The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet: Eat Plants, Lose Weight, Save Your Health

Esselstyn (The Engine 2 Diet), a former Austin, Tex., firefighter, delivers another winning book that provides a straightforward seven-day diet concept, a boatload of enticing recipes, and compelling testimonials alongside the promises of “life-changing results.” The biggest hurdle for many dieters is that this is strictly a plant-based, “plant-strong” diet, but Esselstyn has such a high-energy writing style and gives so many convincingly detailed statistics that it’s hard to reject his approach out of hand. This is also a “no oil” diet during the rescue week; Esselstyn encourages readers to “give your poor taste buds some time to wake up.” The author features a number of helpful graphic aids, from an inset quiz to screened text boxes and testimonials throughout the book that reinforce each chapter’s specific topic. A simple 21-meal, seven-day diet kickoff, supported by many pages of recipes, completes the appealing package. There’s even an “approved shopping list,” including many brand-name items, that’s organized by food category. Get ready to have many food and diet myths debunked. [em]Agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management. (Dec.) [/em]