What do you think?
Rate this book
Allen Carr's Easy Way Quit Emotional Eat
Do you eat when you're not hungry? Or when you're angry and upset? Do you eat to control your feelings?
Allen Carr's Easyway is the most successful self-help stop-smoking method of all time. It has helped millions of smokers all over the world to quit, and has since been used to treat other addictions such as drinking and gambling. Allen Carr's Easyway method works by unravelling the brainwashing that leads us to desire the very thing that is harming us, meaning that we are freed from the addiction rather than merely restricting our behaviour.
The Easyway method has now been applied to the problem of emotional eating. With Allen Carr's Easyway method, you can eat as much of your favourite foods as you want, whenever you want, as often as you want, and be the exact weight you want to be, without dieting, special exercise, using willpower or feeling deprived.
Do you find that difficult to believe? Read this book.
What people say about Allen Carr's Easyway
"The Allen Carr program was nothing short of a miracle."
Anjelica Huston
"His skill is in removing the psychological dependence."
The Sunday Times
"I know so many people who turned their lives around after reading Allen Carr's books."
Sir Richard Branson
Allen Carr's Easyway is the most successful self-help stop-smoking method of all time. It has helped millions of smokers all over the world to quit, and has since been used to treat other addictions such as drinking and gambling. Allen Carr's Easyway method works by unravelling the brainwashing that leads us to desire the very thing that is harming us, meaning that we are freed from the addiction rather than merely restricting our behaviour.
The Easyway method has now been applied to the problem of emotional eating. With Allen Carr's Easyway method, you can eat as much of your favourite foods as you want, whenever you want, as often as you want, and be the exact weight you want to be, without dieting, special exercise, using willpower or feeling deprived.
Do you find that difficult to believe? Read this book.
What people say about Allen Carr's Easyway
"The Allen Carr program was nothing short of a miracle."
Anjelica Huston
"His skill is in removing the psychological dependence."
The Sunday Times
"I know so many people who turned their lives around after reading Allen Carr's books."
Sir Richard Branson
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2019
466 people are currently reading
675 people want to read
About the author
Allen Carr
409 books282 followersAllen Carr was a British author and the founder of the global Allen Carr’s Easyway method, renowned for helping millions overcome smoking and other addictions. Born in Putney, London in 1934, Carr began smoking at 18 during National Service and struggled with the habit for over three decades. A qualified accountant, he finally quit in 1983 following a revelatory visit to a hypnotherapist. The experience didn’t directly cause him to quit, but it led to two key insights: that smoking was simply a form of nicotine addiction, and that withdrawal symptoms were minor and psychological in nature. These revelations inspired Carr to develop a revolutionary approach to quitting, one that did not rely on willpower, scare tactics, or substitution therapies.
Carr’s philosophy centered on removing the smoker’s fear of giving up. He argued that smoking merely relieves withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette, and that the supposed satisfaction gained is merely a return to the non-smoker’s normal state. Through live seminars, books, and multimedia resources, the Easyway method encourages smokers to continue smoking while they reframe their beliefs, ultimately extinguishing their final cigarette with clarity and confidence.
In 1985, Carr published The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, which became a bestseller and was translated into more than 45 languages. The success of his London clinic led to the establishment of over 100 Easyway centers in 35 countries, offering seminars to treat smoking, alcohol dependency, sugar addiction, and even fear of flying. His method’s credibility was bolstered by independent clinical trials, including studies in Ireland and the UK which found it as effective—if not more so—than standard cessation methods. This led to its adoption by NHS-approved services in England.
A key element of the Easyway clinics is that all facilitators are former addicts who successfully quit using the method themselves. They must complete extensive training and become licensed members of the Association of Allen Carr Therapists International.
Throughout his career, Carr also co-authored a wide range of Easyway books addressing various addictions and behavioral issues, often collaborating with Robin Hayley and John C. Dicey, the current Chairman and Global CEO of Allen Carr’s Easyway. Dicey, whom Carr mentored, continues to lead the organization’s development and public outreach.
Carr died of lung cancer in 2006 at age 72, though he had not smoked for 23 years. He attributed his illness to second-hand smoke exposure during seminars. Before his death, he remained committed to his mission, challenging governmental ties to nicotine replacement industries and advocating for wider access to his method.
Carr’s legacy continues through his clinics, books, and online programs, which have reached over 50 million people worldwide. His message remains consistent: quitting is not a sacrifice—it’s liberation.
Carr’s philosophy centered on removing the smoker’s fear of giving up. He argued that smoking merely relieves withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette, and that the supposed satisfaction gained is merely a return to the non-smoker’s normal state. Through live seminars, books, and multimedia resources, the Easyway method encourages smokers to continue smoking while they reframe their beliefs, ultimately extinguishing their final cigarette with clarity and confidence.
In 1985, Carr published The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, which became a bestseller and was translated into more than 45 languages. The success of his London clinic led to the establishment of over 100 Easyway centers in 35 countries, offering seminars to treat smoking, alcohol dependency, sugar addiction, and even fear of flying. His method’s credibility was bolstered by independent clinical trials, including studies in Ireland and the UK which found it as effective—if not more so—than standard cessation methods. This led to its adoption by NHS-approved services in England.
A key element of the Easyway clinics is that all facilitators are former addicts who successfully quit using the method themselves. They must complete extensive training and become licensed members of the Association of Allen Carr Therapists International.
Throughout his career, Carr also co-authored a wide range of Easyway books addressing various addictions and behavioral issues, often collaborating with Robin Hayley and John C. Dicey, the current Chairman and Global CEO of Allen Carr’s Easyway. Dicey, whom Carr mentored, continues to lead the organization’s development and public outreach.
Carr died of lung cancer in 2006 at age 72, though he had not smoked for 23 years. He attributed his illness to second-hand smoke exposure during seminars. Before his death, he remained committed to his mission, challenging governmental ties to nicotine replacement industries and advocating for wider access to his method.
Carr’s legacy continues through his clinics, books, and online programs, which have reached over 50 million people worldwide. His message remains consistent: quitting is not a sacrifice—it’s liberation.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 13, 2020
Nice try BUT...
Let me tell you something: I did quit smoking 13 years ago with Allen Carr’s easy way. Awsome book I can’t recommend enough.
I decided, hopeless and tired of failing again and again to put an end to my binge eating problem, to give a try to this book. After all, this method saved me from a lung cancer.. why not from my eating disorder ?
Hmm let me tell you why this method won’t work: you can get hooked simply to the act of overeating by itself, not only On junk food. The author keeps repeating again and again that once you eat whole food you get satisfied and no longer desire eating past fullness or for emotional reason, it’s not true. I can totally binge on bananas, nuts, omelets etc... So I found it very hard to visualize myself in this method because every time I had to replace the word « junk food » by overeating or junk addiction by « overeating addiction.. it didn’t work. I don’t have a « little monster » crying for sugar, it cries even for carrots or apples so what mindset should I adopt in this case Sir Richard Branson?
I really had a lot of hope when I started to read this book but I am very disappointed. Finished the book yesterday and here I’m again bingeing on fruits.
Let me tell you something: I did quit smoking 13 years ago with Allen Carr’s easy way. Awsome book I can’t recommend enough.
I decided, hopeless and tired of failing again and again to put an end to my binge eating problem, to give a try to this book. After all, this method saved me from a lung cancer.. why not from my eating disorder ?
Hmm let me tell you why this method won’t work: you can get hooked simply to the act of overeating by itself, not only On junk food. The author keeps repeating again and again that once you eat whole food you get satisfied and no longer desire eating past fullness or for emotional reason, it’s not true. I can totally binge on bananas, nuts, omelets etc... So I found it very hard to visualize myself in this method because every time I had to replace the word « junk food » by overeating or junk addiction by « overeating addiction.. it didn’t work. I don’t have a « little monster » crying for sugar, it cries even for carrots or apples so what mindset should I adopt in this case Sir Richard Branson?
I really had a lot of hope when I started to read this book but I am very disappointed. Finished the book yesterday and here I’m again bingeing on fruits.
March 18, 2021
Yeah this didn't work. I couldn't get on board with the idea that junk food gives no pleasure. Yes binge eating junk food is bad, but having cake on your birthday is not. This book takes an all or nothing approach and that's not what I'm looking for. I didn't really buy the idea that we only like chocolate and crisps because of brainwashing. Hardly. They are legit delicious. I also don't agree that milk and potatoes are bad at all. Still, it wasn't a complete waste of time. Certainly pay attention and don't eat because of boredom, loneliness, etc is good advice.
June 26, 2024
ONE OF MY TOP 3 FAVORITE read-in-2022 BOOKS!
This book is astonishingly good. It, and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (TLCMoTU), are the only two self-help publications I've ever read that had me nodding "yes" throughout, because everything made sense. Both of them are very positive and practical in their approach. There's no shaming, no platitudes, no vague instructions that are impossible to follow. Unlike Kondo's very repetitive* book (and most of the self-help genre), Carr's is quite concise: I never felt that I was reading the same thing over and over. Repetition, where it was used, clearly served to deepen and reinforce what was being taught -- it was not just a filler to cover up the fact that the authors had nothing much to say.
Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating reads like a conversation with a supportive friend or teacher. I never felt attacked or talked down to, which allowed me to challenge and change my thinking, instead of looking for defensive counter-arguments. I tend to find nonfiction/self-help works preachy, overwhelming, simplistic, ridiculous, or boring. This book had me excited to start the next chapter! At times I even giggled with relief while reading!
There are 20 chapters total, each of them brief and easy to read. The book does not rely on the extraneous graphics, "personal stories," and fluff that is so typical for the genre. Each chapter is presented with a quick preview summary. Major conclusions are typographically highlighted, and any headings used in the book actually pertain to what is being discussed, making previous lessons easy to reference.
For years I've been hearing good things about The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Nonsmokers Using the Easyway Method. Years ago I actually gave a copy to a friend, who was able to quit smoking (easily and permanently) after many fruitless prior attempts. I'm so glad I finally decided to see if Allen Carr could help me with my emotional eating problem. I'm grateful to him (and John Dicey, who carries the Easyway torch with dignity and class after Mr. Carr's death). Here's to the rest of our lives... and FREEDOM :)
* I believe that TLCMoTU probably worked on me precisely because it repeats its message over and over, so that by the end I was getting quite tired of reading the same thing again, thinking: yeah, yeah, I know! ... I was raring to get started.
