Customer Reviews

The Zen of Eating

5 star:		(14)
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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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The book was much better than I expected. I felt compelled to write the author afterwards and thank her for writing such a book. I've read a ton of books in my lifetime and this is one that stays with you -- the principles can carry over to all aspects of one's life. It's also the kind of book you can pick up on any given day, turn to a page, and find something motivational. After 100's of books and 100's of diets, this was the first that inspired me to write a review.

Not since D. J. Conway have I read a book that so often so missed the mark...clearly some have found it a wonderful source of information and inspiration...I found it a wonder of bafflement, observations presented as "ancient wisdom"..."what you weigh or what you eat cannot provide lasting nourishment because they are always changing." (what you ate is not supposed to last forever) "The Buddha did what you and I have done many times. He went to the opposite extreme. Instead of indulging himself, he deprived himself." (page 6) "Unlike you and me, Buddha did not bounce back and forth between the extremes of indulgnece (overeating) and deprivation (restricted dieting)." (page 7)...It does sound very profound unless you think while you are reading it......really, Buddha did not have an eating disorder, he fasted in the tradition of spiritual aspirants of the age until he decided/realized to try another practice. Better (I think) to read general books on Buddhism and allow the practice to flow naturally into your relationship with food.

It has been a long time since I have savored a book as much as I have been this one. I hope I do not repeat what other positive reviews have said, and if I do, I apologize.

I liked the combination of using real life examples rather than antidotes for showing how people behave and how they can change for the positive, and let go of negative desires. I say negative because as the author wisely notes on page 58 "Letting go doesn't mean annihilating, rejecting feelings, or pretending that you don't have strong feelings". Or on page 62 "Letting go doesn't mean any of these desires disappear. It means that they no longer have control over you". The author notes that we can still like a certain ice cream or treat and enjoy it, but that the treat doesn't have to become an obsession. But more a take it or leave it way of eating. And that once we let go of the habitual desire that food even begins to taste better.

My husband and I grew up in the 40-50's and he remarked that growing up he often was hungry which is why he probably eats "stuff" because he wants to feel full and not wanting. In the late 40's when I was a toddler a sibling often stole food so we could eat. So I to grew up wondering if I would ever not have to worry about food. It has only been since I have been serious about finding out how to let go of the fear-desire issue that my weight started to drop, and I became healthier.

Its also interesting how the author explains how often people drink, smoke, eat wrong because of some issue of fear, be it speaking up when someone says something bad, or when we are faced with a challenge we are afraid of, or because we are afraid of the unknown, like being rejected.

This is a thoughtful and helpful book and one I am so pleased I bought.

I'm going back to read this book again. Kabatznick writes with the equanimity that convinces me she knows what she is talking about. The cornerstone of her advice is so easy to say and so difficult to make part of your life: Desires arise, and they pass away; watch they rise, do not pig out, and watch them pass away. Of course it is difficult, as is anything worth achieving.

"The Zen of Eating" is a gracefully written fusion of psychology and Buddhism, the best example I've seen of applying spiritual principles to behavioral problems. Ronna Kabatznick writes beautifully and simply -- a peace will take over you as you read this, which is never easy to do given the serious subject matter.

I am somewhat new to Buddhism, so I was particularly impressed with the efficient way the principles are explained, and the seemless way they are applied to eating problems. The book is full of folklore and anecdote, but is never glib or condescending. I came away with a greater interest and understanding of Buddhism.

The author doesn't soft sell -- she states clearly that the principles are easy to grasp but difficult to follow. I'm not sure how successful readers of this book will be, but "The Zen of Eating" is well worth the read.

Dr. Kabatznick does for weight loss what modern weight programs fail at: assign profound and ancient wisdom to our battle against the bulge. In her excellent book, she addresses what I believe is the root cause of overeating and weight problems in America: emotional eating which attemps, but never succeeds, in feeding our starving souls. We are filled with hunger in our culture, and Dr. K. talks about the "hungry ghosts" which gnaw away at us. In our desire and wanting for more of everything, we end up starving; emotionally hungry and fatter than ever.

According to Dr K., our weight loss answers lie not in adopting the latest diet or potion, but in going inwards to examine and meditate upon our inner beings; those parts of us that are hungry and always wanting. Until we sit quietly and observe those hungry places, we will forever, says Dr. K., try to feed ourselves and never fill up. It is this paradox which ,makes all of our weight loss diets and attempts to restrict our intake of food fail.

The book is a useful text to understand and comprehend the Buddhist way of looking at life and an exploration of our inner beings. It is a healing balm for those who struggle, and essential reading for anyone who wants to win the weight war for good.

Having some basic knowledge about mindfulness and Zen and also knowledge about dieting, I felt like this book was too basic. I can understand the appeal to some people, because of how introductory it is; if you've never been exposed to Zen at all, this is a good introduction. I didn't feel like the book really enlightened me, and reading it didn't change my life and/or my attitudes to food. It's a good idea, to remove yourself from desire, but I think that overeating and bad eating habits are so complicated and ingrained for so many people, that it would be hard to read a short book like this and suddenly be "cured." Obviously, when you are changing your life, there is usually some sort of catalyst, and if this kind of book works for you, great, but I didn't personally find it that useful or revolutionary.

I thought this book was very insightful. It will probably help with more than eating. It is really a beginners guide to Zen Buddism and an excellent one at that! It is well written, easy to read and well organized. A must for anyone interested in knowing exactly why they are the way they are!

The best introduction to Zen that I've ever read. Many introductory books on Zen lack a practical explaination of Zen's more esoteric concepts, such as 'emptyness' and 'suffering', and fail to apply these concepts to the ups and downs of everyday life. This book goes beyond the concepts of Zen to make Four Noble Truths accesible through simple explanations. Additionaly, the author makes these Truths come alive by applying them to the very real problem of being fixated on food. However, even if you do not have a problem with food, by seeing the Truths applied in the real world you will imediately see the power that they offer to anyone who is struggling with a problem.

The book is organized around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Each recieves its own chapter containing an explaination and several examples of how individuals applied the concepts discussed to their fixation on food.

This book is for anyone searching for an accessible introduction to Zen or for learning how to apply the basic concepts of Zen to their everyday life.

This is a valuable book on several different levels. By using the Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path, the author not only gives us what I consider the best book I've ever read about dealing with the compulsion to overeat, but also a very simple, yet straightforward introduction to Buddhism.There is no secret to losing weight: you eat less and exercise more, but until you understand what is at the root of the compulsion to overeat, you'll never keep the weight off. By applyling the principles of Buddhism, which may be the best model that exists for how a person should live their life, there is hope that by being mindful, the constant yo-yo that is dieting can be eliminated.