Naked Chocolate: The Astounding Truth About The World's Greatest Food

by David Wolfe, Sharon Holdstock

Free tracking. History of chocolate.

Genres: Food, Health, Nonfiction, Cookbooks

248 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

David Wolfe is a self-proclaimed Nutrition and Wellness Expert. Author of Eating For Beauty, Superfoods: Food and Medicine of the Future, Amazing Grace, Sunfood Diet Success System.

Reviews

[Amanda Paisley]

Upon cracking the cover of 'Naked Chocolate', one first encounters the disclaimer issued by the David-Shazzie duo. Not too surprising given the subject matter (natural health, etc.). Shocking however, is the 'Note on References' that follows three paragraphs later. The reserach that went into the book is referred to as 'chaos magic'. Personally, I prefer documented facts. The authors go on to state that some references to studies and facts were lost. Lost? Here I quickly become skeptical of the validity of ANY material that is going to be presented. Furthermore, the authors statement recommends that if the reader finds any information that is unsubstantiated, they should take it upon themselves to 'do the book and Internet research to corroborate the information' Hmmmmm....isn't that why I purchased the book? To read SUBSTANTIATED facts about cacao presented by an educator on the subject, rather than the unverified blatherings of a self-proclaimed nutrition guru? In a nutshell, I believe that I'm being told that the author may not be able to actually back up his 'facts' and that I should just 'google-it'. No thanks! One could save their hard-earned $24.95 and just googled 'raw cacao facts, cacao mythology, cacao processing, etc'.

Given the above information, I've taken any information contained within the pages of 'Naked Chocolate' with a grain of salt (pardon the pun). That aside, the book itself is very well laid out and pictures were quite beautiful. As far as value, I have to disregard it as and educational source and focus solely on its value as a recipe book. Unfortuntaely, it seems at best, a glorified, over-blown 'un-cookbook'. I haven't actually tried any of the recipes. From my experience with raw foods preparation/recipe books, they seem insanely rich by comparison. Most recipes contain huge amounts of oils and excessive use of sweeteners. Plus, the nauseatingly 'cute' endorsements of the recipes contained within the instructions slaughter my food prep inspiration before it even had a chance to blossom.

My consolation? This book was gifted to me rather than an actual purchase on my part.

[Jacquelinn Kai]

Lot's of great information and truth about the Raw gem of a bead. Just, believe it or not, I am kind of getting over the necessity for chocolate.

[Liz Mandeville]

Fascinating history of and medical uses of cacao. Chocolate is only as good as its bean. Add sugar, milk, roast it too much and you strip away the benefits. But raw nibs or beans can and should be consumed daily. I hope it’s true because I’m a believer!! The book also offers recipes!

[Polina]

I expected a lot from this book, but perhaps precisely because I am a raw foodist chocolate addict myself the title just didn't measure up. I read the theoretical part of it in one sitting, skipping the endless chemical composition lists and diagrams (seriously, is anyone is interested in that I believe they will be conducting their own independent research and such data does not belong in a mass interest cookbook/reference title in my opinion). I don't feel like I have learned much new from it, and it just went from one unconfirmed speculation to another. And the recipes, the main reason for purchasing it, also failed to inspire any new creations on my part but I will revisit it at a later date to see if I can gleam anything of interest for my chocolate creative endeavours.

[Jasmine]

About as 'twirling hippie' a book as you can get and I absolutely loved it. The raw food community is pretty guilty of circular referencing of scientific 'proof' and 'research' and there is plenty of pseudoscience in evidence here but... I don't need scientific proof to know something makes me feel fabulous and that something is delicious and that's what this book is all about. FULL of inspiration for how to harness the miraculous health powers of cacao.

[Sharolyn]

Chocolate is good for you... but most especially best when it is in it's most natural state - raw and dark. This book encouraged me to make my own raw chocolate from scratch. Which I still hope to do ... one day. In the mean time I enjoy the darkest chocolate I can find with the least unnecessary ingredients.

[Viktoria Nieva-Gomez]

I read this book already 10 years ago and really enjoyed it at the time... it sparked my passion to experiment with making my own raw vegan chocolate. With recent findings that cacao is quite contaminated with heavy metals I changed from having it every day to once in a while. Some of David Wolfe's ideas I find quite whacky but entertaining.

[Oliver]

Awesome book about the bean that chocolate's made from and the tasty health world of raw food.

[Imageseer]

The naked truth about this wonderful food's origins, traditions from a hippie's point of view. Some interesting and healthy ideas about how to best partake of this fruit of the gods.

[Anna]

Chocolate is the best thing in the world for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Loree]

excellent addition to a foodies book shelf. Good collection of recipes and information about cacao (raw chocolate).

[Ayden B]

Live and love by chocolate

[Rachel]

Lots of info and some good reciepes.

[Jo Layton]

For chocolate lovers and health food nuts!

[Allison Fox]

David wolfe is dreamy.

[Maryellen]

Everything you need to know about cacao including recipes . . . best book ever :)