Update, more than a year later: I have lost 40 lbs since I finished this book, and "added sugar" no longer holds any appeal to me. It doesn't taste good, and it doesn't make me feel good, so I no longer consume any. I now understand that emotional eating does not help me cope with life's stresses, quite the opposite: it adds to them. I'm not sure how to convey the sense of freedom and the utter happiness that Allen Carr's teachings have given me. I'm so grateful for my new life. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Second update, 18 months after reading the book: 65 lbs down, and my life has changed in ways I could not have dreamed of. I'm happy as a clam.
Third update, 2 years after reading: 85 lbs down and counting :)
This book is astonishingly good. It, and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (TLCMoTU), are the only two self-help publications I've ever read that had me nodding "yes" throughout, because everything made sense. Both of them are very positive and practical in their approach. There's no shaming, no platitudes, no vague instructions that are impossible to follow. Unlike Kondo's very repetitive* book (and most of the self-help genre), Carr's is quite concise: I never felt that I was reading the same thing over and over. Repetition, where it was used, clearly served to deepen and reinforce what was being taught -- it was not just a filler to cover up the fact that the authors had nothing much to say.
Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating reads like a conversation with a supportive friend or teacher. I never felt attacked or talked down to, which allowed me to challenge and change my thinking, instead of looking for defensive counter-arguments. I tend to find nonfiction/self-help works preachy, overwhelming, simplistic, ridiculous, or boring. This book had me excited to start the next chapter! At times I even giggled with relief while reading!
There are 20 chapters total, each of them brief and easy to read. The book does not rely on the extraneous graphics, "personal stories," and fluff that is so typical for the genre. Each chapter is presented with a quick preview summary. Major conclusions are typographically highlighted, and any headings used in the book actually pertain to what is being discussed, making previous lessons easy to reference.
For years I've been hearing good things about The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Nonsmokers Using the Easyway Method. Years ago I actually gave a copy to a friend, who was able to quit smoking (easily and permanently) after many fruitless prior attempts. I'm so glad I finally decided to see if Allen Carr could help me with my emotional eating problem. I'm grateful to him (and John Dicey, who carries the Easyway torch with dignity and class after Mr. Carr's death). Here's to the rest of our lives... and FREEDOM :)
* I believe that TLCMoTU probably worked on me precisely because it repeats its message over and over, so that by the end I was getting quite tired of reading the same thing again, thinking: yeah, yeah, I know! ... I was raring to get started.
Update, more than a year later: I have lost 40 lbs since I finished this book, and "added sugar" no longer holds any appeal to me. It doesn't taste good, and it doesn't make me feel good, so I no longer consume any. I now understand that emotional eating does not help me cope with life's stresses, quite the opposite: it adds to them. I'm not sure how to convey the sense of freedom and the utter happiness that Allen Carr's teachings have given me. I'm so grateful for my new life. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Second update, 18 months after reading the book: 65 lbs down, and my life has changed in ways I could not have dreamed of. I'm happy as a clam.
Third update, 2 years after reading: 85 lbs down and counting :)
October 27, 2021
The majority of the book was very frustrating, as it acted as snakeoil-style commercial to the rest of the book. "You will enjoy everything from now on," "All you need to do is follow this book," etc. (Not exact quotes, but I think the exact quote would be worse.) The book only entered into details only far later, which was also a very remote "payoff" in that sense.
I think the idea behind it was to prime you to take this seriously, but it felt very frustrating.
Overall, I might need a second read of this book to appreciate it, but it raises many valuable points:
* It promotes a more raw, vegan diet (without using the words "raw" or "vegan" which scare people for some reason)
* It tries to explain matters, not just cater to your emotions, but to help you genuinely process matters
* It talks a lot about how companies make a profit out of your loss
* It pushes you to take control far more
I think the idea behind it was to prime you to take this seriously, but it felt very frustrating.
Overall, I might need a second read of this book to appreciate it, but it raises many valuable points:
* It promotes a more raw, vegan diet (without using the words "raw" or "vegan" which scare people for some reason)
* It tries to explain matters, not just cater to your emotions, but to help you genuinely process matters
* It talks a lot about how companies make a profit out of your loss
* It pushes you to take control far more
October 13, 2021
I read the Allen Carr stop smoking book years ago and thought it was brillaint and it totally worked for me. It made me fully understand the psychology of addiction and why we smoke. Sadly, this book wasn't effective at all; maybe that's because you can't give up food entirely and stop eating as you can with smoking. Also, it recommends that you exist on raw fruit, vegetables and seeds (not something you discover until the very end of the book) which for me is just not something I want to do. Had I known this was what was expected, I never would have bought the book.
October 17, 2023
Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating" is based on the premise that emotional eating is akin to a self-imposed prison that restricts individuals from fully experiencing life. The book delves into the idea that many people turn to food as a coping mechanism for stress, loneliness, or other negative emotions, leading to an unhealthy cycle of seeking comfort in junk food. Carr's approach, inspired by his successful method for smoking cessation, emphasizes the need to challenge the psychological conditioning associated with emotional eating.
Carr argues that the mindset surrounding emotional eating is similar to the deceptive allure of smoking. Just as smokers associate cigarettes with stress relief or relaxation, emotional eaters link certain foods with comfort and satisfaction. However, the book highlights the illusory nature of these connections, emphasizing that the relief provided by the consumption of comfort foods is transient and ultimately leads to further emotional distress.
The book emphasizes the limitations of relying solely on willpower to combat emotional eating. It uses the story of Nick, who managed to resist junk food for a year through sheer determination but eventually succumbed to his cravings, to illustrate the futility of a willpower-based approach. Carr stresses that lasting change requires addressing the root cause of the addiction and dismantling the false beliefs and programming that perpetuate the cycle of emotional eating.
