A Grain of Salt

August 5, 2019
Schwarcz (A Feast of Science), a radio show host and science writer, spools out answers to mostly basic questions about diet and nutrition. In a quippy writing style, he evaluates the pros and cons of various practices—for example, eating beef—and offers such solutions as, in the case of whether to consume beef, choosing beans, nuts, algae, or even insects as alternative protein sources. Other topics he covers include the dangers of weight-loss supplements, the risks of eating poppy seeds, the cold-fighting properties of vitamin C, the ambiguity of the “organic” label, and the debate around sugar’s healthiness. There is no logical grouping or flow to the chapters, and the text can be repetitive, such as about the marketing hype around antioxidants or, perhaps surprisingly, the dangers of eating cantaloupes. Some of the subjects, such as the possibility of being poisoned from drinking a Moscow mule from a copper mug, or the “gustatory calamity” of wheatgrass enzyme juice, veer into the strange or comic—and in general, the more unlikely the topic, the more farcical Schwarcz’s tone becomes. Readers hoping for light laughs should enjoy this book, though perhaps not those seeking a comprehensive health resource. Agent: Robert Lecker, Robert Lecker Agency.

October 1, 2019
Popular science writer Schwarcz (Is That a Fact?, 2014) explains that this is not meant to be an expos� about the truth or falseness of dietary trends, nor is it a nutritional guide to help readers achieve a specific wellness goal. Instead this is a collection of short essays that answer the questions Schwarcz is commonly asked. The table of contents has more than 80 headings, which can be scanned for topics of interest or readers can simply browse to find the next best stopping place, and each piece can be read happily on its own. There is some medical jargon, but it does not impede, while Schwarcz's light touches of humor make the scientific information feel accessible and ensure that it's entertaining. With enough facts to soothe anxious, health-conscious individuals as well as some good tidbits to share, this enlightening collection offers every reader something new to learn and marvel over.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)