June Challenge - "The Great Cholesterol Con"

[mcsblues]

I discovered Anthony Colpo’s Omnivore (http://www.theomnivore.com/index.html) site soon after I adopted a low carb diet nearly 3 years ago, and although he lives only 600km away (oh ok, 400 odd miles!!) we have yet to meet face to face, but even in such a short time I count him as a friend.
My first contact was with him was an email I sent asking his views on the seemingly irrational outburst of one Prof Jennie Brand-Miller (a Sydney based proponent of the GI/GL system). Not only did Anthony give up his valuable time to respond in detail, he also used our exchange as the basis of an article (http://www.theomnivore.com/low_GI_vs_low_carb.html) on his site. (Contrast this approach to Brand-Miller who after one curt, dismissive email, has since refused to respond to queries as to the supposed scientific basis of her approach!:p).

Anthony and I have since been in regular contact (as I know many other readers of his sites are) – he has provided me with photocopies of many difficult to access papers and a while back he was kind enough to send me an advance pdf copy of his new book “The Great Cholesterol Con”.

Before I get on to the book, my first email suggested I was in awe of the amount of work Anthony applies to maintaining and researching the articles he publishes on his site together with the responses he provides for people of a like mind … as well as detractors. Some people find his straight talking Aussie style confronting (Mike Eades mentioned the word “shrill”!! :rolleyes:) – but others find it amusing and refreshing … and as Anthony says, he isn’t doing it for the money, so he is entitled to have a bit of fun. However his peer reviewed paper (http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/colpo.pdf) published recently and the new book reveal he can deliver compelling evidence in a more restrained scholarly fashion … when he feels inclined to do so!:)

OK the book – very simply if the sites (there is a statin (http://www.statinalert.org/) one too) inspire awe, the culmination of 4 years of hard labour distilled here is mind boggling. If I have a minor gripe it is the title – whilst the whole cholesterol question is exhaustively covered, this book is about so much more than that … so if you think that is all you are going to get, you were probably also surprised the Eades tackle a tiny bit more than protein in their books!:lol: I did have a minor role in the creation of the subtitle – but that was before I read the book … but it is a trivial complaint in the general scheme of things.

It is certainly not a book that you can skim trough in an evening or two – but it does represent a truly great reference book, which discusses in considerable detail the flaws in the current mainstream approach to health and the benefits of a paleo/low carb lifestyle. As I said elsewhere there are 1400 well indexed references and if you have got to know the author as I have you can be assured he has read the full text of every single one … and not just the ones that support his ideas.

I could proceed to give you a detailed synopsis of what the book covers … but I won’t! It does cover a lot of ground which will be familiar to the old hands at low carb, but even then there are different insights and more detailed discussion of the research than even PPLP attempts. Regardless of how much low carb reading you have done you will doubtless find new interesting material here …

… so my challenge to you is to buy your own copy (http://www.theomnivore.com/The_Great_Cholesterol_Con.html), as this book is both a great achievement for my friend Anthony and also a terrific reference book for anyone interested in an enlightened approach to health …

… and when you have done that, we can argue about the details!:cool:

[Mitra]

Mine arrived yesterday :D. I'd second what Malcolm says - there's much more there than cholesterol. Unlike, say, Ravnskov's excellent Cholesterol Myths, Colpo doesn't just argue that cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease, he also talks about what does, and what practical things you can do to reduce your risk (controlling your carbs and exercising feature prominently).

It is certainly not a book that you can skim through in an evening or two

Well, I'm just in the middle of the penultimate appendix - about 24 hours after receiving it. That's my quick read-through. There'll be lots of going back to pick up on the details.

As Malcolm says, don't be put off if you find the tone of the web-site "shrill," the book is milder - still comes across with his "voice," but no more extreme than the little "down home" bits in the PP books.

Read it and see.

The one quibble I have with it so far is the lack of an index. I'm not sure how easy it will be when I'm thinking, "I'm sure he said something about ..." Oh well, I'll just have to email Malcolm and get him to search his pdf version ;).

Which details would you like to argue about, then?

[mcsblues]

Yes well a paper version would be so much easier to read! ;) (I did reluctantly resist the temptation to fire up the printer at work!).

Not sure I really wan't an argument - we will probably save that for his next book (about half done) which will delve into the murky calorie debate :eek::) amongst other things (eg. more detail on weight loss and exercise plans).

What we can do is apply Anthony's ideas and research to just about every June challenge topic so far (that is some indication of how wide ranging the book is).

I hadn't even noticed the lack of an index - what it does have is 30 shortish chapters plus quite a few appendices, so it shouldn't be hard to find what you are looking for, and the references are thankfully split up on a chapter basis as well.

[Mitra]

Yes well a paper version would be so much easier to read! ;) (I did reluctantly resist the temptation to fire up the printer at work!).

You could always buy one ;)

Not sure I really want an argument

That's good, because I don't much like them :). It's much more pleasant all round when people just agree with me ;).

[mcsblues]

You could always buy one ;)
I have a printer at home .... but I am much to tight to print out 360 pages at my expense!!:p All I need to do now is work on those scruples that stop me from doing it at someone else's.:nod:
It's much more pleasant all round when people just agree with me ;). ... (earlier) I'd second what Malcolm says

No, you agree with me!

[Zedgirl]

I was lucky enough to get a pdf copy as well and have just finished reading it. I thought the book was brilliant and would probably put it into my top two books to recommend to anyone interested in improving their health (the other is PPLP). I have criticized Anthony's writing style in the past but thankfully the book is nothing like his website postings.

I do intend to buy a copy but I see the biggest problem will be wanting family and friends to read it but not wanting to lend it out. I'd feel like I was taking money out of his pocket. I don't see his book being available on Australian bookshelves anytime soon and not many people I know would be prepared to buy it online just on my say-so.

[mcsblues]

AC was talking about possibly getting an Aussie publisher - I wonder if he does, whether he will correct all the spelling mistakes ... what is this "fiber" he keeps talking about?? ;)

[Zedgirl]

AC was talking about possibly getting an Aussie publisher - I wonder if he does, whether he will correct all the spelling mistakes ... what is this "fiber" he keeps talking about?? ;)

Well the book does seem to be aimed primarily at the US market. Speaking of spelling mistakes - I did come across a couple. Should I let him know?....I don't want to nitpick.

[dvdmon]

Zedgirl, I probably wouldn't let him know. Anthony has just posted a diatribe in his email newsletter about how, because he isn't seeing the sales he wanted from the book and because he's gotten a few emails from people who just want stuff for "free," that he's punishing everyone by removing almost all the content on his site.

I always thought that Anthony has contributed a huge amount of his time and given everyone a great resource. But there are times like these (as well as the many email correspondences he's posted on his site) where I feel that he takes everything that's the least bit critical as a personal attack. It's sad, really. I wish him luck in his quest to gain more popularity with the book, but moves like this just make him look a bit childish, I'm afraid... :(

[mcsblues]

Zedgirl, I probably wouldn't let him know. Anthony has just posted a diatribe in his email newsletter about how, because he isn't seeing the sales he wanted from the book and because he's gotten a few emails from people who just want stuff for "free," that he's punishing everyone by removing almost all the content on his site.