Furthermore, the book provides practical guidance on how to establish healthier eating habits. It emphasizes the importance of consuming nutrient-rich whole foods and paying attention to hunger cues, encouraging readers to differentiate between genuine hunger and emotional cravings. Carr promotes mindful eating as a means of reconnecting with the body's natural signals and fostering a healthier relationship with food.
Ultimately, the book aims to empower individuals to break free from the constraints of emotional eating by fostering a positive mindset, redefining the purpose of food, and adopting a more mindful approach to eating. It highlights the transformative benefits of overcoming emotional eating, including increased energy, improved well-being, and a renewed sense of freedom. By elucidating the parallels between emotional eating and smoking addiction, the book provides readers with a comprehensive framework for achieving lasting behavioral change and leading a more fulfilling life.
Carr argues that the mindset surrounding emotional eating is similar to the deceptive allure of smoking. Just as smokers associate cigarettes with stress relief or relaxation, emotional eaters link certain foods with comfort and satisfaction. However, the book highlights the illusory nature of these connections, emphasizing that the relief provided by the consumption of comfort foods is transient and ultimately leads to further emotional distress.
The book emphasizes the limitations of relying solely on willpower to combat emotional eating. It uses the story of Nick, who managed to resist junk food for a year through sheer determination but eventually succumbed to his cravings, to illustrate the futility of a willpower-based approach. Carr stresses that lasting change requires addressing the root cause of the addiction and dismantling the false beliefs and programming that perpetuate the cycle of emotional eating.
Furthermore, the book provides practical guidance on how to establish healthier eating habits. It emphasizes the importance of consuming nutrient-rich whole foods and paying attention to hunger cues, encouraging readers to differentiate between genuine hunger and emotional cravings. Carr promotes mindful eating as a means of reconnecting with the body's natural signals and fostering a healthier relationship with food.
Ultimately, the book aims to empower individuals to break free from the constraints of emotional eating by fostering a positive mindset, redefining the purpose of food, and adopting a more mindful approach to eating. It highlights the transformative benefits of overcoming emotional eating, including increased energy, improved well-being, and a renewed sense of freedom. By elucidating the parallels between emotional eating and smoking addiction, the book provides readers with a comprehensive framework for achieving lasting behavioral change and leading a more fulfilling life.
October 31, 2021
Feels drawn out, doesn't really provide any strategies. The whole book basically tells you to change your perspective on junk food which is kind of useless because we all know junk food is bad already lol. I got to chapter 15 and was still thinking "where does the book actually start". It never did...
December 23, 2024
It seems to have worked for me. Granted, I am reading some stoic philosophy with similar ideologies as well, so it might be the combined effect. I committed to this wholeheartedly, because overcoming my food addiction was another goal in my mental health journey, and I truly believe that it helped me.
Chocolate, for example, was my kryptonite. I would buy a 200 g Merci box and wolf it down in 10 minutes. I followed the instructions of the book and kept eating as I usually did while reading it. I received a big box of Astros from a friend during that time and figured I'd eat them as instructed by the book. I really experienced them. I closed my eyes and paid attention to every sensation they gave me: taste, texture, mouth-feel... They're disgusting. They really do taste like sweet sludge when you slow things down. Similarly, whole, unprocessed food is delicious. Since then, I've lost my appetite for chocolates and sweets. It's like I'm experiencing food as it should be experienced for the first time.
It's been a month since I finished the book, and I've lost 3 kg without doing anything but eat until I'm full, eat only what I truly enjoy and pay attention to what my body needs. They were right, it is liberating.
Update: 3 months later and I've lost 8 kg, 2 pants sizes and 2 cup sizes doing absolutely nothing. I even have chocolates, burgers and sweets occasionally. I do go back to the book and re-read the fundamentals if I find myself forgetting. It takes maybe 10 minutes a month. I'd say that's a whole lot easier than everything else I've ever tried.
Update: One year later and I've lost 19 kg and counting (down from a size 16 to a size 4). For me, this mindset change is the only thing that has worked long-term.
Chocolate, for example, was my kryptonite. I would buy a 200 g Merci box and wolf it down in 10 minutes. I followed the instructions of the book and kept eating as I usually did while reading it. I received a big box of Astros from a friend during that time and figured I'd eat them as instructed by the book. I really experienced them. I closed my eyes and paid attention to every sensation they gave me: taste, texture, mouth-feel... They're disgusting. They really do taste like sweet sludge when you slow things down. Similarly, whole, unprocessed food is delicious. Since then, I've lost my appetite for chocolates and sweets. It's like I'm experiencing food as it should be experienced for the first time.
It's been a month since I finished the book, and I've lost 3 kg without doing anything but eat until I'm full, eat only what I truly enjoy and pay attention to what my body needs. They were right, it is liberating.
Update: 3 months later and I've lost 8 kg, 2 pants sizes and 2 cup sizes doing absolutely nothing. I even have chocolates, burgers and sweets occasionally. I do go back to the book and re-read the fundamentals if I find myself forgetting. It takes maybe 10 minutes a month. I'd say that's a whole lot easier than everything else I've ever tried.
Update: One year later and I've lost 19 kg and counting (down from a size 16 to a size 4). For me, this mindset change is the only thing that has worked long-term.
