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Hungry: The Truth About Being Full
Dr. Robin L. Smith, noted psychologist, ordained minister, motivational speaker, and best-selling author of Lies at the Altar , seemed to have the perfect life, but underneath it all, she felt empty. In this powerful new work, Dr. Robin painstakingly chronicles a time when she felt at the end of her rope, unable to truly see herself or escape the unrelenting craving in her heart. Throughout her life, she had always focused on living up to everyone else’s expectations, doing everything they asked—everything they recommended—in the hopes that by pleasing others she would find fulfillment and success. Instead she found herself spiritually and emotionally starved with a hungry soul begging for change. Through vivid descriptions of the symptoms of her hunger, the gnawing emptiness in her soul, and her courageous journey to discovering herself, Dr. Robin opens a window into her own experiences in order to provide insight into yours. With clarity and empathy she starts you on a path to uncovering the real you—the you that lays beneath all the doubt, superficiality, and life crises. Dr. Robin honestly bares her soul and shares her story—plus stories of other hungry souls including her friends, clients from her psychology practice, family, and celebrities—and in the process, teaches you to recognize, survive, embrace, and conquer your own hunger. She teaches you to step into your own story so you can listen to and learn from the wisdom within.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2013
40 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 21, 2014
Smith had it all but still felt empty. Then it all slowly unravelled and Smith learned that she needs to value herself enough to expect and insist on loving kind treatment.
The book is very disjointed and Smith makes the mistake of thinking the reader knows all about her life 'before' when she was well-known and well off. She talks about present actions and feelings and then past ones (how far in the past?) and was confusing me to the point where I looked her bio up on the internet to see when and for how long she was married etc.
One of the things she said that hit home was that as kids they were taught to think of others, even at their own expense: Robin was hurt by a fellow classmate and her mom told her to not be upset, the girl probably had problems and was unhappy. That may have been true but Robin at the time wanted comfort, not a dismissal. She needed to be told about boundries and self- protection.
So there were some good gems in there about developing proper boundries, self esteem, and being who you want to be, not what others want you to be.
The book should have been shorter and more organized. It was too self-help oriented to be a biography but not explanatory enuf to be a biography of her life. She made all the discoveries instead of telling us the story so we could see the connections ourselves.
The book is very disjointed and Smith makes the mistake of thinking the reader knows all about her life 'before' when she was well-known and well off. She talks about present actions and feelings and then past ones (how far in the past?) and was confusing me to the point where I looked her bio up on the internet to see when and for how long she was married etc.
One of the things she said that hit home was that as kids they were taught to think of others, even at their own expense: Robin was hurt by a fellow classmate and her mom told her to not be upset, the girl probably had problems and was unhappy. That may have been true but Robin at the time wanted comfort, not a dismissal. She needed to be told about boundries and self- protection.
So there were some good gems in there about developing proper boundries, self esteem, and being who you want to be, not what others want you to be.
The book should have been shorter and more organized. It was too self-help oriented to be a biography but not explanatory enuf to be a biography of her life. She made all the discoveries instead of telling us the story so we could see the connections ourselves.
August 27, 2013
A few nuggets and gems here, but largely a waste of time. This was a 200+ page book that could have been written in a 50-page novella. Rambling and unfocused. Basically, the author recommends that you put yourself first, stay true to yourself, look to yourself as the source if your own happiness, and don't settle. All good advice. But you don't need to drone on and on about it. Also, i had trouble relating to a woman who had a great childhood, a career that she loved and was successful in, and truly did seem to have it all. It probably was unfair of me, but i couldn't help thinking "what does she have to be upset about?" In the end though, regardless of where we come from or where we're going, life does happen to us all. So i commend the author for her honesty, but the book didn't really speak to me.
