What is the benefit of following a fasting or ketogenic diet?

Fasting, particularly extended fasting, can potentially help sensitize cancer cells to treatments and increase the resilience of normal cells. Ketogenic diets and fasting can also help purge pre-cancerous cells and promote autophagy, a cellular cleaning process, without the severe muscle loss associated with water-only fasts.

What is Mark Bittman's approach to writing a book?

For large cookbooks, writing is a years-long project submitted in parts. For more essay-based books, the final month is spent tweaking language and structure after letting the draft rest. Bittman believes in getting a 'lousy draft' down first and then refining it.

How does Mark Bittman overcome writer's block?

Mark Bittman states he has never experienced writer's block. He likens his writing process to his running routine: when he is in a serious writing phase, he simply gets up and does it consistently each day, maintaining the rhythm without overthinking it.

What was a significant failure in Mark Bittman's early career?

In his early twenties, Mark Bittman struggled for two to three years to get his writing published, despite trying freelance articles and sending letters to editors. He supported himself by selling photographic equipment, a job he knew he wasn't passionate about.

What advice does Mark Bittman give to young people?

Bittman advises young people to 'follow your passion' and do what they genuinely want to do, as success is unlikely in areas where one lacks desire. He emphasizes that making a commitment, even to a vague path like 'writing,' closes off other doors and requires wholehearted dedication.

What advice would Mark Bittman's 80-year-old self give him?

He hopes his 80-year-old self would encourage him to not age too fast, not write things off too quickly, and to keep changing and exploring new, exciting things without fear of jumping off metaphorical cliffs.

Why did Mark Bittman start the podcast 'Get Bit'?

Bittman left The New York Times because he felt constrained and unable to say what he wanted. He saw podcasting as a less constrained, self-publishing medium that allowed for verbal exploration of ideas and conversations, which he enjoys.

What makes for a good interview according to Mark Bittman?

Bittman believes the best interviews are genuine conversations, not relying on a list of pre-set questions. He aims to discover what's interesting about the interviewee and hopes it resonates with the audience, forcing both parties to think deeply.

What is the appeal of baking?

Baking, like cooking, results in a finished product one can eat and enjoy, often shared with loved ones. It provides specific, aesthetically pleasing shapes and forms, offering immediate feedback and a sense of accomplishment.

What is the best dish for a beginner to cook or bake?

The best first dish is one that genuinely appeals to the individual. For baking, pizza is suggested as it combines cooking and baking elements and is widely appealing. Mark Bittman recommends picking a cookbook and tackling a recipe that sparks your interest.

Key Moments

Mark Bittman (Full Episode) | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)

Tim Ferriss

Howto & Style4 min read71 min video

Jan 6, 2017|4,859 views|38|4

tim ferriss 4 hour workweek 4 hour body 4 hour chef forbes timothy ferriss entrepreneur author writer best-seller public speaker angel investor

Save to Pod

Key Moments

TL;DR

Mark Bittman discusses writing, running, fasting, ketosis, and his new podcast, 'Get Bit.'

Key Insights

Passion and perseverance are key to success, even through failure.

Embracing new challenges and the steep learning curve leads to personal growth.

Fasting and ketogenic diets can have significant physiological benefits.

Effective interviewing relies on genuine conversation, not pre-set questions.

Writing requires discipline, often involving a 'brain dump' followed by refinement.

Making intentional choices ('saying yes') and avoiding distractions are crucial for focus.

THE WRITING JOURNEY AND THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE

Mark Bittman, a prolific author with over 20 books, emphasizes that significant writing projects are often years in the making, involving iterative editing and allowing material to rest before revision. He describes his writing process as often starting with a 'brain dump' – getting ideas out unpolished – rather than meticulously crafting each sentence. Bittman also shares his early struggles with freelance writing, facing rejection for years before selling his first food piece. This period of perceived failure, while selling photographic equipment, ultimately fueled his determination and sharpened his salesmanship for his own work once he found his niche.

