The Carb Reset: Store Less Fat, Burn the Rest, and Harness the Power of Carbs to Lose Weight

by Harley Pasternak M.Sc.

An upcoming book to be published by Penguin Random House.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Cookbooks

240 pages, Hardcover

Published August 19, 2025

Reviews

[Mahad · Rating 3 out of 5]

About half of the book was fluff, below average for most self help books, I'd say.

There was some valuable content like the portioning of different food types, and the recipes in the end.

Could have been an email + a small recipe book.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first heard about this book while listening to health podcasts where the author was being interviewed. He comes across as personable and sincere and that definitely carried over into his book.

Overall, I appreciated the simplicity of his message of not demonizing carbs, but here are a few thoughts I kept turning over in my head. I wondered who the target audience was. While the content felt like a thoughtful start and it was well-organized, it seemed largely geared towards individuals who are already in decent health, as he prepped them for upcoming tv/movie roles. He dropped a lot of famous names early on.

But this didn't feel like the whole picture for one main reason. For the average person navigating multiple health challenges, fat loss usually involves pulling several different levers, not just one or two. The road to optimal wellness isn't one-size-fits-all.

I've noticed from reading other health related books, that some authors present their approach as the way, rather than a way. This book had that tone because he left little room for other perspectives and took many opportunities to point that out.

Personally, I'd love to hear a conversation between this author and others like Ben Bikman or Jason Fung. They each bring a different framework to the table and I think that discussion would be incredibly enlightening for readers trying to figure out what works best for their own bodies.....we are all so different.

So 2 or 3 stars is the question. For those dealing with more complex metabolic issues, additional strategies may be necessary. For me, this was two stars, but I added a star for what this could be for those needing a starting point.

[Calvin Cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you can't have flexibility in what you eat and eat what you love, there is no pathway to achieving healthy weight loss."

That statement pretty much summarizes the core message of this book. No food is off-limits, one simply has to control one's portion sizes.

The first quarter of the book is about addressing all of the mistakes people have made in following weight-loss programs and fad diets; the second quarter is all about the author's PATH approach to counting portion sizes (a Palm of carbohydrates, All the vegetables, a Thumb of fat, and a Hand of protein); and the last half is a recipe book showcasing meals that follow the PATH approach.

Overall, a very quick and easy read with some interesting points about some of the science in the foods we consume, and the PATH approach seems like a very simple approach to look at portion control, though one should probably do some more research and look at the author's citations to verify his claims.

I personally didn't care for the recipe book, but it's helpful to see how he breaks down individual foods and categorizes them according to his PATH approach.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the author's message. I appreciated his simple approach to food and clarifying how to categorize things. It really resonated with me, especially the not denying, but not over indulging.

[Sharen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical and easy to follow. Common sense approach for food thus making it more sustainable.

[Asbah Rahman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the author repeating the same things over and over every chapter. got very repetitive and boring

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often I will read a book about dieting and get motivated again to try to lose weight. The one and only time I succeeded was with an expensive diet of supplements, and since returning to regular food, I’ve gained back all of that weight. Aside from diets like that, most dieting advice is the same – eat what you want, but with balance and restraint. The book stresses that you don’t have to give up carbs, but instead should eat with portion control and the right amounts of each food type. So yes, you can eat carbs, but make sure they’re whole grain. I appreciated the easy way of remembering how much of each food type you should eat in each meal, which is based on your hand – a palm of carbs, all the vegetables, a thumb of fat, and a hand of protein. I also appreciated the food lists and recipes included at the end of this short book.

[Sarah Schlacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice for carbs!!!! Breaking the stigma that carbs are evil and I’m here for it