How to lose 100 pounds in 90 days

Right from the beginning this audiobook captures your attention and draws you in to the story of the author, a famous magician who struggled with issues related to obesity for much of his life. When he finds out from a doctor that his health is in serious jeopardy, he decides to reach out to a friend who has the capacity to guide Penn on his journey to losing over 100 pounds in 90 days.

This is a well told and charming book that flows in the style of the Penn's Sunday School podcast, where events unfold naturally as told by the author as though he were having a conversation with you. This book is filled with interesting anecdotes and fascinating asides that delve into the lifestyle of a famous person and the daily issues one would have to contend with.

I listened to the entire audiobook in one sitting and only stopped to use the washroom and make food for myself, and after having listened to this account, I'm considering making more positive changes to my eating habits and thinking of ways that I can improve my own well-being.

Highly recommended.

12 people found this helpful

Tall, Fat and Funny Tales

Full disclosure I’m a huge fan of Penn Jillette, if I have a man crush it’s Penn, I listen to his Sunday School podcast, watch Fools Us religiously and have seen him live any number of times….but I HATE diet books. I hate Dr. Oz and the self-righteous nonsense that goes with so many fad diets. So it was with some trepidation that I embarked upon Presto! I was painfully aware that Penn had done this crazy diet and lost 100 lbs.quickly because we doesn’t stop talking about it on his podcast. That’s OK but I have been known to fast forward through the diet parts. However I’m happy to report that this book, read by the inimitable and gloriously foul mouthed Penn, is nothing like most boring preachy diet books...it's very good.

Presto tells the story of his near death encounter with fat blocked arteries all the way through to the new svelte (and somewhat weird looking) Penn 100lbs later. It’s highly entertaining often very funny and really quite fascinating. The fanatical cult like diet regime which appears to be grounded in some pretty sound science is described in enough detail to be believable but not so much as to be boring. It’s a thoroughly entertaining read. If I had one tiny complaint it’s that Penn has a wonderful life… and boy does he name drop. I can hear him shouting an appropriate obscenity at me for saying that but in the context of a book rather than a podcast or a magic show…it can get a bit much…enough already with your Bob Dylan and Lou Reed stories! The overall demeanor of the book is a self-mocking aw shucks we’re just carny trash…who happen to be best friends with almost everyone. That’s probably just sour grapes (you can’t eat grapes coz they have sugar in them) on my part. This is a wonderful read, read wonderfully. You may not follow his path and join the cult to shed the pounds but it’s very entertaining to hear his story...I feel a bit thinner just from listening to it.

23 people found this helpful

I liked it! And why you may or may not like it...

Would you listen to Presto! again? Why?

Yes it is motivating

Any additional comments?

I liked this book but it is not for everyone. Audio addition

Why you might not want this book:
Penn swears a lot in this book if you are looking for a book that you can listen to when you are driving a bunch of boy scouts to a camp this book is not the one to listen to :)
Penn talks a lot about his atheistic view, if this will up set you this book is not for you, unless you like being upset.
Penn is not a scientist or a nutritionist as he points out in the start of his book. You are listening to the point of view of a juggler.
Penn talks about his politics which is a combination of both left wing and right wings ideas.
I respect him for that. If you only want to listen to people who have a left or right wing attitude this book is not for you.

Penn talks about sex.
Why you might want to buy this book:
Penn is vary entertaining.
Penn talks about his world view, a good insight into his mind
.My view are somewhat aligned to Penn and I like listening to him even when our views differ.Penn is likely to have different views than you.
**Even if you don't want to follow his diet the book it will motivate you lose weight.**
Penn talks about sex. He had me LOL even when I was alone in my car.

Things that could have been done better:
Include recipes Penn reads as a PDF file.