First of all, while it is sad that he has taken the decision he has (in truth it has been coming for a long time) I am sure AC will be delighted to continue receive supportive emails from his many friends in the low carb world and elsewhere including corrections for the next printing of the book. As for the 'few emails' wanting stuff for free - well I guess I have been one of them in a way, and he has gone out of his way to help! - but really that is just the tip of a much bigger and darker torrent of abuse he has regularly received whenever he say anything remotely controversial (like all the time!) and I believe it is more this that has worn him down - even if he did enjoy pointing out the shortcomings in some of the craziest from time to time!!:lol:

I always thought that Anthony has contributed a huge amount of his time and given everyone a great resource. But there are times like these (as well as the many email correspondences he's posted on his site) where I feel that he takes everything that's the least bit critical as a personal attack. It's sad, really. I wish him luck in his quest to gain more popularity with the book, but moves like this just make him look a bit childish, I'm afraid... :(

Childish or not, and whether you hated the occasional venting on his site, I think we all should ask ourselves the question of whether all of us who have got so much out of his site over the years should consider giving something back in return. If you are concerned about the language and approach he used on those misguided attacks (some of which were very personal) then don't be - as mentioned above (not just by me) the book is written in scholarly fashion and should be regarded as one of the best low carb reference books amongst many others I am sure we all have in our collections, most of which not written nearly as well.

So if you value Anthony's considerable contribution, put a small price on it - buy the book - not as a reward fro his 'childish' newsletter, but as a sign you appreciate the huge effort he has put into his site ... and the book.

You won't be disappointed.

[dvdmon]

Malcome, I know you've been a big fan of his and I've certainly gotten a lot out of his writings myself. But I don't have the time to read his book at the moment and neither is $22 a sum I am confortable with spending just to say I support him. If he had Google Ads on his site, I'd be happy to click on them from time to time to help him generate some income. Hey, if he had a Paypal Donate button on his site, I would probably be happy to contribute $5 or $10 to say thanks. But I resent a bit the fact that because I (and others) didn't support him specifically by purchasing his $22 book in the first month or two since it was published that he's basically said that he's taking his toys and going home.

But as I said, it's his content and he has every right to do with it what he wants. I simply think the way he interacts with people sometimes (be they his critics or his readers) can be at the very least unprofessional.

In the mean time, one can still access his articles via Google's cache, and you can also access some older versions of his site at archive.org...

[mcsblues]

Yes, with respect I think you are missing the point. First of all AC is not "taking his toys and going home" simply because of the slow intial response to book sales - this decision as I said before has been a long time coming and there are many other factors. Second you seem to view the price of the book as some sort of charitable donation in recognition of the valuable information you have gleaned from his site - when you bought PP and PPLP did you view that investment in the same way? The book is easily worth $22 in its own right, and you are fortunate you live somewhere that exchange rates and international shipping don't double that.

As for advertising, I think Anthony has extensively covered the reasons he wanted to be, and to be seen as, independent (although even that doesn't stop the abuse of those who regularly challenge his honesty - suggesting he must be receiving kickbacks from interest groups who might profit from his advice). And as the Eades have discovered, Google Ads will quite often promote products and services diametrically opposed to the message they present, so you can understand why he might decline the loose change this would generate.

[dvdmon]

Yes, with respect I think you are missing the point. First of all AC is not "taking his toys and going home" simply because of the slow intial response to book sales - this decision as I said before has been a long time coming and there are many other factors. Second you seem to view the price of the book as some sort of charitable donation in recognition of the valuable information you have gleaned from his site - when you bought PP and PPLP did you view that investment in the same way? The book is easily worth $22 in its own right, and you are fortunate you live somewhere that exchange rates and international shipping don't double that.

Malcolm, as I said, the book may certainly be worth that money, but because I have no need for it right now (I don't have the time to read it), it isn't worth it to ME. So instead of paying $22 for a book that I wouldn't use, my only reason to buy it would be to support AC.

Regarding the "many reasons" that has cuased AC to take down his content, that may be true, but the my overall impression from the email was different, and I'm assuming that it was probably similar for others who might not have your historical knowledge of why he's making this decision.

