Thoughts on David Wolfe's Sunfood book

[Secret Heart]

Just a quick question about the Sunfood Diet Success System by David Wolfe.

I'm contemplating expanding my library (already have Alissa's book!) and was wondering your thoughts on Wolfe's.

Is it helpful? I ask because it's rather expensive so I thought I'd get your opinions. Thanks in advance,

Heather

[truthseeker]

I loved it....VERY informative. I learned a LOT from it.

[Rawkinlocs]

Just a quick note to those who respond to the original post...we are talking about the BOOK...NOT the man! So, please do not turn this into a David Wolfe bashing thread, don't bring up any of those controversial issues surrounding him...only give reviews on the Sunfood Diet Success System book as in the material written in it and what you think of the BOOK!

Thanks!

[Sunshine9]

I thought that Sunfood was a very informative book with some great ideas. It has some issues though, mostly I found some portions to be poorly written, and it includes unclear scientific information. I felt like he talks around issues as opposed to getting to the core, and gives all sorts of recommendations without qualifying them in the slightest. I also have read articles that go against ideas in the book. For example, Wolfe resolves the issue of B-12 by recommending eating unwashed garden vegetables. But in a study done on a few people doing this, they were all found to be deficient in B-12. (pardon any vagueness, i don't have the article on hand)

The book is pleasant to read though, and it is very inspiring at points, encouraging a raw and spiritual life. If you're looking for science behind raw, I found Gabriel Cousens "Conscious Eating" to be far more informative. I find Wolfe to have more of the attidute of "i've been doing this for a few years, so i'm going to write about it as fact" while Cousens references studies he has conducted as well as many other books written around this field.

that's just my opinion though, and i'd be curious to see what others thought of it..

[Secret Heart]

Thanks very much for responding. I have "Conscious Eating" actually...it's amazing...I guess I was just feeling like adding another book to the collection. Yes, Cousens' book is fantastic...so comprehensive and thorough.

Thanks again,

Heather

[Ariannah]

I borrowed the book from the library. Parts of it I liked, but there were also whole chapters of his poetry (which I find personally difficult to wade through when that's not what I had in mind to read). I had been hoping for a book chock full of info on living food, but most of it was opinion, and anecdote. And yes, I do have (and LOVE) GC's "Conscious Eating", along with his "Rainbow Green Live Cuisine" book. On my wish list are books by Alissa, Shazzie, and the Boutenkos, as well as Storm and Jinjee's e-books.

[lodestar]

totally motivating for me

[rawpriestess]

I agree, that I wanted a book full of raw information, not just opinion, and also, I'm not into his poetry.

I didn't even buy the book, after trying desperately to wade through it in the store, I much prefere,

1. Alissa's for sure
2. Jinjee and Storm's ebooks
3. Any Boutenko books
4. Hooked on Raw by Rhio


That is in order of preference for recipes and infomation, I have tons more, but these are the ones I recommend the most.

[moorsie32]

I think everyone considering raw should read it if only to understand (his) extreme approach, it is awesome!

[Punky]

I like the book for the most part and have referred back to it many times as a quick reference;
I have never read the poetry, LOL...it might be good, I don't know, don't have much time for it taking care of small kids all the time, so skip over that part. I'm sure it's inspiring to some.
I do prefer Dr. Cousens work though.

[Imogen]

I do love reading his books and watching his DVD's

his passion can be contagious and I love that..

[Crystal Rose]

David's book, "Eating for Beauty" is a real winner. It goes into great detail about minerals and what each one does for you and what happens when you're deficient in each. It goes into great detail what certain other items do for you and why they're good for you, i.e, coconut & coconut oil. I also love his DVDs and agree that his passion is infectious. When I first turned raw, seeing that passion really helped me a lot.

There are so many great books out there; my opinion is that the more of them you read, the better off you're going to be. I love Alissa's book, I also love "12 Steps to Raw," by Victoria Boutenko, especially for beginners. Before I found Alissa's book, my absolute favorite was "Spiritual Nutrition" by Gabriel Cousens. For those who don't have it yet, Alissa's DVD is also amazing. I am now in the middle of connecting with Dr. Lorraine Day's videos -- very compelling stuff.
Best of everything to you all,
vicki
Certified Living on Live Foods Teacher

[sweetgoddess]

I absolutely love the Sunfood Diet Success System and have read it many times. :)

[Punky]

I do love reading his books and watching his DVD's

his passion can be contagious and I love that..

I really enjoyed the lecture I saw a few years back by him--lots of positive energy from him that night;
I would love to go to his Hawaiin Retreat if I had the money.