October 23, 2020
This book felt a bit like they were trying to force the concept from quitting smoking into over eating - I even wondered, did the author ever really talk to people who have this problem? It didn’t feel realistic to me. I’ve mostly over come my emotional eating problems but the fact that food isn’t a yes/no or good/bad like smoking or drugs etc means that there’s a lot of grey areas.
December 6, 2025
3 stars
Over the years, I've heard dozens of celebrities talk about quitting cigarettes after reading "the book."
I wondered to myself, "If this 'quit smoking book' is so great, I bet this guy has something about losing weight."
I did some Googling. I quickly found Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" and his other books on almost every type of addiction.
I've never been addicted to cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, or anything, but I have all kinds of food issues.
I grew up eating lots of food. Making great food was my mother's love language. Everyone in my family enjoys good food. We revel in the variety, the diversity, the discovery of tantalizing, new, wonderfully tasty food. We're unabashed "foodies."
Food has always been there for comfort, pleasure, and celebration in my family. Sustenance was never an issue. I never had to worry about my next meal. It was always there, in abundance, on a schedule, like clockwork.
If that wasn't enough, we always had frozen pizzas, soda, and a drawer filled with candy bars "just for snacks." I probably ate more calories as snacks than most people have all day.
I was an athlete growing up – working out at least two or three hours everyday, sometimes more like seven or eight. I fed my body good food, bad food, just lots and lots of food.
I met my wife on June 11, 1985. The last recorded workout in my journal was June 10, 1985. Maybe I traded an "exercise addiction" for Tippi, but that's a trade I'd make everyday. Even after 40 years, she's still the greatest human on the planet. I couldn't quit her if I tried.
Of course, a love like that brings contentment. Contentment leads to lethargy. Life happens.
Next thing I know, I'm not an athlete anymore. I'm not working out several hours a day. The engine isn't working nearly as hard, but I keep feeding it like Michael Phelps or something.
I start getting a little chubby. I start working late covering sports. I start eating Taco Bell after every midnight deadline. I start getting downright fat.
My weight constantly goes up and down for decades. I yo-yo diet. I get fit for a year. Get fatter for two. Rinse. Repeat.
Next thing I know, I'm a big, fat bastard.
Eleven years ago, I had weight loss surgery. I lost 143 pounds in one year.
I was at a pretty decent weight at my new low weight, but I didn't look healthy. My face was still puffy and my midsection had all this weird, loose skin. I didn't get my old body back. I got this weird, alien body.
As I learned what types of food my new stomach could handle, I slowly started putting the weight back on. Over the years, I've put on as much as 70 pounds. The floppy skin filled in.
I'm currently about 30 or 40 pounds over my lowest adult weight. I tell people, "I'm just regular-person fat now."
---
Anyway, I thought I'd give this book a shot. I didn't expect a miracle, but I was hoping to reframe how and why I eat the way I do.
This book was successful in that. It's ALL about reframing how and why we eat the way we eat.
There are no secrets in this book. We all know how we're *supposed* to eat.
We just don't.
This book tells you these same things you already know ... over and over again.
In fact, I like to think of this book like a spiral. It goes on and on at the beginning, slowly telling you how to eat properly again.
It goes around and around, reframing the same tips with different stories, coming at you from different angles.
The lightbulbs pop when something makes sense. It sparks interest. It all makes sense, even for just a second. I think I can do this! I really think I can do this!
The spiral continues, telling the same types of stories over and over again.
The final chapters are almost hypnotic. It reminded me of the soothing affirmations a yoga instructor gives your during the end-of-class meditation.
(I could see listening to these final few chapters again and again, like a meditation. That might work, actually.)
Hell, this whole thing might work.
I've already started looking at food differently.
I'm not expecting any drastic changes. I don't know if this thing works or not.
I do know this book is way too long.
I understand the purpose of the long, spiral of thoughts. It just doesn't make for the greatest "book" – and that's what I'm supposed to be reviewing. Right?
If my relationship with food really changes – and I turn into a fit, sexy old man over the next few months – I'll revise my damn rating.
Until then, it's a three-star book.
You might enjoy it. If you get enough lightbulbs to pop, maybe Allen Carr can help you reframe your addictions.
He helped lots of celebrities quit smoking, right?
Over the years, I've heard dozens of celebrities talk about quitting cigarettes after reading "the book."
I wondered to myself, "If this 'quit smoking book' is so great, I bet this guy has something about losing weight."
I did some Googling. I quickly found Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" and his other books on almost every type of addiction.
I've never been addicted to cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, or anything, but I have all kinds of food issues.
I grew up eating lots of food. Making great food was my mother's love language. Everyone in my family enjoys good food. We revel in the variety, the diversity, the discovery of tantalizing, new, wonderfully tasty food. We're unabashed "foodies."
Food has always been there for comfort, pleasure, and celebration in my family. Sustenance was never an issue. I never had to worry about my next meal. It was always there, in abundance, on a schedule, like clockwork.
If that wasn't enough, we always had frozen pizzas, soda, and a drawer filled with candy bars "just for snacks." I probably ate more calories as snacks than most people have all day.
I was an athlete growing up – working out at least two or three hours everyday, sometimes more like seven or eight. I fed my body good food, bad food, just lots and lots of food.
I met my wife on June 11, 1985. The last recorded workout in my journal was June 10, 1985. Maybe I traded an "exercise addiction" for Tippi, but that's a trade I'd make everyday. Even after 40 years, she's still the greatest human on the planet. I couldn't quit her if I tried.