As for advertising, I think Anthony has extensively covered the reasons he wanted to be, and to be seen as, independent (although even that doesn't stop the abuse of those who regularly challenge his honesty - suggesting he must be receiving kickbacks from interest groups who might profit from his advice). And as the Eades have discovered, Google Ads will quite often promote products and services diametrically opposed to the message they present, so you can understand why he might decline the loose change this would generate.
I think Google Ads are an accepted form of advertizement that don't impugn people because they are generated based on the text on one's page, not because you have special deals with a given advertizer. Regarding criticism, I just have to say that I've written a few articles on my site about low-carbing and I've gotten my share of criticism, but I neither take that criticism personally, nor do I make decisions that affect both critics as well as supportive readers because of those critics. We've all had to deal with criticism to one extent or another simply by being on an eating plan, and moreso if we try to promote it or even just explain it. How we deal with that criticism says a lot about us, I think. Personal attacks are never justified, be they from the critics or from us when we are responding to critics. It's sad that some people have nothing better than to criticize people because what we do threatens them in some way, but we will never win anyone over by acting as they do. Maybe this is too much to expect. I certainly could get heated in an arguement when a critic was saying wacky things. But I don't think I would removed my previuosly slaved-over material from public eyes due to one too many critic ruffling my feathers...

[Gaelen]

First of all, while it is sad that he has taken the decision he has (in truth it has been coming for a long time) I am sure AC will be delighted to continue receive supportive emails from his many friends in the low carb world and elsewhere including corrections for the next printing of the book.

Malcolm, most people are delighted to receive supportive emails...I think that dvdmon's point (a point well-taken) is that Colpo and anyone else who writes for public consumption needs to also be prepared and emotionally capable of taking the hits along with the accolades--they come with the territory of putting your opinions out there. It doesn't matter whether it's a hard copy book, print articles, or writing and maintaining an internet website--being able to take the hits along with the accolades is part of the job description.

Childish or not, and whether you hated the occasional venting on his site, I think we all should ask ourselves the question of whether all of us who have got so much out of his site over the years should consider giving something back in return. <snip> So if you value Anthony's considerable contribution, put a small price on it - buy the book - not as a reward fro his 'childish' newsletter, but as a sign you appreciate the huge effort he has put into his site ... and the book.

Malcolm, how is your statement (above) consistent with this one from you to dvdmon --
Second, you seem to view the price of the book as some sort of charitable donation in recognition of the valuable information you have gleaned from his site - when you bought PP and PPLP did you view that investment in the same way?

Not two posts earlier you recommended to all who'd used www.themomnivore.com "giving something back" and putting a small price (on Colpo's contribution) by buying the book. Sounds to me like you had already recommended making a charitable contribution to Colpo... ;) It sounds even more like that kind of recommendation since Colpo self-published. Books published by Lulu (which are cross-marketed via B&N and Amazon) send purchase revenue directly to the author. The revenue from a conventional publishing agreement comes to authors who have them by different and less direct methods. For authors, that's the whole beauty of POD publishing. ;)

I find it an interesting side-note that while Colpo pulled the content from his Omnivore site, he left the Statin site up and complete...and he certainly must have taken just as much overall 'heat' for the opinions he expressed on the Statin site as for the ones he expressed on the Omnivore site. But he only pulled content from the site promoting his current publication. Hmmm.

Regardless of what else may have motivated Colpo to pull the content from his Omnivore site, it certainly has the look and feel of someone discontented with current book sales. And frankly, that's no way to promote more book sales. That action is shooting himself (and future book sales) in the foot. I'm not speaking as a low carber...I'm speaking as a trained journalist and professional technical writer who spent a dozen years in publishing, marketing and advertising both my own work and the work of others. Feel free to pass the advice along... ;)

[dvdmon]

What she said ;) Look, Malcolm, no one is disregarding the contribution that AC has made to the community, but as a whole everyone who publicly espouses ideas that are different from the mainstream gets ridiculed by some contingent of that mainstream. It may be hard, but it happens to all of us. We can let every critical comment and email affect us and go off sulking and refuse to talk to anyone, or we can lash out at those people (and anyone else around us), or we can even continue to make our case passionately or dispassionately without stooping to the critic's level of personal attack. These are all choices of personal style and some of these styles will win over more people than others. Personally, I give many more points to those who can deflect personal attacks not with more personal attacks or refusal to debate further, but with calm, reasoned argument that makes the opponant look mean-spirited and unwilling to debate the facts without recourse to name-calling. But that's just me.