January 23, 2014
I saw the author on an Oprah interview and thought the idea of this book was interesting. I could have saved myself the pain and money I spent trying to work myself through it. I don't mean to diminish any pain the author went through during her life but her book wasn't more than an amateurish bunch of blog posts. There didn't seem to be any continuity in her thoughts and she constantly repeated herself. One chapter started with her remembering her wedding day and before she explained what the purpose of that small section, she was off talking about the relationship she had with her dog. I don't think the author acted as a writer and sat down to organize this book. Maybe she was in too much of a 'hungry' state and was more concerned with getting it published for the money to help the dire situation she was dealt. I'm not sure that is true but this book certainly left me empty.
July 13, 2013
I have compassion for the author's journey, but I didn't really care for this book. For my tastes, too many cliches, a hard-to-read writing style, and only a handful of meaningful messages. I was disappointed.
April 4, 2013
I was disappointed in this book. Seems to ramble on. I have always enjoyed hearing her opinions when she appeared on the Oprah show and was looking forward to reading.
But it got to be less and less interesting as I went on. I quit reading about half way through.
But it got to be less and less interesting as I went on. I quit reading about half way through.
October 14, 2013
I really looking forward to this book. but just felt it to be all over the place. I couldn't finish the book. and that's rare for me.
April 6, 2021
I was very impressed with Dr. Robin when I heard her speak on TV so I was very excited to read this book. I stuck to it in the beginning but it gave up a little over halfway through. I put it down for a while and when I picked it up again I just skimmed through the remainder. I did get some useful tidbits of information here and there although I was hoping for more prescriptive strategies to alleviate feelings of hunger. I feel it was unfocused, it rambled and was repetitive.
gave-up-on
June 25, 2021First chapter was ok. second chapter I was barely skimming to see if anything would happen. Decided to quit.
It's very preacher-esque which makes sense with her background. But not for me.
It's very preacher-esque which makes sense with her background. But not for me.
March 11, 2025
Thought provoking and uplifting.
October 27, 2013
**Feeding the real hunger**
What are you really hungry for?
And what is hunger actually?
In her book _Hungry_, Robin Smith helps explore these questions. Pondering the question of the true essence of hunger, she writes that:
“It’s a deep longing and a need to be truly known, accepted, respected, loved, valued, seen and heard by the self and others. When hunger is neglected, ignored, denied, shamed, blamed, or misunderstood it makes us even hungrier. Actually, we become ravenous and feel insatiable. The more we deny our hunger pains, the stronger our cravings become, leading us to act destructively—because hungry people do desperate things. This desperation might be manifested in overachieving, underachieving, depression, false elation, seeking power, becoming powerless, being a victim, being a victimizer, or having emotional/sexual affairs. Hunger has many faces, but one way or another it demands to be fed…Hunger unattended is a tormenter. It destroys our ability to live with joy, peace, and well-being and to love ourselves and others. But hunger *listened to* is an amazing teacher and guide.” (p. 23)
She has written this book with the hopes that she can help readers satisfy their inner hungers in the same way she is learning to nourish hers:
“The message I want to get across is a breakthrough for those who have hidden their hunger and desires for so long that they don’t even know what’s real anymore. I speak from the heart, because I, too, denied my hunger and was ashamed of it. Now with each day, I live more in the freedom of truth. I fully embrace when I am hungry and do my best to attend to my needs. What I’m not doing anymore is pretending to be full when I am starving to death. Living in the truth saves, restores, and renews my life daily, and I want to pass that gift on. “ (pp. 13-14)
With her eight qualities of a wakeful life (pp. 219-230), Robin offers eight “nourishing dishes” to help feed inner hunger—and questions to ask yourself to assess your current satiety for each:
1. Wakefulness
—Was there a time I felt awakened?
—Did I see, think, or feel something new?
—What was it? Who helped me?
—Have I ever helped someone awaken to new information, ideas, and realizations? Who was it? Would I do it the same way again?
2. Courage
—Where is fear hiding in my life?
—Who are the people who make me feel afraid?
—Can I remember a time when I transcending my fear and acted courageously in a situation? How did it feel?
—Are there people around me who are living in fear? What do I notice about them?
3. Hope
—What three hopes are closest to my heart?
—What specific actions will nurture each of those hopes?
