Customer Reviews

The Fasting Handbook: Dining from an Empty Bowl

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Well, when you put it that way, fasting sounds downright elegant, doesn't it? After reading this book, you'll see that there's a whole lot more to it than just, well, starving yourself. Fasting is a gift you give yourself, and it can be spiritually and physically transforming. This book, in true Jeremy Safron style, covers the topic succinctly and beautifully, including absolutely everything you need to know to prepare for and perform a fast in 88 pages (another good stocking stuffer at about 6x8"!).

One of my favorite parts of the book is the Self-Empowerment Questionnaire at the end "designed to track and guage the process of healing," because that's really what fasting is all about - cleaning out the body and quieting the mind. This book covers every kind of fast you can imagine, from speech fasts (no talking) to sweet food fasts as well as traditional juice and water fasts. You'll learn about cleansing practices for all different organs and fasting assistants like pranayama, yoga, sweats, skin brushing, writing, castor packs - the list is too long for this review.

Suffice it to say that this book is all you need to get started on this time-honored cleansing ritual. As soon as I finish writing this review, I'm filling out the questionnaire and sending it in by email for advise on the type of fasting program and other practices that are right for me. And of course, I'll check with my doctor before getting started. Treat yourself: get this book - a true gift - and do the same for your health and well-being.--Melanie Wilson

This book does hold some important information about the process in and out of fasting and the many ways one can choose to fast, however one could find this information and the included juice/soup recipes on the internet. I was expecting a beautiful book and it is not, at all. It is small, the quality of the paperback is terrible, and it dedicates 1/4 of the book to a form you would have to pay more money to utilize (by sending it in, etc.) If you want to learn about fasting, ask your doctor.

This was exactly what I was looking for, a book on fasting that told me the what, how, and why of fasting. It contains some recipes, exercises, and a questionnaire that, for a reasonable fee, can be mailed in for a personalized fasting program. I had bought a fasting book, but did not read it. I found it to have a lot of information I didn't need, and not what I did want, clear, simple directions. I then carefully read the reviews on books that seemed to meet my needs and finally selected The Fasting Handbook. When it arrived I was initially disappointed as it contained only 90 pages, but after flipping through the pages I found it to be clear, concise and pithy. I don't want to become a fasting expert, I just want to learn what I needed to do to fast...and fast (pun intended). I wonder if too much time is spent on thinking and studying when the best way to learn is to just do it. Addendum: I sent in a check for $20 with the questionnaire contained in the book, which required a lot of personal information. Much, much later I received a letter from someone who apparently works for Saffron, said I should have made the check out to him personally, not the company, but don't send another check as he has a lot of people he is responding to and doesn't charge for his knowledge anyway. So What happened to the questionnaire I sent in with all the personal info, and why is this questionnaire in the book in the first place and nothing in the directions said to make out the check to Saffron and not the company. So if the questionnaire is filled out and mailed as directed for an assessment, there won't be any assessment. Catch 22. Still a good book but I can't take any stars back because of the questionnaire that isn't a questionnaire because I already sent in the review.