Of course, a love like that brings contentment. Contentment leads to lethargy. Life happens.
Next thing I know, I'm not an athlete anymore. I'm not working out several hours a day. The engine isn't working nearly as hard, but I keep feeding it like Michael Phelps or something.
I start getting a little chubby. I start working late covering sports. I start eating Taco Bell after every midnight deadline. I start getting downright fat.
My weight constantly goes up and down for decades. I yo-yo diet. I get fit for a year. Get fatter for two. Rinse. Repeat.
Next thing I know, I'm a big, fat bastard.
Eleven years ago, I had weight loss surgery. I lost 143 pounds in one year.
I was at a pretty decent weight at my new low weight, but I didn't look healthy. My face was still puffy and my midsection had all this weird, loose skin. I didn't get my old body back. I got this weird, alien body.
As I learned what types of food my new stomach could handle, I slowly started putting the weight back on. Over the years, I've put on as much as 70 pounds. The floppy skin filled in.
I'm currently about 30 or 40 pounds over my lowest adult weight. I tell people, "I'm just regular-person fat now."
---
Anyway, I thought I'd give this book a shot. I didn't expect a miracle, but I was hoping to reframe how and why I eat the way I do.
This book was successful in that. It's ALL about reframing how and why we eat the way we eat.
There are no secrets in this book. We all know how we're *supposed* to eat.
We just don't.
This book tells you these same things you already know ... over and over again.
In fact, I like to think of this book like a spiral. It goes on and on at the beginning, slowly telling you how to eat properly again.
It goes around and around, reframing the same tips with different stories, coming at you from different angles.
The lightbulbs pop when something makes sense. It sparks interest. It all makes sense, even for just a second. I think I can do this! I really think I can do this!
The spiral continues, telling the same types of stories over and over again.
The final chapters are almost hypnotic. It reminded me of the soothing affirmations a yoga instructor gives your during the end-of-class meditation.
(I could see listening to these final few chapters again and again, like a meditation. That might work, actually.)
Hell, this whole thing might work.
I've already started looking at food differently.
I'm not expecting any drastic changes. I don't know if this thing works or not.
I do know this book is way too long.
I understand the purpose of the long, spiral of thoughts. It just doesn't make for the greatest "book" – and that's what I'm supposed to be reviewing. Right?
If my relationship with food really changes – and I turn into a fit, sexy old man over the next few months – I'll revise my damn rating.
Until then, it's a three-star book.
You might enjoy it. If you get enough lightbulbs to pop, maybe Allen Carr can help you reframe your addictions.
He helped lots of celebrities quit smoking, right?
May 2, 2025
I read this as an audiobook on Spotify.
I don’t know if this book was aimed at someone else. I often feel I will arrange my life in such a way as to always have sweet treats, desserts and snacks at every possible opportunity. I’ll eat dessert when full, buy snacks that I don’t end up wanting etc.
So I thought I’d benefit from this. perhaps that makes me an emotional eater or perhaps I’m more neurotypical and simply greedy.
There is a lot of wisdom in this book. The explanation of emotional eating of junk food coming from an anticipatory dopamine spike (big monster) is useful to frame your mindset as the desire for food bringing greater urges then the actual consumption of that food. Also framing the whole “quitting” as not even giving anything up (because junk food is bad for you), is just generally a healthy mindset to be in. However, the reason I picked this book up is a prompt from a family member on knowing when you’re eating from hunger and eating emotionally - that mental process is far more powerful than any one lesson in this book and I’m sad there wasn’t as much on this.
That said, I could not agree with a lot of concepts touted in this book.
For example, that in intellect vs instinct, intellect can be tricked so shouldn’t be listened to, is a massive oversimplification. With no evidence, I am loathe to believe that animals (domesticated or not) would portion food if it were in abundance because they eat of instinct. Animals don’t gorge themselves because they also have to hunt for food - there is an energy equation to trade off between burning calories to find food and eating calories.
Also, there are some comments made from a dietary perspective that are a bit eyebrow-raising. To say there is “no benefit” to refined sugar is incorrect from a dietary point of view. It can provide quick release energy. Long distance, slow burn athletes can sometimes opt for sweets and chocolate for a quick hit of energy. Granted, it’s not nutritious but to say there is no benefit seems to solidify that the message is “junk food = bad. Trust me”, as opposed to actual education on the matter. Further to the nutritional point, Carr suggests meat and dairy is referred to as a “secondary” food source behind fruit, vegetables, nuts and pulses. This view seems ignorant of a lot of people’s lifestyle. Protein is a satiating macronutrient, and essential for biological processes, and is readily available in meat. No, it’s not the only place you can get it but it makes the message of this book seem a little ignorant to nutrition, which I don’t think is a good first step towards viewing food unemotionally.
Further that junk food (let’s say fast food) has no benefit, ignores so many factors. It’s very convenient in certain circumstances such as travel, when homemade food would spoil, or where a restaurant meal (which isn’t necessarily healthier) would take too long.
Some other reviews say the brainwashing element is a bit “cult-like” in language. Whether these views are borne from the suggestion that you must ignore any advice that conflicts with this book, or whether it’s the weird “ritual” of teaching yourself to hate junk food by convincing yourself to hate it while you eat it; I think conceptually it’s probably one of the more solid theories in the book. As I’ve said above, confectionery or junk food companies build food in a lab to get you hooked and keep you coming back for more with new ads, fads and flavours. So saying that the problem is that you’ve been brainwashed would maybe effectively explain the gap between wanting to try or eat tasty foods (harmless curiosity) and feeling like you always need something (crippling addiction).
