The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet

This was the book that got me started on the paleo diet back in 2011.

Robb Wolf is a key figure in the paleo community, and his book provides a solid introduction to the rationale behind the classical paleo diet: no grains, legumes, or dairy. If that's what you're looking for, this book will fill the need.

I don't adhere to a paleo diet anymore because I no longer agree with the scientific justification provided for it. In particular, there's no indication that “leaky gut” occurs to any relevant degree in the general population, whether from gluten or otherwise. Anti-nutritional factors such as enzyme inhibitors and phytates exert only small effects in the context of an overall varied diet. And the carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity fails to account for the observation that many traditional populations remain thin on high-carbohydrate diets.

The information contained in this book is potentially life-changing. I know I will be buying it or recommending it for friends and family. But see if he calls me ‘Buttercup' or refers to my ‘fanny' one moe time? I'll unread the book and give it one star. Honest to God. Does Robb Wolf he think that this kind of ‘friendly' chat will balance the science? Well, for this particular reader, it doesn't. It just annoyed me. Surely an editor would pick up on the fact that this book would be read outside the USA, where fannies are the exclusive domain of the fairer sex.

But I cared enough about the content to try and ignore the annoying sugar coating, and it was worth persevering. I'll probably have to read it again, armed with the general layout of the eating requirements, the science might make more sense second time around.