Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy: A True Story of Discovery, Acting, Health, Illness, Recovery, and Life

We live in a yogi-riddled age, where just about every shmuck with enough coinage to open a curd stand, self-publish a book or fund an infomercial is out there preaching his or her own "enlightened" method of living, eating, sleeping, dieting, thinking, exercising or making love. Most of these people are cranks or con-men, and their advice is worth about as much as a bean-curd pastry at a Texas chili cook-off. Having read CONFESSIONS OF A KAMIKAZE COWBOY, I feel compelled to say that Dirk Benedict, former star of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and THE A-TEAM, is n-o-t one of them. You may not agree with everything he has to say, either on the medical establishment, diet or philosophy, but he tells an interesting story and makes a passionate and perhaps even credible argument for embracing a totally different way of relating to the world.Benedict was born in rural Montana (hence: COWBOY) and grew up on what might be referred to as an all-meat diet, a diet he later blamed for his arthritis, acne, receding hairline and ultimately, for his prostatic cancer, and CONFESSIONS is largely an examination of his lifelong journey to really grasp the meaning of the phrase, "You are what you eat." The book is subtitled "A True Story of Discovery, Acting, Health, Recovery and Life" and on every part but the "Acting" this is true. Readers hoping for the inside story on his up-and-down career in front of the camera will be disappointed, for with the exception of some anecdotes about getting cast as Starbuck on GALACTICA and a hilarious recollection of his guest appearance on CHARLIE'S ANGELS he has almost nothing to say about Hollywood (except, of course, for its pill-popping, soul-destroying culture). This lends credence to his oft-repeated mantra that he really doesn't give a damn about acting, fame or money, which is kind of refreshing from a guy whose looks certainly should have made him as superficial as a nightly news segment.In CONFESSIONS, Dirk preaches the virtues of a macrobiotic diet, which ain't easy, because macrobiotics is/are one of the toughest culinary disciplines out there, eschewing all animal flesh, all dairy, all caffine and alcohol drinks, all sugar, all flour products, all fruits, nuts, and oils (with one or two exceptions), and all tropical vegetables, in favor of "50 - 60% whole grains, 20 - 30 % cooked vegetables, 5 - 10 % soups, 5 - 10 % beans and bean products, and 5 - 10 % cooked sea vegetables." The only acceptable beverages are water and a couple non-stimulant teas, such as bancha or seaweed. (In other words, jack-all.) Hand-in-hand with a macrobiotic diet, however, Dirk also preaches a macrobiotic way of life, founded on the principles of yin and yang (hence: KAMIKAZE) which, if I may reduce it to a phrase, stresses a life dedicated to the understanding and examination of causes, rather than the treatment and reaction to effects.Dirk's grudges, against American culture specifically and modern society generally, are numerous and bitter. Like Kevin Trudeau, who has made untold gazillions with his NATURAL CURES books, Benedict puts a steel-toed boot up the a*s of organized Christianity, the medical establishment, the dairy association, the drug concerns, the fast-food and sugar-soda empires, and so on. Like Trudeau, he blames our diet and consumerist, materialist, effects-driven culture for all the evils of the world, from rape and cancer to wars and nuclear proliferation. Diet, he maintains, is the essential, the central, the first cause of all behaviors and world-outlooks, and a diet laden with garbage causes not merely physical disease - like he had - but emotional and spiritual disease as well. Through a macrobiotic approach, Dirk purged his body of a life-accumulation of toxins and whupped his migraines, his impotence, his receding hairline, his acne, his arthritis and finally, his cancer. And the proof's in the pudding - he quotes his stats as of 2005 as: pulse 45 (!), bp 106/60, cholesterol 145. He adds gleefully that he never gets tired, hasn't had a headache in 15 years, sleeps like rock, and has the sex drive of a 18 year old. Dirk ain't stupid, he knows sex sells, and if he is ultra-sparing with details of his acting career, he makes no bones about how it greased the wheels of an envy-inducing sex life.To be sure, D.B. has some out-there ideas and not a few of his opinions had me doing the oh-come-on dance, but the same charm he exuded on TV as "Starbuck" and "Faceman" glosses over even his more obnoxious moments, such as when he claims that rape is a side-effect of bad diet or that nobody gets anything in life he doesn't deserve. On the whole however his writing style is erudite and enjoyable. If he often bogs down in pseudo-profundity, he just as often entertains with wonderfully mean-spirited assaults on all the soulless b*stards in the world that profit from obesity, disease and human vice generally. His ultimate attitude is, "If you want to know what's in my 'medicine cabinet', look in my kitchen."Most people are either too brainwashed by modern corporate Kultur, with its never-ending emphasis on bigger-faster-more, or too unwilling to give up everything that seems worthwhile in the fridge just to add a few years to the back-end of their lives, to follow Benedict down his path. I'm not sure it's for me, either, but I'm willing to take a few steps and see where it goes....