Chapter 14, she suggests that the successful outcome of the book is “never wanting to eat a cake or chocolate again”. I don’t know if that’s a healthy mindset. It’s true, cake or baked goods are lacking in nutrition; does that mean that conquering emotional eating means no cake on birthdays? Refusing a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day? I know Easy Way is supposed to mean I don’t “want” to eat junk, but in situations where we are presented with it, are we meant to refuse it? Is that still eating emotionally? I guess it is if you want to eat it. I don’t like the concept of never having junk food again, in any context whatsoever. Does that make me an emotional eater? Probably. However, Carr draws similarities with other addictions and let me use one to display my perspective. I am not now, nor have I ever been, an alcoholic. I don’t particularly like alcohol, a sunny day does not give me the desire to head to the nearest beer garden and I don’t like being a regular in a pub. However, I’ve been out for work drinks with colleagues, nights out with friends, and am booked in to go on a wine tasting tour in France this summer with my partner. Alcohol, like junk, “does nothing for you”: it’s a depressant, makes you fat, lowers inhibitions and too much is poison. I could live the rest of my life without drinking alcohol (probably) and don’t think it would affect my quality of life. But when I want to mark the occasion of a colleague leaving work, revel in the times I get to see some friends annually, or enjoy culturally significant product from a world-renowned region, I can, and I don’t feel like I’m out of control, I don’t have feelings of loathing or disgust. THAT is freedom from emotional eating. I don’t need to instruct myself to forswear alcohol forever.
So, while there is a lot of wisdom in this book, the packaging that it’s displayed in is not great and I think could probably lead to disordered eating or food taking up even more space in your mind, instead of less. I will say, every time I have thought about snacks over the past week, I’ve immediately thought “am I just eating emotionally? (ie out of boredom or sadness or brainwashing etc) and that has helped me put down the snacks more often. But I don’t know if that was from something Carr said directly or just because reading this book, I am more aware that emotionally eating is what I’m doing.
I would not recommend this book in the first instance to people with anorexia or bulimia - but if you feel you have problem with binge eating and haven’t yet seen a doctor yet, perhaps you could start with something like this.
I don’t know if this book was aimed at someone else. I often feel I will arrange my life in such a way as to always have sweet treats, desserts and snacks at every possible opportunity. I’ll eat dessert when full, buy snacks that I don’t end up wanting etc.
So I thought I’d benefit from this. perhaps that makes me an emotional eater or perhaps I’m more neurotypical and simply greedy.
There is a lot of wisdom in this book. The explanation of emotional eating of junk food coming from an anticipatory dopamine spike (big monster) is useful to frame your mindset as the desire for food bringing greater urges then the actual consumption of that food. Also framing the whole “quitting” as not even giving anything up (because junk food is bad for you), is just generally a healthy mindset to be in. However, the reason I picked this book up is a prompt from a family member on knowing when you’re eating from hunger and eating emotionally - that mental process is far more powerful than any one lesson in this book and I’m sad there wasn’t as much on this.
That said, I could not agree with a lot of concepts touted in this book.
For example, that in intellect vs instinct, intellect can be tricked so shouldn’t be listened to, is a massive oversimplification. With no evidence, I am loathe to believe that animals (domesticated or not) would portion food if it were in abundance because they eat of instinct. Animals don’t gorge themselves because they also have to hunt for food - there is an energy equation to trade off between burning calories to find food and eating calories.
Also, there are some comments made from a dietary perspective that are a bit eyebrow-raising. To say there is “no benefit” to refined sugar is incorrect from a dietary point of view. It can provide quick release energy. Long distance, slow burn athletes can sometimes opt for sweets and chocolate for a quick hit of energy. Granted, it’s not nutritious but to say there is no benefit seems to solidify that the message is “junk food = bad. Trust me”, as opposed to actual education on the matter. Further to the nutritional point, Carr suggests meat and dairy is referred to as a “secondary” food source behind fruit, vegetables, nuts and pulses. This view seems ignorant of a lot of people’s lifestyle. Protein is a satiating macronutrient, and essential for biological processes, and is readily available in meat. No, it’s not the only place you can get it but it makes the message of this book seem a little ignorant to nutrition, which I don’t think is a good first step towards viewing food unemotionally.
Further that junk food (let’s say fast food) has no benefit, ignores so many factors. It’s very convenient in certain circumstances such as travel, when homemade food would spoil, or where a restaurant meal (which isn’t necessarily healthier) would take too long.
Some other reviews say the brainwashing element is a bit “cult-like” in language. Whether these views are borne from the suggestion that you must ignore any advice that conflicts with this book, or whether it’s the weird “ritual” of teaching yourself to hate junk food by convincing yourself to hate it while you eat it; I think conceptually it’s probably one of the more solid theories in the book. As I’ve said above, confectionery or junk food companies build food in a lab to get you hooked and keep you coming back for more with new ads, fads and flavours. So saying that the problem is that you’ve been brainwashed would maybe effectively explain the gap between wanting to try or eat tasty foods (harmless curiosity) and feeling like you always need something (crippling addiction).