20 people found this helpful

Penn isn't a light weight

Yiddish Meshugna or chutzpah in a wonderful weigh...oops way - I really enjoyed the audio version listening to him in his own voice what a character. He talks like a full throttle so when he's a little quieter we make some kind of admission like one about an ex-girlfriend or really touching moment about his little daughter that really crown the book. Weight-loss aspects were kind of fascinating in the vegan and an atheist to praise...

I went to see them once Penn and Teller and I thought their fans were wonderful I really enjoyed standing online with them chatting.

6 people found this helpful

A lifestyle book for confirmed assholes.

What made the experience of listening to Presto! the most enjoyable?

This is a lifestyle book that makes sense to an asshole. I am an asshole. It makes me want to read and delve into the upcoming book by Ray Cronise , and I am reading all I can get my grubby little hands on by Dr.fuhrman.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ray Cronise.

Which character – as performed by Penn Jillette – was your favorite?

Penn Jillette.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I did, then I started it for a second round.

5 people found this helpful

Not his best

The tale is good, but it isn't ideal for an audio book. His previous books are a fun read, this is mianders and repeats itself more.

3 people found this helpful

long winded and boring

good lord. 10 chapters into a book about a diet and he is just droning on.

where is the damn chase. cut to it.

the only thing he has mentioned so far is two weeks of potatoes and not even in detail.

definitely a thumbs down.

3 people found this helpful

I guess I just don't like a Penn

It's mostly Penn talking about his life and telling his stories and trying to be entertaining. I feel like I connected with about 25% of the content of this book. The rest of it I felt like I was just waiting for Penn to stop talking about stuff I didn't care about and get back to the content I really wanted to hear. I guess his sense of humor doesn't work for me.

3 people found this helpful

Just Make Sure You Really Like Penn...

Look, I like Penn Jillette. He's an entertaining personality and a hell of an entertainer. I bought this book because I was impressed with his weight loss transformation, and I wanted to find out more about it. I've been listening to it most of the day, and I am just finishing up Chapter 22...which is about half the book. But, I'm done. This was an exhausting listen. I like a lot of the content here...in addition to the small amount of actual weight loss info included, you get little show biz tidbits and stories, his view on atheism (and corresponding need to dump on people of faith), are treated to a full-on overdose of profanity and graphic sexual imagery, and get to play witness to his need to be recognized as a full-on a-hole. No, I didn't make that up. He calls himself that and "fat f*ck" probably a thousand times in the first 22 chapters. OK, I got the point. So, here's my review. If you love Penn, you'll probably love the book. If you just want to listen to a story, maybe try the Abridged version (if there is one). This was like a bad first draft that needed to pass through an editor's hands about a half-dozen times before being unleashed on the public. Insanely repetitive...even two or three incredibly repetitive sentences back to back to back...and this was kind of a non-stop thing. I have a hard time believing there was an editor involved in the process at all. Pure stream-of-consciousness (as seen from the inside of a mildly manic mind). I could easily have cut this thing in half and you still would have thought it was all over the board. So, for me...I got what I needed. Not sad that I bought the book. Penn is entertaining. I now know more about his bodily functions and genitalia than I ever knew I wanted to know. He's a fun guy. But, enough for me. ;)

24 people found this helpful

Want to hear the F word every 30-60 seconds?

Penn is full of interesting ideas and has some unique insights about dieting and just about life experiences in general that he shares in this book. He is a likable narrator and keeps the listener entertained for the most part. He is an interesting character with a lot of virtues, but a few vices as well.

So why 3 stars? His profanity. He must use the F word several times per page. I believe that profanity should be used sparingly, or else it feels like when people use the words "ya know, or whatever, like" every sentence. Plus, I don't feel comfortable sharing the book with some of my friends who aren't comfortable with so much profanity. Also, he likes to take every opportunity possible to belittle Christians, and you feel somewhat attacked if you're a believer. Who wants to buy a book and be criticized for their religion?

Still, overall entertaining and if you don't mind the perceived faults listed above, I recommend it!

2 people found this helpful