I throughly enjoyed this book. I found it to be enlightening in several different ways. From seeing how different a famous actor’s life can be compared to what you think it is just watching them doing their craft in all their glory - to learning the tip of the iceberg of what a macrobiotic diet actually is. Not only that but seeing that Yin and Yang is a whole lot more than a circle representing opposites.I also believe that Mr. Benedict is right on the money with his view of food and health.This book is also as interesting as it is educational. I blew through it in just 2 days because I didn’t want to put it down. Happy Reading.Thank you Dirk Benedict for writing such a great read. God Bless you and yours.

This is an excellent book. Dirk is an excellent author. This was the quickest read of non-fiction I have had in years. It is great getting a point of view of others, especially, when they write in a down-to-earth style you can understand. Dirk seems to be that kind of guy.If you are looking for a bit-by-bit blow from Battlestar Galactica or the A-Team...forget it. He only tells us a little about his work. I wish he would have written more because the few parts there were a great read.This book is mainly about how Dirk fought cancer using macrobiotics. After reading this book I am not a convert, but I learned a lot. I learned that I and most Americans need to greatly reduce our intake of fatty meat and triple our intake of good vegetables. More veggies, a balanced diet and less caffeine and alcohol all lead to a healthier person.I do not totally agree with him on his views on modern medicine. Yes, there are many quacks out there who think that they can solve any problem you have with a pill, you get addicted to that pill and then you're hooked. But evidence shows that we are living longer today despite our intake of unhealthy food. I think we can thank some doctors and scientists for that.For me, the power of this book was the fact that Dirk took control of his life that, to him, seemed out of control. And it does seem like his method helped beat his disease.I hope we have more offerings from Dirk, not only on the screen, but more literary works as well.

wow, he can write! Dirk Benedict must've been a writer in another lifetime. It all just seems to flow with ease. Some of his sentences are masterful in their descriptions, taking me right in there where I want to stay and read more...and more. Dirk Benedict is a talented Soul. Funny, he said he got the last name from eggs.........I thought this clever guy might give his son the middle name of "egg." Just kidding. I loved the book and felt inspired by his determination to cure his physical body. My wonderment was that he didn't seem to be concerned with his emotional health. As I see it, it's all connected. But then, I was trained in Emotional Counseling (Primal Therapy) and so I am all about healing the emotional body. No question about it, Dirk Benedict is a smart dude. I wish him all the Best and am proud to know of his victory of healing cancer with macrobiotics and I didnt mind his graphic descriptions I felt it was necessary to get the point across. Great book! Great person! By the way I too shun the medical profession and find ways to keep healthy without them. Of course breaking a leg or arm, I would go to the hosptial. But not for cancer. I was brought up in Christian Science. Organic gardening and a self sufficent life style for years and years was a way of life and I considered it my "health insurance." (which I've never had)

The man’s humility comes across in his writing, the book has inspired me to gradually change my diet and way of thinking for the better.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it relatively quickly, it was very interesting to read about how he apparently cured his cancer and the journey he went through to get there. I think his thoughts and feelings regarding food and our ability to heal ourselves is extremely thought provoking. Although I don't think I will ever be as extreme in my diet as he is, I found the book really useful in terms of improving your health through food. My only reservations and things that 'put me off' him if you like were his opinions on women and a few other quite seemingly 'traditionalist' views.At times he came across as a really deep thinker and had some really chilled out cool philosophical thoughts, ideas and opinions. Other times I found him a little too opinionated with no leeway and seemingly 'going into one' and have a rant about everyone, mainly (though often quite rightly) the food industry. Though I have to say his opinions about sick children visiting the A team set towards the end of the book (not giving anything away here by the way) did put my nose out of joint, I understand what he was trying to say but feel he could have expressed it more tactfully. overall though an interesting read, recommended if you are into or curious about food and its effect on the body.p.s I also understand his skepticism with regards to the medical profession although sometimes that was also a little OTT (I know Doctors don't know everything but you cannot dismiss them all as unworthy - they do their job for a reason - to help people even if that is not always the case - you get good and bad every where

"Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy" is one of the most fascinating and inspirational books I have read for a long time. Dirk Benedict gives an honest and open account of his life journey and his defeat of cancer. This story really is a journey both for Dirk Benedict and the reader. His account of how he came to follow a macrobiotic diet and the impact it has had on his health is truly inspiring. I personally felt that I could relate to what he had to say and have learnt so much from this book. I really have taken something important and valuable from it. Dirk Benedict is an extremely talented writer and his passion for his family and his beliefs emanates strongly through this book. Dirk Benedict is a truly talented and inspirational writer and I look forward to reading more of his work. Highly recommended.

I read this book in an afternoon. I couldnt put it down. I was impressed by the determination that Dirk had in treating his cancer himself by dietary means alone in the face of mass opposition when he was tried to be pushed into normal cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.I didnt understand how the cancer seemed to just disappear and am not sure if I would turn down medical treatment if I had a tumour but this book showed the power of the human body to heal itselfI think the title of the book is misleading as I didnt see him as a cowboy, it spoke more of his life as an actora very good read and opens your eyes into power of nutrition

Well written, it contains not just the dangers of certian foods, but a lot of good philosophy and insights on the food industry and how one should live one's life according to yin/yang, with a lot of great anecdotes from Dirk's life - personal and professional. It's not a book exclusively on health nor biography, but a good mix. I've benefited already.