RUNNING AS A METAPHOR FOR LIFE AND DISCIPLINE

Bittman draws parallels between running and life, highlighting its importance as a source of fitness, self-worth, and a unique mental state. He began running in his twenties to quit smoking and discovered a passion for endurance despite not being naturally fast. Running has provided him with a consistent discipline, akin to his writing approach, where the act itself is the focus, not necessarily achieving peak performance. This daily discipline, even during 'down moments,' reinforces his ability to engage in challenging endeavors.

EXPLORING FASTING AND KETOSIS FOR HEALTH

The conversation delves into the physiological aspects of fasting and ketogenic diets, inspired by scientist Dominic D'Agostino. Bittman discusses his personal experimentation with various fasting protocols, including water fasts and incorporating small amounts of fat or BCAAs to preserve muscle mass. He explains how entering ketosis quickly spares muscle tissue and potentially triggers autophagy. This approach is seen not as a standalone cure but as a tool to potentially sensitize cancer cells or reduce the risk of pre-cancerous cells developing, alongside standard medical treatments.

THE ART AND JOY OF COOKING AND BAKING FROM SCRATCH

At the core of Bittman's work is making food accessible and understandable. He views both cooking and baking as rewarding processes that result in a finished product that brings happiness, can be shared, and offers a nurturing experience. He highlights pizza as an excellent introductory dish, incorporating both baking (dough, yeast) and cooking (sauce), and emphasizes choosing recipes that genuinely appeal to the individual to guarantee success and enjoyment, even if it involves a bit of a 'cheat day.'

EMBRACING NEW CHALLENGES AND FACING FEAR OF FAILURE

Bittman advocates for continuously seeking new experiences and not shying away from the 'steep end of the learning curve.' He believes that fear of failure is a significant impediment to success, stating that true success is impossible without the possibility of failure. This mindset encourages trying new things, whether it's starting a podcast, learning to backpack, or exploring new dietary practices, leading to a sense of accomplishment and personal growth. He hopes his 80-year-old self would advise him to keep embracing these challenges.

THE BIRTH OF 'GET BIT' AND THE EVOLUTION OF MEDIA

Bittman launched his podcast, 'Get Bit,' after feeling constrained by his previous role at The New York Times, seeking a medium where he could explore subjects freely. He views podcasting as a self-publishing, verbal form of content creation with minimal rules, allowing for genuine conversations and exploration of diverse topics. This aligns with his interviewing philosophy, which prioritizes organic conversation over pre-planned questions to encourage genuine thought and surprise from the interviewee.

INTENTIONAL CHOICES AND THE POWER OF SAYING NO

Bittman stresses the importance of what he calls 'saying yes to the hell yes' options. He advises that committing to anything, even a seemingly minor daily choice like watching TV instead of exercising, means saying no to other opportunities. Making conscious decisions and focusing wholeheartedly on pursuits you are passionate about is crucial. This principle applies both to career paths, like choosing writing over medicine despite parental wishes, and to daily habits, ensuring that time and energy are devoted to what truly matters.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Supplements

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Mark Bittman's Approach to Writing and Life

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success.

Follow your passion and do what you genuinely want to do.

Be genuinely interested in other people to build connections.

Don't be afraid to jump off metaphorical cliffs and take on new challenges.

Enjoy the steep end of the learning curve when starting new things.

Focus on truly important commitments ('hell yes') rather than mediocre ones.

For cooking/baking, pick a dish that appeals to you and take your time.

Practice consistently, especially with skills you enjoy.

Avoid This

Don't let fear of failure keep you from trying.

Don't pursue things you don't want to do, as success is unlikely.

Avoid making vague commitments; understand that every 'yes' is a 'no' to other opportunities.

Don't buy things on whims or because they are merely 'nice'; focus on needs and quality.

Don't start with things that seem too hard initially; explore them and gain confidence.

Don't rely on rote questions in interviews; foster genuine conversation.

Don't write things off too quickly; explore them and see their potential.

