Customer Reviews

One Bowl: A Guide to Eating for Body and Spirit

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a classic food book. It's first manifestation was way back in the 70s, a thin volume that nevertheless was packed with wisdom about how to get back in touch with our bodies and our nutritional needs. Nearly 30 years later its prescriptions, or perhaps I should say "non-prescriptions," still hold as true as ever. The author tells us, in a warm but informative way, how to read our bodies inner messages about what we need to stay healthy. The key is eating from one bowl and paying attention in some very unusual ways--at least unusual in today's culture--to foods that "hum," for example, and how we can make use of this information for making healthy choices. I think that one of the greatest contributions this book makes is that it teaches us how to make choices from the inside out--choices that bring us closer to our bodies and closer to ourselves.

I second hal's review - i had this book when it came out in the 70's. Don't know how it got away from me - probably loaned it to someone. But I've followed its advice, loosely, over the years and through 3 or 4 treasured bowls that got chipped, cracked, or whatever, and replaced. Now and then I've told people about it - "...there was this book, called One Bowl....". today it occurred to me to check Amazon to see if it's still available, and, Yay! It is! Into the ol' cart!
PS - my current bowl is an Oxo - Amazon carries them in Kitchen. White plastic doesn't have the ambience of raku, but I'm not one who looks down on plastic - matter of fact I'm grateful for it! As with everything, if you want it to have nice vibes, GIVE it some!

This was an interesting book. The premise is that by eating all meals in a mindful manner, while holding the bowl in your hand and eating alone, you will transform not only your food intake, but other areas of your life. I think that there are many lessons that can be taken from this book, especially for those attempting to eat more intuitively and live life with more consciousness. I don't see being able to adopt the one-bowl method as a lifestyle unless you live alone or have a family who does not mind doing the same. Many of the books that the author recommends for further reading have been out of print (he acknowledges this in the book) since the 70s. This whole book just kept reminding me of something that might have come out of the Esalen Institute in the 60s.

So, will this totally work for the majority of people living in modern society in the new millenium? Probably not. Can you get some good ideas and find exercises that might help you on your journey to more mindful living? Yes, I think so. It's definitely worth reading.

I quit "dieting" about six weeks ago and got this book along with "Am I Hungry?".
This is a wonderful little book with great ideas about eating when hungry and stopping when full and eating what I am hungry for.
Helps one focus on what we are eating and the sensations of our body. So few of us know when we are really hungry and when we are full.
I can see now that I was never tasting my food and enjoying it.
Would recommend this book and of course getting your Buddah Bowl is a fun and essential part of the whole experience.

Start with one meal per day: No mindless, emotional, frantic shoveling of food into your face. Eat what calls to you, eat with attention, and you will be satisfied. Take the time to appreciate what you put into your body: the flavors, textures, and nourishment. I searched for my "one bowl" [...]

I don't know why this book got so many good reviews. I have been reading about one bowl meals on some minimalist blogs and felt curious about the zen-like experience of having one-bowl meals. I bought this book - Kindle version.

It is HORRIBLE. The first third of the book basically promotes itself, touting how much better off people are by following the book's suggestions...which is kind of weird...because I'm thinking, "Aren't I already reading the book? When does the book start?"

The middle goes on and on and on about how to select your bowl...how to hold your bowl...way too much time is taken to actually explain to you which hand is your eating hand and which hand is your utensil hand. Let me save you the time....it explains how to eat....EXACTLY how you already eat.

It gives you "exercises" like how you should "practice" putting something in your bowl before you actually want to use the bowl to eat. <?!> THEN it tells you to go write about it in your "Food Awareness Journal."

(groan)

Seriously...I feel like I'm being punk'd.

On another note...the author says you should visit his website at onebowlbook.com. Last I checked, there was no such place.

So just google the phrase and read to your heart's content anything that's free on the Internet about this subject. This is NOT a book to buy.

Excellent method with philosophical and spiritual overtones to assist you to gain perspective and "control" of your eating and your entire point of view about food and meal times.

Well done.

Pretty basic diet advice wrapped up in 128 pages of spiratulaism and anecdotes. Great if you're into that kind of thing.

One Bowl: A Guide to Eating for Body and Spirit is interesting and inspirational. In reality, it is very difficult to follow.