When it comes to weight loss, the emphasis today is shifting away from fad diets and compulsive workouts toward sane, sensible techniques that incorporate both the mind and the body. This is the first book to apply the 2,500-year-old principles of Zen Buddhism to the modern struggle with the vicious cycle of dieting, losing, and regaining weight. From a Buddhist perspective, overeating is a disorder of desire. This book will teach readers how to find freedom from eating problems and the tyranny of desire that triggers them. Filled with concrete, practical exercises and the wisdom of the ages, The Zen of Eating provides, at last, an alternative to ineffective diet programs, products, and pills.
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About the Author
Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D., was the psychological consultant to Weight Watchers International for nine years, and taught psychology at Hunter College, Queens College, and the City College of New York. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, Vegetarian Times, Psychology Today, and other publications. Founder and director of the nonprofit organization Dieters Feed the Hungry, she lives in Berkeley, California and has practiced meditation since 1985.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 70 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Finally a book that makes sense of the compulsion to overeat! In my struggles with my eating disorder, I've read more than three dozen books about the process. While I've gained a lot of help from the writing of Geneen Roth, Judi Hollis, Jane R. Hirschmann, and Carol H. Munter, The Zen of Eating is the absolute best book I've ever read about eating disorders. The Zen of Eating nudges us to look at how we live, not just how we eat. It explains the necessity of treating ourselves with loving kindness as it shows how overeating is not a disorder of will, but a disorder of desire. After I read this book, both my life and my eating suddenly made a lot more sense. This book has indeed changed my life. Although this wonderful book uses Buddha's Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to show readers how to free themselves from compulsive eating, the book can be appreciated by readers of all faiths (or no faith at all). The author's previous personal experience a! ! s a psychologist with the Weight Watchers program and her work in soup kitchens give her important 'street level" insight into the problems of American overeaters. The book itself is gentle, kind, and affirming. I've read it twice. After each reading,I feel myself glowing, inspired, and in love with the world. The Zen of Eating is written with such compassion, love, and good common sense, I bet even non-dieters will savor it. I plan to read it at least once a year for the rest of my life.
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A bowl of enlightenment
I've started putting down my desires for taste sensations, not that I need to lose that much weight, but I want to rid myself of food being the most important part of the day. Read more
Published on March 10, 2011 by Jasper
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Zen of Eating
This book is a must have for those who are serious about losing and keeping off extra body weight. You will gain an understanding why you feel out of control and eat when you are... Read more
Published on February 26, 2010 by novasonoma
4.0 out of 5 stars
First half of the book better than the 2d
This book was recommended to me by my psychologist as insight into my eating patterns. The basic premise of the book is that all eating disorders, or any disorder for that matter,... Read more
Published on January 17, 2010 by Robyn Sztyndor
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Insightful Melding of Two Worlds
This book was written by someone with a deep understanding of Zen Buddhism, and long experience in helping people with weight problems. Ms. Read more
Published on April 13, 2009 by Sheryl Canter
5.0 out of 5 stars
An approach I can live with and render great benefit
The Zen of Eating is a practical and sensible approach. It is well written and can be taken in all at once or in parts. Read more
Published on August 31, 2008 by Leah Be
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant Read, But Too Obtuse for Me
I dig mindfulness -- have been meditating for years -- but I must say that applying Buddhism to my eating habits seems a bit of a stretch. Read more
Published on August 14, 2008 by zorba
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overeating from a Different Perspective
I purposely sought-out a book on the Zen of Dieting, and this was what came up in my search, so I bought it. Read more
Published on May 29, 2005 by J. Leavitt-Wipf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant surprise
The book was much better than I expected. I felt compelled to write the author afterwards and thank her for writing such a book. Read more
Published on June 11, 2004 by Shari G.
2.0 out of 5 stars
A striking example of "each to their own"......
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... Read more
Published on January 19, 2004 by Wednesday
5.0 out of 5 stars
Graceful and difficult
I'm going back to read this book again. Kabatznick writes with the equanimity that convinces me she knows what she is talking about. Read more
Published on March 15, 2003 by J. H. Bell
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 7
books:
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11
books
cite this book:
See all 11 books citing this book
- Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh in Back Matter
- Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram in Back Matter
- Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn in Back Matter
- Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom by Joseph Goldstein in Back Matter
- The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics by Robert Aitken in Back Matter
See all 7 books this book cites
- Mountains are Mountains and Rivers are Rivers: Applying Eastern Teachings to Everyday Life by Ilana Rabinowitz on page 126, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Erotic Morality: The Role of Touch in Moral Agency by Linda Holler on page 202, and Back Matter
- Born Again Bodies: Flesh and Spirit in American Christianity (California Studies in Food and Culture) by R. Marie Griffith on page 179, and Back Matter
- The Truth About Rape by Teresa M Lauer MALMHC in Back Matter
- Fit from Within: 101 Simple Secrets to Change Your Body and Your Life--Starting Today and Lasting Forever by Victoria Moran in Back Matter
See all 11 books citing this book
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