—Can I recall a time when I was feeling hopeless and took action to change my situation?
—What person or persons have inspired me to make my hopes come true by modeling effective action?
4. Stillness
—Do I even know how to be still?
—Am I afraid to be still?
—Is stillness a value I want to embrace and encourage in my family and children?
5. Resilience
—Where have I observed examples of resilience in my own life?
—Who are the role models I use for resilience?
—Can I name a time when I experienced failure and bounced back?
6. Trust
—What are the wounds that have made me say, “I’ll never trust again?”
—Do I trust myself?
—Can I trust my feelings and instincts?
—Am I trustworthy?
7. Spirit
—What makes me feel connected to Spirit?
—What gives me access to Spirit?
—What blocks my access to Spirit?
8. Wisdom
—What is wisdom to me?
—How does wisdom show up as I integrate many pieces of my life?
—What has wisdom taught me?
I have mixed feelings about this book. Although I no doubt agree it contains a lot of nourishing gems for feeding internal hunger, the same personal experiences that helped inform the author’s offerings also at times result in the book feeling more like an autobiography than a general self-help book. I was comfortable with this self-focus throughout the book (the perks of being a therapist)—until the very last paragraph when she referred to herself as “the mouthpiece” of God. Perhaps it’s best she saved this reference until the end, otherwise, I would put the book right back on the shelf.
So, if you can dish aside the self-serving bits of this book, you’re likely to find some nourishment to help you satisfy your inner hunger and feel at least a little bit fuller.
What are you really hungry for?
And what is hunger actually?
In her book _Hungry_, Robin Smith helps explore these questions. Pondering the question of the true essence of hunger, she writes that:
“It’s a deep longing and a need to be truly known, accepted, respected, loved, valued, seen and heard by the self and others. When hunger is neglected, ignored, denied, shamed, blamed, or misunderstood it makes us even hungrier. Actually, we become ravenous and feel insatiable. The more we deny our hunger pains, the stronger our cravings become, leading us to act destructively—because hungry people do desperate things. This desperation might be manifested in overachieving, underachieving, depression, false elation, seeking power, becoming powerless, being a victim, being a victimizer, or having emotional/sexual affairs. Hunger has many faces, but one way or another it demands to be fed…Hunger unattended is a tormenter. It destroys our ability to live with joy, peace, and well-being and to love ourselves and others. But hunger *listened to* is an amazing teacher and guide.” (p. 23)
She has written this book with the hopes that she can help readers satisfy their inner hungers in the same way she is learning to nourish hers:
“The message I want to get across is a breakthrough for those who have hidden their hunger and desires for so long that they don’t even know what’s real anymore. I speak from the heart, because I, too, denied my hunger and was ashamed of it. Now with each day, I live more in the freedom of truth. I fully embrace when I am hungry and do my best to attend to my needs. What I’m not doing anymore is pretending to be full when I am starving to death. Living in the truth saves, restores, and renews my life daily, and I want to pass that gift on. “ (pp. 13-14)
With her eight qualities of a wakeful life (pp. 219-230), Robin offers eight “nourishing dishes” to help feed inner hunger—and questions to ask yourself to assess your current satiety for each:
1. Wakefulness
—Was there a time I felt awakened?
—Did I see, think, or feel something new?
—What was it? Who helped me?
—Have I ever helped someone awaken to new information, ideas, and realizations? Who was it? Would I do it the same way again?
2. Courage
—Where is fear hiding in my life?
—Who are the people who make me feel afraid?
—Can I remember a time when I transcending my fear and acted courageously in a situation? How did it feel?
—Are there people around me who are living in fear? What do I notice about them?
3. Hope
—What three hopes are closest to my heart?
—What specific actions will nurture each of those hopes?
—Can I recall a time when I was feeling hopeless and took action to change my situation?
—What person or persons have inspired me to make my hopes come true by modeling effective action?
4. Stillness
—Do I even know how to be still?
—Am I afraid to be still?
—Is stillness a value I want to embrace and encourage in my family and children?