[Raw_Medic]

I read his Sunfood book, and found it to be pretty informative. Like someone else said there is a lot of info that isn't backed by anything other than his personal experience. But I still found the info helpful. I'm not one to go on studies, but how I personally feel about the info...does it make sense to me? Alissa says in her book that a lot about the raw food lifestyle is based on experience. I could eat nothing but bananas for a week and feel fine when someone else might try the same thing and feel horrible...you get my point (although hm...a banana fast...lol) so really it's about taking others experiences and seeing which of these applies to you. He has a list in his Sunfood diet success system book that outlines the karmic implications to eating certain foods...I don't know if I agree, but, it's definitely an interesting concept. I'm glad I read it, and read through it again every so often.

Hope I helped!

Ursula

[Gosia]

I would not be compelled to buy his book.

A review:
Not Worth It, January 6, 2003
Reviewer: Matthew Bello (Guanajuato, Mexico)
I feel though David Wolfe brings up some good information he assumes many things where his knowledge comes short. For example: he doesn't understand the digestion of fats very well. His advice can be very misleading. He prescribes a formula for balancing a candida overgrowth very poorly without good evidence. Much of it is very general.
I feel that in this book David Wolfe is trying to sell the raw vegan diet instead of just spreading the word. He constantly recommends his company's products at his website. He has an entire chapter about how great true raw olives are and then says at the end of the chapter that his store is the only reliable source to get good olives. What a salesman. I felt like I was reading a catalogue in many parts of the book.
The beginning and end of the book have nothing to do with the sunfood diet but more about his philosophy of life. I bought the book thinking I would have 300 pages of raw food information. The book is about two-thirds nonsense. He even goes as far as to give financial advice. I feel that David Wolfe turned a pretty good 100 page book into an overpriced 300 page catalogue on how to think like him and buy his products. I don't suggest the book, there are better out there.

As far as other alternatives, I do love Alissa's DVD, it is very inspirational. Also, my first raw food book was a book by Ann Wigmore, who I consider to be an angel. I look forward to rawguru (Alex Malinsky) releasing his book, he is such a genius!

Gosia.

[Imogen]

I do love reading his books and watching his DVD's

I'm not sure why the rest of my post was removed. I appologise if I offended anyone.. I just felt David was selling a lot of supplements in his book.

I agree with what was left of my post, but I also don't feel comfortable thats my view about David Wolfe's book. I felt he was SELLING to me also..

Please, if my views are deleted can you explain to me why in PM?
I certainly don't want to appear like I'm making trouble expressing my views the wrong way. I'm more than happy to oblige. I feel like I've adhered to the mission statement.?

[Rawkinlocs]

You have been PM'd

[Queenie]

haven't read the Sunfood book, but I have Eating for Beauty and found it informative and very motivating.

I agree with others about the poetry. He's just expressing himself, though, and in Eating for Beauty it's all in the back, so you don't really need to bother with it

Queenie

[ReneeSC]

I've been going through Eating for Beauty, also.

I found some things he was saying were really inspiring, others I've yet to understand, so I cannot comment. He does seem sincere, and I've not enough experience with his business line to know whether or not he's just doing this to make money. Money is a very tempting agent.

I picked up The Sunfood Diet to read through a bit, but I found that book was purchased by someone ( hey.. people really are buying raw books from that store - all the more reason why to talk to them about Alissa! ) - and I just didn't get through enough.

Anything I've read so far outside of Alissa doesn't equate with Alissa's all-inclusive approach to pulling ANYONE off of the street and instructing them on raw. Will that approach work 100 percent for everyone with certain ailments others in books seek to discuss using different methodologies.. I dunno.. and that's where some controversies come into play.

I'm with Alissa.. JUST GO RAW..and worry about the rest LATER...

[raeannasun]

Someone mentioned Shazzie's books - not to get off topic from the OP, but I would highly recommend her Detox Your World. I got a lot out of it. I also want to expand my library. Right now I have......

12 Steps to Raw Food - V. Boutenko
Detox Your World and Detox Delights - Shazzie
Raw (uncookbook) - Juliano
Beautiful on Raw - Tonya Zavasta
Living On Live Foods - Alissa
God's Way to Ultimate Health (not really raw) - G. Malkmaus

[Imogen]

I've read David WOlfes "Eating for Beauty" and love it.

I also have 2 tapes I listen too a lot, mainly for inspiration..

David Wolfe's

"The Radical Sunfood Diet"
"Radical Nutrition"

Great for when I'm too busy to read the book.

But as I mentioned before, if you can ignore the hardsell, there's a lot of enthusiasm that's contagious.

[Punky]

Someone mentioned Shazzie's books - not to get off topic from the OP, but I would highly recommend her Detox Your World. I got a lot out of it.

Oh I agree about Shazzie's book, "Detox Your World"--I really enjoyed reading it.
Love Shazzie! She's got so much personality!
I also love David Wolfe's, "Eating for Beauty"...my favorite David Wolfe book.