The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fasting

by Eve Adamson, Linda Horning

A beginner's guide to the spiritual and health benefits of fasting, including six fasts and how to do them right.

-- The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Fasting fits in well with the strong line of spirituality and new age titles.

-- No books on fasting currently on the market are complete -- it's either fasting for health, or fasting for its nutritional value, or fasting as a spiritual exercise, or fasting as part of one's religion.

-- Although fasting had been abandoned by most Protestants in the past, in the late 1990s there has been renewed interest in fasting and prayer as a means of spiritual revival among evangelical Christians in the United States.

The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Fasting covers: fasting around the world -- religious, cultural, and historical traditions and their relationships to modern health, nutrition, and spirituality; the differences between types of fast, from the one-day weekly juice fast to the yearly five-day fast and more; the physical, psychological, and spiritual challenges of fasting -- particularly fasting as a catalyst for spiritual growth; fasting and health, and the mind-body connection; fasting and meditation, including fasting retreats; six types and fasts, as well as variations; and your fasting toolkit, with information for preparation for fasts of any length.

Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Eve is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning freelance writer living in Iowa. She has co-authored with such celebrities and experts as TV star Bethenny Frankel; executive chef of Primo Restaurant Melissa Kelly; former New York Times restaurant critic Bryan Miller; registered dietitians Marissa Cloutier, Tricia Thompson, and Linda Horning; psychologists Dr. Gary McClain, Dr. Gail Carr Feldman, and Dr. Betsy Rippentrop; Chicago-based "Green Mom" Beth Aldrich; celebrity Organic Nanny Barbara Rodriguez; animal communicator Debbie McGillivray; and yoga teachers Jodi Komitor, Joan Budilovsky, Geo Takoma, and Betsy Rippentrop. She has also written hundreds of magazine articles, is a contributing editor for Dog Fancy magazine, writes a column for AKC Family Dog, and blogs about food, yoga, and travel.

Reviews

[Stephanie]

Though I hesitate to admit it, I really enjoyed this book. I have fasted before, but usually after reading some incomplete online article that didn't offer the insight and support that I needed. Despite the lack of aesthetic appeal (the cover is hazard orange), there was a wealth of information, both logistical and spiritual, that really helped me out when I began my fast a few days later.

I haven't fasted since, but would certainly refer back to this guide for advice.

[Dayna]

A little too hippy for me in parts (crystals? auras? I mean really people ...), but overall a well-thought out, quick read on the physical, mental & spiritual aspects of fasting. I am inspired and am going to give it a shot, in fact. I'll let you know how good their advice was after I test it out in real life.

[Amy]

One day I'm going to do this. Fat people keep eating all my food at work anyway.