[Mitra]

I'm not quite sure what the point of this debate is. I've found Anthony Colpo's site very useful, but if he chooses to take it down, that's up to him - whether any of us agrees with his reasons or not. I'd be more interested in debating the science of the cholesterol issue than the personalities involved.

[mcsblues]

I'm not quite sure what the point of this debate is. I've found Anthony Colpo's site very useful, but if he chooses to take it down, that's up to him - whether any of us agrees with his reasons or not. I'd be more interested in debating the science of the cholesterol issue than the personalities involved.
What she said!

I agree that it is regretable and sad that AC has chosen to take this course of action. I don't think I have argued that it isn't conterproductive, but that is the way he has been feeling for a long time now, so perhaps his recent loss clarified things a bit for him in the sense that 'life is too short' and it really has little to do with book sales - whatever! All I would like to do as my OP states is to encorage people to read a great book and perhaps we can then talk about the important stuff (the content).

Malcolm, most people are delighted to receive supportive emails...I think that dvdmon's point (a point well-taken) is that Colpo and anyone else who writes for public consumption needs to also be prepared and emotionally capable of taking the hits along with the accolades ... Actually dvdmon was suggesting to Zedgirl that she shouldn't bother to write a (supportive) email to Anthony pointing out typos - as she knows AC like I do, I doubt that she will follow this advice;), but all I was saying is that he delights in getting feedback from like minded people and going out of his way to help them.

I do understand about accepting the good with the bad, but even given the small amount of fun he had taunting idiots, there comes a time when any one of us would weigh up the time and effort devoted to any enterprise against what it was achieving. While we might regret or disagree with his decision it is his to make and if it leaves him more time to work on his second book and a new web enterprise we may all benefit in the long run.

Not two posts earlier you recommended to all who'd used www.themomnivore.com (http://www.themomnivore.com/) "giving something back" and putting a small price (on Colpo's contribution) by buying the book. Sounds to me like you had already recommended making a charitable contribution to Colpo... Well we are just playing with words here. Either way (whether you feel an obligation or not) it isn't a charitable donation because if you do buy it you get a great book at very reasonable cost.

[Zedgirl]

Actually dvdmon was suggesting to Zedgirl that she shouldn't bother to write a (supportive) email to Anthony pointing out typos - as she knows AC like I do, I doubt that she will follow this advice;), but all I was saying is that he delights in getting feedback from like minded people and going out of his way to help them.
After speaking with DH I decided against telling him about the typos. He thinks that if Anthony had wanted that sort of feedback he would've asked for it. I did however send him a supportive email regarding the overall content of the book.

On the subject of taking down his website, my first thought was 'how on earth is he going to attract a new audience?'. If I recommend his book to a newbie for instance and they ask 'who is Anthony Colpo', at least I could've sent them to his website so they could find out for themselves. Now he's just some guy in Melbourne who's passionate about health. I can only see it as harming potential book sales........

[mcsblues]

If you have a list, send them to me so I can add/compare them to mine (which I will send). One positive thing about self publishing is that print runs are short and minor changes/corrections are fairly easily adopted.

It also wouldn't surprise me if he does revamp his site - perhaps like the statinalert site which is just a wealth of info, but with no direct feedback, making it much easier to maintain.

[Always]

Don't know if this link will add full to the fire, but I thought it was interesting to say the least as are all of your posts on the subject. Jimmy Moore talks about Anthony and Anthony responds as do a bunch of Jimmy's readers.

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006/06/free-loaders-shut-down-theomnivorecom.html