Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals about Food, Diet and Eating Well

Reveals Eating Well: Fed Up by Daniel Lieberman explores what evolutionary biology, anthropology and physiology can tell us about food, diets and health. It examines dietary change over human history and discusses approaches including Paleo, veganism and intermittent fasting, arguing that there is no single optimal diet.

At a glance

Uses evolutionary biology, anthropology and physiology to frame questions about food and health.
Explores how fire, farming and industrialisation changed human diets.
Discusses Paleo, veganism and intermittent fasting, including what medical research can and cannot establish about them.
The author’s stated conclusion favours variety, moderation and finding what works for the individual over a single optimal diet.

Price

£17.69Save 29%

Reference price: ~~£25.00~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Brings historical and scientific perspectives together rather than focusing on one prescribed diet.
Covers several contrasting eating approaches, useful for readers trying to assess competing diet claims.
Customer feedback describes the book as informative and interesting to read.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Publication details
Publisher	Allen Lane
Publication date	11 Aug. 2026
Language	English
Print length	416 pages
ISBN-10	0241658594
ISBN-13	978-0241658598

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	500 g
Dimensions	16.5 x 3.6 x 24.2 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in how human evolution and changing food systems relate to modern eating.
People seeking a broad discussion of diet research and differing eating approaches, rather than one fixed meal plan.

Less suited to

Readers looking primarily for a prescriptive diet plan or a single recommended menu. The listing presents the book’s conclusion as there being no optimal diet.

Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals about Food, Diet and Eating Well · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 92 ratings

5 stars72%72%
4 stars20%20%
3 stars8%8%
2 stars0%0%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback describes Fed Up as informative and interesting, including a comment about its careful examination of research on different diets. That should appeal to readers looking for context across competing approaches. The rating distribution is largely five- and four-star, with some three-star ratings, but ratings alone do not establish why readers responded as they did.

Positive themes

Customers describe the book as informative.
Customers describe it as interesting to read.

Frequently asked questions

What subjects does Fed Up cover?

The book considers human dietary evolution, changes brought by fire, farming and industrialisation, and what research can tell us about food, health and weight.

Does the book recommend one best diet?

No. The listing says Lieberman concludes there is no optimal diet and emphasises variety, moderation and individual differences.

Which diets are discussed?

The description names Paleo, veganism and intermittent fasting among the approaches examined.