Common Questions

Mark Bittman revealed that running is a quiet passion of his that he has been doing for 45 years. Although he's not in his peak running condition currently, he finds it stimulates his thinking and provides a unique mental space and sense of physical well-being.

Topics

Mindset & Self-Improvement Nutrition & Diet Writing Process Fasting Health & Longevity Career & Skills Creativity & Media Food Writing Podcast Creation Book Writing Life Advice Pursuing Passion Personal Development

Mentioned in this video

Books

Food Matters

One of Mark Bittman's books, discussed in the context of its writing process.

How to Bake Everything

Mark Bittman's latest book, a comprehensive guide to baking with over 700 pages.

Tools of Titans

A forthcoming book by Tim Ferriss with a long chapter on fasting and the ketogenic diet.

Vegan Before 6

A book by Mark Bittman that exemplifies a longer essay-style writing process.

Catch-22

A book that Mark Bittman used to buy for many people.

How to Cook Everything

A book series by Mark Bittman, with five major volumes, including a vegetarian edition, basics, fast, and baking.

Bird by Bird

A book by Annie Lamont that Mark Bittman recommends for people struggling with writing.

7 Fires

A cookbook mentioned as a favorite on Mark Bittman's kitchen shelf.

Organizations

Union of Concerned Scientists

An organization where Mark Bittman was a fellow.

New York Times

Where Mark Bittman worked as the lead food writer for the Sunday magazine and became the country's first food-focused op-ed columnist.

University of California, Berkeley

Where Mark Bittman served as a distinguished fellow.

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Where Mark Bittman was appointed to the faculty.

Epicurious

Where a journalist was doing a story on Mark Bittman during the recording of his podcast.

Software & Apps

Get Bit

Mark Bittman's new podcast, focusing on various topics discussed in the interview.

Vimeo Pro

A video hosting platform for entrepreneurs, offering high-quality playback, ad-free streaming, and customizable players. Used by companies like Wealthfront, TaskRabbit, Airbnb, and Etsy.

TaskRabbit

A company that uses Vimeo Pro for video hosting to tell their company story.

Concepts

Ketogenic Diet

A dietary approach discussed in relation to fasting within the context of health and metabolism.

Atkins diet

Mentioned as an example of a dietary approach that can induce ketosis.

Companies

Abbott Labs

The manufacturer of the Precision Extra XT device used for measuring ketones.

Airbnb

A company that uses Vimeo Pro for video hosting.

Wealthfront

A disruptive investing service that uses software to provide services typically reserved for the wealthy, such as automatic tax loss harvesting and rebalancing. It is sponsored by Tim Ferriss's show.

Etsy

A company that uses Vimeo Pro for video hosting.

Apple

Mentioned as a company where technologists from work at Wealthfront.

Supplements

Ketone Esters

Substances that mimic the physiological state of fasting, discussed in the context of brain utilization and potential effects on cancer growth.

People

Dan Gable

A legendary wrestling coach whose advice on the difference between not wanting to lose and wanting to win is cited.

Derrick C. Suters

An entrepreneur friend of Tim Ferriss who advocates for saying 'hell yes' only to opportunities.

Mark Bittman

Author of over 20 books, including 'How to Cook Everything' and 'How to Bake Everything'. Former lead food writer for The New York Times and the country's first food-focused op-ed columnist.

Marcella Hazan

Author of classic Italian cookbooks, whose books Mark Bittman has gifted.

Steve Jobs

Quoted in relation to the concept of innovation and saying no to many things.

Cal Newport

Mentioned as a podcaster whose show Mark Bittman has listened to.

Annie Lamont

Author of 'Bird by Bird', a book Mark Bittman frequently gifts to people struggling with writing.

Dominic D'Agostino

A scientist who researches metabolism and exogenous ketones, and who inspired Mark Bittman to start traveling with sardines.

George DeStefano

The arts editor at a local weekly newspaper who gave Mark Bittman his first restaurant review assignment.