and several fresh new pounds, later I came across a little more detailed description of the idea. I heard Robb with Joe Rogan and his idea of how things fit together made enough sense that I decided to go with his book as my intro.

I have just started on the actual plan, so I can't give results, but I don't see where my ability to follow the plan really means much to my opinion of the book.

Any diet book is long. Even hardcore nutritionists would have to admit, chapter after chapter of diet guidelines are not exactly riveting. But Robb starts things off by mitigating this in 2 ways.

First, he opens by saying he will liberally add sarcasm, attitude and varied attempts at humorizing the material. He does this to maintain interest and simplify the end point of what he is presenting. Is he always funny? Nope, but neither are you, or me. I never found his attitude or presentation to be off-putting. There were plenty of actual facts and lengthy explanations to get his points across.

Second, he offers you the option of skipping the 'science' of the plan and going straight to the 'application' chapters. Taking this tact would admittedly make the book a really long report followed by a really short cookbook. BUT, if you don't want any humor, personality or attitude in your diet book...that's your call.

I think a bit of science, and attitude, is entertaining so I went for the full length option.

I found the 'science' chapters of the book suitably sciencey to believe the conclusions were well thought out. They were also arranged simply and lightly enough that I had little trouble keeping track of where things were leading or how things interacted with each other.

The 'application' chapters were shorter, simple and well laid out. The exercise component has a very short set of very simple exercises designed to take you from a complete lack of athletic conditioning and mix and match your way to real progress. The nutrition chapter literally ends in a 30 day meal by meal plan, including recipies where necessary.

The entire plan has plenty of science and thought behind it, but the execution of it is almost deceptively simple. The only real variable is how well you can follow simple guidelines and maintain the plan.(less)

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Mar 25, 2011 Joan Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Robb Wolf may be eating his own lunch with his website, because it's probably just as useful and much quicker than reading his book. If you're interested in starting the Paleo diet, there are probably enough blogs and articles on the web that you don't need to pick up this book. However, if you'd like to read a well-researched, funny book about the dangers of the modern Western diet and the benefits of the Paleo diet, this is a fast, useful read.

There's a lot of nutritional and medical reportin...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book has lots of good information on diet and exercise. We do eat way too much sugar in this country and we eat 'Crap' most of the time, substituting cakes, cookies, etc for real food.

Vegetable, fruits, meats and fats are what we should be eating and cutting out all the processed and over-processed foods we do eat most of the time. When you eat this way, the garbage you have is skins, stalks, cores. but not much more. Think of the worlds land-fills. Grains are dangerous for most of the pop...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kate by: Sheena @ WCCF

Shelves: nutrition, nonfiction

Absolutely fascinating! The chapters about grains and leaky gut, as well as our fat confusion, and the topics of stress and cortisol or why we need more sleep, were hands down the best chapters. I also liked that Robb got down on my level and explained nutrition in ways that even I could understand and make sense of. Plus, I never would of thought a nutriton book could be funny and this one actually was in certain parts. I'm a fan and can't wait to download some of his podcasts onto my ipod to l...more

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