5. Resilience
—Where have I observed examples of resilience in my own life?
—Who are the role models I use for resilience?
—Can I name a time when I experienced failure and bounced back?
6. Trust
—What are the wounds that have made me say, “I’ll never trust again?”
—Do I trust myself?
—Can I trust my feelings and instincts?
—Am I trustworthy?
7. Spirit
—What makes me feel connected to Spirit?
—What gives me access to Spirit?
—What blocks my access to Spirit?
8. Wisdom
—What is wisdom to me?
—How does wisdom show up as I integrate many pieces of my life?
—What has wisdom taught me?
I have mixed feelings about this book. Although I no doubt agree it contains a lot of nourishing gems for feeding internal hunger, the same personal experiences that helped inform the author’s offerings also at times result in the book feeling more like an autobiography than a general self-help book. I was comfortable with this self-focus throughout the book (the perks of being a therapist)—until the very last paragraph when she referred to herself as “the mouthpiece” of God. Perhaps it’s best she saved this reference until the end, otherwise, I would put the book right back on the shelf.
So, if you can dish aside the self-serving bits of this book, you’re likely to find some nourishment to help you satisfy your inner hunger and feel at least a little bit fuller.
June 6, 2013
Great book it will guide you to positive change. It gets you thinking about how you want to live a positive life, a real life and to feel what you really feel inside your soul and rediscover/discover the real you. This book can help you uncover who you are at the core but you have to be honest with answering the questions. It takes you on a journey of self reflection and gives you a mental self check-up asking the questions for you to be open, candid, and address the wounds that have you bleeding mentally and starts you on a road of healing and an intervention process to follow for the best you that perhaps you were neglecting and it's never to late to start living the life you want and be the real you.
September 29, 2013
A Brilliant book, it explains the metaphysical reason for hunger. Recounting her own experiences of intense hunger pangs and incessant eating, until one day she stops her car in the middle of the road and asks out loud, why am I hungry all the time?
This leads to some very interesting answers which can best be read in the book.
An author of multiple books, its well written. The author also has a radio show on Oprah's network.
Highly recommended for those who feel hungry all the time and are going through a difficult period in their lives.
Vivek Rajan Vivek
A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku
www.vivekrajanvivek.com
This leads to some very interesting answers which can best be read in the book.
An author of multiple books, its well written. The author also has a radio show on Oprah's network.
Highly recommended for those who feel hungry all the time and are going through a difficult period in their lives.
Vivek Rajan Vivek
A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku
www.vivekrajanvivek.com
July 21, 2015
I picked up this book because I sometimes feel I am lacking attention. Dr Smith describes going to the fridge to get something to eat, but never really satisfying the hunger. She is referring to the emotional hunger. She talked about being in relationships and giving, giving , giving and then still feeling empty. About being a people pleaser. I saw myself in a lot of her examples.
I was a little disappointed that more information wasn't provided on how to fix the problem. There was a lot of writing describing the symptoms, but very little on fixing the issue.
The book was easy to read and I was curious to read til the end.
I was a little disappointed that more information wasn't provided on how to fix the problem. There was a lot of writing describing the symptoms, but very little on fixing the issue.
The book was easy to read and I was curious to read til the end.
August 3, 2013
I loved this book! Dr. Robin's journey to find herself is an open and honest one. She looks deeply into the habits of self-driven, over-achieving women and the sacrifices we make; many of which are at the expense of taking care of ourselves. This book was a life changer for me. I truly saw myself in many of the same mistakes she made. I will continue to use this book as a reference as I continue my life's journey.
January 6, 2014
This book has something to say to some people but it could have been said in many less words and with better focus. The author lost me at the point where she spent pages talking about her hair. There were some ideas that many might find helpful in a world that insists we conform and makes us ill as we do so.
September 9, 2016
A few great nuggets of wisdom but it might have been a better read as a memoir.
Read
May 9, 2014meh
August 17, 2014
Robin has a great twist on feelings and explanations. Love her books. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews