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Thinking & Eating: Recipes to nourish and inspire
A thought-provoking cookbook exploring the psychology of food and how to eat to nourish the mind and body.
From a morning shot of espresso to an absentminded sandwich at your desk, or a hastily assembled dinner with the leftovers from the fridge, eating is a ubiquitous daily undertaking. But what is its real impact on our emotional lives, and how can we better nourish ourselves?
With over 150 recipes, Thinking & Eating shows us how ingredients and dishes can support certain ideas, emotions, and states of mind. In each recipe we discover how food can store, memorialize, and transmit the most important ideas of our lives.
From a morning shot of espresso to an absentminded sandwich at your desk, or a hastily assembled dinner with the leftovers from the fridge, eating is a ubiquitous daily undertaking. But what is its real impact on our emotional lives, and how can we better nourish ourselves?
With over 150 recipes, Thinking & Eating shows us how ingredients and dishes can support certain ideas, emotions, and states of mind. In each recipe we discover how food can store, memorialize, and transmit the most important ideas of our lives.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 29, 2020
9 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
The School of Life
174 books3,154 followersThe School of Life is a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives.
We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.
Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.
That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.
We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.
Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.
That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 24, 2020
Interesting reading. I did receive a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I love the cover because it looks retro, but I found the premise behind the book to be a bit retro as well: "It has seemed like one cannot be both a cook and a thinker" (10). What?
Actually, the point of the book (and The School of Life philosophy) is the use of "the sensory realm" to help with "the mission of ideas" (12). It sounds a bit metaphysical, but it all makes sense in a weird way.
The opening of the book reads like a textbook but once I got to the sections on individual foods, I enjoyed it much more. At times, I felt like I was reading a book similar to one of plant or flower symbolism. As I read what each food means, I thought, "Well, that actually makes sense."
Here, let me show you:
Avocados, The Symbol of Reassurance: "Avocados are what we should turn to--and remember to be a little more like--in the midst of our frequent and bewildering crises." I don't know...but that just makes sense.
The Caper, Symbol of Cynicism: "...if we have no cynical instincts at all we're liable to be shocked by the normal imperfections of others and of society, and our naivety will prevent us from mounting necessary interventions and protests" (53). True that.
Mint, Symbol of Intelligence: "Mint is the sensuous equivalent of clarity and precision" (65).
Besides the sections on food symbolism (according to The School of Life), there are sections on "Looking After Ourselves," "With Friends," "Relationships," "Good Enough," and "Food for Thinking." There's recipes a plenty. But, I had to laugh that when one might be faced with thinking, "I don't like myself very much," the authors recommend fish pie (130-131). What?
The "With Friends" section reminded me too much of a Good Housekeeping column back in the day. The "Relationship" section read like an old Cosmo column.
But, perhaps I am a bit too cynical (overly capered?). There are lots of recipes I want to try like Moroccan Bean Stew (204), Cinnamon Nut Muesli (310), Baked Feta (59), Avocado Pasta (44), and Crisp Fried Eggplant (62).
The photos of the food are nicely done. There are a few photos of some of the finished recipes.
I could not help but think of my favorite (yet crazy) aunt who was always wagging home one self-help book or another or some new-to-her religious philosophy. I think she would love this book. Buy it for the food. I'm not sure I am really into The School of Life tenets.
Again, I may need to cut down on my capers and eat more aubergines (symbol of sensitivity).
I love the cover because it looks retro, but I found the premise behind the book to be a bit retro as well: "It has seemed like one cannot be both a cook and a thinker" (10). What?
Actually, the point of the book (and The School of Life philosophy) is the use of "the sensory realm" to help with "the mission of ideas" (12). It sounds a bit metaphysical, but it all makes sense in a weird way.
The opening of the book reads like a textbook but once I got to the sections on individual foods, I enjoyed it much more. At times, I felt like I was reading a book similar to one of plant or flower symbolism. As I read what each food means, I thought, "Well, that actually makes sense."
Here, let me show you:
Avocados, The Symbol of Reassurance: "Avocados are what we should turn to--and remember to be a little more like--in the midst of our frequent and bewildering crises." I don't know...but that just makes sense.
The Caper, Symbol of Cynicism: "...if we have no cynical instincts at all we're liable to be shocked by the normal imperfections of others and of society, and our naivety will prevent us from mounting necessary interventions and protests" (53). True that.
Mint, Symbol of Intelligence: "Mint is the sensuous equivalent of clarity and precision" (65).
Besides the sections on food symbolism (according to The School of Life), there are sections on "Looking After Ourselves," "With Friends," "Relationships," "Good Enough," and "Food for Thinking." There's recipes a plenty. But, I had to laugh that when one might be faced with thinking, "I don't like myself very much," the authors recommend fish pie (130-131). What?
The "With Friends" section reminded me too much of a Good Housekeeping column back in the day. The "Relationship" section read like an old Cosmo column.
But, perhaps I am a bit too cynical (overly capered?). There are lots of recipes I want to try like Moroccan Bean Stew (204), Cinnamon Nut Muesli (310), Baked Feta (59), Avocado Pasta (44), and Crisp Fried Eggplant (62).
The photos of the food are nicely done. There are a few photos of some of the finished recipes.
I could not help but think of my favorite (yet crazy) aunt who was always wagging home one self-help book or another or some new-to-her religious philosophy. I think she would love this book. Buy it for the food. I'm not sure I am really into The School of Life tenets.
Again, I may need to cut down on my capers and eat more aubergines (symbol of sensitivity).
June 4, 2022
I refuse to buy cookbooks of any kind but this cookbook was pure genius, combining food with philosophy - a recipe fusion that we all need for the pantry! I especially enjoyed the “menu conversation starters” at the end of the book, which I often brought along with me whenever my family and I went out to dinner, to save the awkward silences and have more of a constructive conversation. It worked!!
I’ll never forget the expression of the guy sitting next to us who kept glancing towards our table whenever he heard me asking such philosophical questions to my parents, it made the experience so much more entertaining.
I’ll never forget the expression of the guy sitting next to us who kept glancing towards our table whenever he heard me asking such philosophical questions to my parents, it made the experience so much more entertaining.
December 23, 2019
One of the most engaging books I've ever read. It combines food, psychology, and philosophy in a way that is exciting and makes it feel like the solutions to a lot of life's dilemmas could be pulled together on your kitchen counter. I especially liked the first section where specific foods or ingredients are correlated with virtues in contemporary society. I would love to see an expanded list of these virtuous foods someday or even a book of its own.
October 5, 2025
Incredible book! Tried 5 recipes so far and they were amazing. It’s not about the recipes though, it’s about what they represent! Much easier to remember psychological concepts when you connect them to food. Highly recommend it to everyone!
November 11, 2023
This is a delightful read. It is a recipe book but had philosophy tied into it. Very cleverly done. The recipes are not the most exciting but the thinking behind each one is magnificent.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews