Ack, I see I never reviewed this! Great book and I do follow a plant-based diet. I believe in this lifestyle and have reversed two diseases myself since becoming plant-based in 2017. This is well-written and informative. I can highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review.

I thought this was a purely recipe book but it's got a lot of history and back story so wasn't the right fit for me. I don't really feel that I can give an honest review.

This is an upbeat positive book and a look into an area I was not familiar with. It was different to what I expected but then that can be a good thing. I found it interesting to hear about Adventists lifestyle.

Recipes and home remedies was a great addition.

This is a very informative, if slightly quirky read. It details the health and history of 7th day Adventists, and is very chatty and readable. I felt, when I finished it, that the author couldnt exactly decide what kind of book they were writing, so they went for a health/history/ journal/ self help mish mash, which I personally quite enjoyed, but if youre looking for a book purely about how to live a healthy life then there are more accessible titles out there,

The Healthiest People on Earth, Weeks shares the secrets of how anyone, anywhere, can create a "Blue Zone" of their own and live a longer, healthier life. A lively read full of exclusive family stories, gainful tips and tricks, happy home remedies, and plant-based recipes, this book will be your first step on the journey to a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life.

This is not a book about religion—it is about health and happiness. It is possible to be healthy in body, mind, and spirit. Start by eating like the healthiest people on Earth.

This was a very interesting read, very helpful and insightful

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This was a well researched book which has encouraged me to rethink my eating habits and evolve toward a more plant based way of eating.
Highly recommended.

I was really looking forward to reading this book as I'm intrigued that there is a blue zone in the US, even though the American diet is typically not very healthy. While the author promised no religion in the book (the community is primarily Adventist), his tone is 'preachy' enough to be off-putting. I found it interesting to read about his experiences growing up in the area, but his superior attitude was too much. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy to read

I cant help but feel somewhat let down by this book.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, I was already aware of the Adventists general longevity, and I knew that they ate a primarily vegetarian diet, but I’m not sure that this book really gave me any more useful information than that to be honest.
Firstly the book seemed very self indulgent and the constant proclamations of the families past achievements as if to give the book some kind of credibility soon became tiring.
The authors, often cringe worthy, anecdotes heavily pad out the book, which on the whole is very thin on facts, scientific studies; or really anything which would give the book any real level of credibility and balance.
The book has a splattering of handy tips, and a few nice recipes; but other recipes seem to completely contradict earlier statements in the book as regards the use of oil and sugar.
If I had to describe to book in one word…… Disappointing

This was a very strange book for a health book. I actually checked the publication info on this book halfway through it, because I was sure it must be self published (it's not). The book is written by the great, great grandson of the woman who founded the 7th Day Adventist religion, who lives in an area of California known for having some of the healthiest, longest living people in the world.

The book focuses a chapter on each area of living that the author believes will help make you healthier, backed by lots of quotes and teachings by his famous relative (and other relatives) and some science. Some examples of lifestyle changes he espouses are switching to a plant based diet (he promotes veganism, though he almost never uses the word vegan), getting enough sleep, exercising, cutting down on drinking, etc. Other than the vegan diet part, most of it is common sense that most of us probably try to do anyway.

The author's conversational tone was very odd to me for a book that's supposed to be teaching you about health. It came off as a book written by an overly friendly and chatty teenage boy. He is very conversational and shares details of his life and his lifestyle choices throughout the book, like smoking cigarette stubs and drinking spare alcohol at the bottom of bottles he found with a friend during childhood, and how he ate during early adulthood. At times it is definitely oversharing. There is a bizarre sexual fantasy scene about Adam and Eve that made me frankly uncomfortable, and he shares a sort of out-of-body sex dream he had about traveling the world and zebras and such at one point.

The last section of the book is recipes. They are all vegan recipes and I have not tried any of them. Some of them strike me as really strange sounding. His savory dishes involve lots of food combinations I find odd, with lots of peanut butter in them. I enjoy vegan food but I'm not sure I'd enjoy his recipes. He includes recipes for vegan cheeses like ricotta, which I would like to try but have not yet. They are relatively simple with basic ingredients like cashews, vinegar and agar.

It was interesting reading what his ancestor espoused but in the end it was kind of like, "My great, great grandma lived to be 90+ and here's what she used to say." I would have liked to hear more from other people in the region about what they attributed their longevity to (he does say their religion means they eat vegetarian and don't drink or smoke) and more actual research. It's an interesting book, but it comes off a bit as a long opinion piece and memoir rather than a sound scientific book.

I received a digital copy of this book from Net Galley for the purpose of review.

I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an intriguing and edifying read. Loma Linda, CA is known as one of the Blue Zones where some study to learn the secrets to health living and longevity. If you have read the Blue Zones book, you may be familiar with this. This novel is in the same vein as that while also feeling a bit like an autobiography in part, as the author dips into his own experience growing up there. I enjoyed the insight and the sound health advice. It was an enjoyable read and even included some recipes that I am excited to try as well. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in improving your health It is a fun read that will help inspire you to make better food and lifestyle choices.

This was a fun read and it was interesting to learn more about the seventh day adventists. It includes many recipes but no photos which is disappointing. I wouldn’t consider this a “how to” but rather a bunch of anecdotes and facts. I don’t think I would recommend it to anyone but hardcore food history or religion buffs.

I like the humour in this book.This book is about plant-based way of eating for good health and longevity. Thanks for the opportunity, I really enjoyed it!

Even being vegetarian for 8 years I loved learning about the Adventists. I'm not adventist, but I learned about the people and the amazing way they treat their bodies.

This is really a fascinating read. There was an amazing amount of research that went into it and the author does a great job of presenting it very simply. The author's writing is casual and easy to read and can be pretty funny as well. I really enjoyed the home health remedies and the book includes many really great looking recipes.

According to the author, John Howard Weeks, The Adventist enclave in Loma Linda, California, is America’s only “Blue Zone” one of five regions on Earth where people live measurably longer—about 10 years more—than average, as identified by National Geographic–funded research. This Blue Zone status is thanks largely to the foods Loma Linda residents and Adventists choose eat—and the foods they choose not to eat. John Weeks writes a very convincing book that directs us how to relearn to eat the healthy and natural way, getting our bodies back in tune with nature by eating a natural plant based diet. This book is about health and happiness when you're healthier you're going to be happier. Home remedies, and plant-based recipes will put you on the right track to health and happiness. Well written and researched, very informative.
Pub Date 03 Apr 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BenBella Books through NetGalley . All opinions expressed are my own.

The Healthiest People on Earth by John Howard Weeks

When I saw this book as an option up for review I was interested for more than one reason. I grew up in a Seventh-Day Adventist home, went to church, heard the “health message” and attended Loma Linda University nursing school. I have had an interest in nutrition and health throughout my life and weight is something that seems to have crept up on me. When I saw this book it tied in with my interest and playing with the idea of becoming vegetarian or vegan. I dabble but don’t commit and am not sure I ever will. BUT the book…back to the book. I decided to read it to see if there were any new insights, recipes or ideas that might be useful in my own life. What I found was more a telling of the author’s experiences – which I can often relate to – and also what direction he is heading to become a healthier person.

Each chapter of the book has a bit of the history of the church, Loma Linda and the author. The places mentioned are ones I knew well at one time and the memories evoked are many. The recipes at the end of the book are listed in order of the three meals of the day followed by Salads, Snacks and Desserts. The recipes are filled with whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables with a few that are ascribed to as favorites of Ellen G. White, the founder of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

This book will probably appeal to people interested in the author or wanting to read anecdotes of life growing up in the SDA church or those who want to know more about blue zones (though there wasn’t a great deal about that topic in the book) or those looking for some new vegan recipes.

Did I learn anything new? No
Did I find any recipes I would like to try? Perhaps, but there are a number of ingredients I can’t find where I live so perhaps not.
What did I enjoy about the book? Revisiting my past through the words of the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Such an informative book! I could tell that this book has a lot of research behind it and felt it was very well written! I loved the recipes that were included as well.! I highlighted many passages and will definitely go back to those highlights! Thank you for the ARC!

The author begins his book by stating that his hometown of Lima Linda, California is the only “Blue Zone” in the United States. Blue Zones are places on Earth where people live 10 years longer than the average person. Lima Linda is also a bastion of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and it is the place where one of the nations first health food stores originated. Ironically, next door to Lima Linda is San Bernardino, where the first McDonalds franchise originated with the help of devices that cooked large quantities of food faster than anyone had done before them.
The author states that a “plant based diet’s” benefits improve health, protect against disease, and prolong life. ” What does “plant-based” mean? It refers to any food that springs forth from planet Earth, whether in trees or on bushes or among vines or upon the soil, whether in gardens, fields, orchards, or wild thickets.
It refers to every food there is, in fact, except for the flesh or bodily discharges of our companion creatures, the animals and birds and insects and fish with whom we share the planet. What does the term “whole foods” mean? It refers to foods that are intact in their original state and are not processed or modified or altered in ways that compromise their natural nutritional goodness.”
The American diet, which is full of fats and cholesterol, leads to heart attacks, dementia, cancer, stroke and diabetes, which are the leading causes of death.
So...what can you eat?
Almost anything in the produce section, and the healthy dairy substitutes such as almond and cashier butter and milk.
The author gives a list of foods you can eat, along with avoiding alcohol and tobacco.
There are recipes for Whole Foods in the back of the book, such as oatmeal with fruit, buckwheat pancakes with fruit, and peanut butter, rice and cilantro. There are also recipes for loaded sweet potatoes with beans, scallions, corn and salsa!
Learn how you can eat better, lose weight, and help your body to heal itself!

I read The Healthiest People on Earth because I am a nutritionist and a Christian. I am very familiar with the Blue Zones and was interested on more information about the 7th Day Adventists in Loma Linda, one of the 7 Blue Zones.
The good about this book:
The author has an insider view about 7th Day Adventists because he is a direct descendant of the founder and his parents and grandparents were also very involved in the denomination's administration. The historical information is excellent.
The author is a professional writer and his writing style is fun and breezy. However this was not the style I was expecting from this type of book, nor did I think it fit.
The bad about this book.
The author's tone comes across as derogatory to the Christian faith. He is definitely not a believer, from the content of the book. He reveres the health practices of the Adventists, but nothing else. He ignores the fact that the Christian faith and practice is a large part of Adventist longevity. A number of reputable studies have shown the increased longevity of devote Christians in the US above others, including the Nurses Health Study. Several other of the Blue Zones, specifically Sardinia, Nikola and Ikaria are populations with faithful Christians. One of the Blue Zones book;s lessons is about the impact of faith on longevity.
The author discusses many of the health practices of the 7th Day Adventists, who are mostly vegetarian, but then turns the book to a push for veganism. This ignores the fact that NONE of the Blue Zones are vegan! This book really is a push for the vegan diet, not backed up at all by the book.
If you want an insider look at some of the founders of 7th Day Adventism, you may like this book. If you want more inside in to their health practices, go to the Loma Linda Medical Center website and the real research.

5 long-lived stars to The Healthiest People on Earth!

The Healthiest People on Earth is an engaging read. The author has a fascinating pedigree. His two times great grandmother, Ellen G. White, was a prophet and founder of the Adventist Church. She established Loma Linda in California as a community, which happens to be so healthy to this day that it’s considered the only “Blue Zone” in the United States, meaning a place where people actually are measured to live longer; 10 years longer, in fact.

So just how did Loma Linda become a Blue Zone and why? Ellen G. White was an early proponent of vegetarianism, and while the author makes it clear that he is not discussing theology in the book, a basic tenet of Adventism is a plant-based diet and has been since its inception. That in and of itself is fascinating to me.

The author, John Howard Weeks, has an easy-reading, funny writing style, and I could tell instantly that he’s a journalist. I enjoyed the family stories and home remedies he presented, which were all kinds of tips to help with sleep, cure minor illnesses, and so on.

The recipes presented were the icing on the cake. All plant-based and extremely practical, even though I’ve read and used many plant-based cookbooks, I still found new ideas, including some of Ellen’s favorites from over 100 years ago. Things like how to make a variety of “cheeses” with whole foods, a super easy lentil roast that the author grew up eating, sticky rice with mango, Scottish Oatmeal, and Vegan Penicillin (chicken soup without the chicken).

Essentially, The Healthiest People on Earth is chock-full of the secrets to Loma Linda’s long-lived population of happy, healthy people, and while some of the ideas aren’t unique to the Adventists, it’s inspiring and hopeful to know that if you follow these tenets, you can absolutely live a longer life.

Thank you to John Howard Weeks, BenBella, and Netgalley, for the copy to read and review.