Chapter 14, she suggests that the successful outcome of the book is “never wanting to eat a cake or chocolate again”. I don’t know if that’s a healthy mindset. It’s true, cake or baked goods are lacking in nutrition; does that mean that conquering emotional eating means no cake on birthdays? Refusing a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day? I know Easy Way is supposed to mean I don’t “want” to eat junk, but in situations where we are presented with it, are we meant to refuse it? Is that still eating emotionally? I guess it is if you want to eat it. I don’t like the concept of never having junk food again, in any context whatsoever. Does that make me an emotional eater? Probably. However, Carr draws similarities with other addictions and let me use one to display my perspective. I am not now, nor have I ever been, an alcoholic. I don’t particularly like alcohol, a sunny day does not give me the desire to head to the nearest beer garden and I don’t like being a regular in a pub. However, I’ve been out for work drinks with colleagues, nights out with friends, and am booked in to go on a wine tasting tour in France this summer with my partner. Alcohol, like junk, “does nothing for you”: it’s a depressant, makes you fat, lowers inhibitions and too much is poison. I could live the rest of my life without drinking alcohol (probably) and don’t think it would affect my quality of life. But when I want to mark the occasion of a colleague leaving work, revel in the times I get to see some friends annually, or enjoy culturally significant product from a world-renowned region, I can, and I don’t feel like I’m out of control, I don’t have feelings of loathing or disgust. THAT is freedom from emotional eating. I don’t need to instruct myself to forswear alcohol forever.
So, while there is a lot of wisdom in this book, the packaging that it’s displayed in is not great and I think could probably lead to disordered eating or food taking up even more space in your mind, instead of less. I will say, every time I have thought about snacks over the past week, I’ve immediately thought “am I just eating emotionally? (ie out of boredom or sadness or brainwashing etc) and that has helped me put down the snacks more often. But I don’t know if that was from something Carr said directly or just because reading this book, I am more aware that emotionally eating is what I’m doing.
I would not recommend this book in the first instance to people with anorexia or bulimia - but if you feel you have problem with binge eating and haven’t yet seen a doctor yet, perhaps you could start with something like this.
March 23, 2022
Life altering, Jedi mind controlling stuff! I read Allen Carr’s Easyway to Quit Smoking some 20 years ago. I was a non-smoker but read it to support my partner at the time who was giving up smoking. She has not smoked regularly since. I thought that book was profound and turned converted ne into a passionate advocate for smokers. Recently I read this book to assess whether it might be valuable for a friend who struggles with over eating. My own health and nutrition are pretty dialled in; I spend thousands of dollars a year optimizing my health. I’ve been gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free for years. I regularly fast. I do saunas and ice baths. So I wasn’t expecting to get anything out of it for myself. But woah! It permanently altered my relationship with food! It has made me mindfully connect with what I’m eating, why I’m eating it, and asking myself “is this best serving me?” It has also had a spin off effect in prompting me to assess other non-food related behaviors. However, from reading many of the low-star rating reviews, I can see how the desire for a ‘one pill solution’ is problematic in itself. Yes I think the book is profound but I personally would never advocate it in and of itself. I would champion it as one strategy amongst many multidisciplinary approaches such as consultation with a functional medicine doctor/nutritionist, microbiome assessment, movement and mobility practices - an ongoing commitment to continuously refining one’s self care practices. 🙏
February 15, 2022
Dumbest shit ever. The fact that food tastes good is in my head? Hunh? I am not going to waste my time reviewing this crap. Read someone else's review. When I was quitting drinking I had a very hard time. I took medication that removed the "high" and I stopped drinking. We don't overeat because of habit, though that may be a part of it. We eat because it is enjoyable. We over eat not because we are hungry, we want to. He says if we eat good foods we will automatically be sated. As if you'll never say "I can't believe I ate all the bananas!" Yeah right. I could eat 20 banana’s in a day. I can eat the whole bag of apples. I can eat carrots until my teeth hurt and my jaw is exhausted and still I am hungry. Even a brief bit of research . . . and there I go again. This book is just a cash grab trying to fit his original quit smoking into quitting other crap. Which is what this book is.
April 5, 2024
I changed my perception and relationship with food on 10.3.24 with the help of this book. I'm hopeful. Let's see how I get on . After all its been over 50 years with a messed up relationship with it .
February 27, 2023
For all the types of addictions Allen Carr has talked about, this one is, in my opinion, the most of a stretch. It is a mediocre book imo.
August 31, 2023
*audiobook as part of Francesca Amber's Book Club
March 15, 2024
Rarely does a book slap you across the face and refuse to acknowledge your excuses - but that's exactly what this one does. It's a blunt instrument, a mental sledgehammer that shatters the delusions surrounding your addiction.
I'm rating it highly right now because I do think that something has changed within me regarding my relationship to sugar - but of course, the proof is in the pudding (or lack thereof).
If I can genuinely make the sorts of lifestyle changes that I intend to, then hopefully I'll come back to this review and update you on my glorious triumph. But until then, you'll just have to try the method for yourself.
I'm rating it highly right now because I do think that something has changed within me regarding my relationship to sugar - but of course, the proof is in the pudding (or lack thereof).
If I can genuinely make the sorts of lifestyle changes that I intend to, then hopefully I'll come back to this review and update you on my glorious triumph. But until then, you'll just have to try the method for yourself.
Read
August 10, 2025We will see if it works!
January 14, 2020
I grew up with lots of self-help/ self-improvement books around the house, from my grandma's favorite How to Win Friends and Influence People and Chicken Soup for the Soul to my mom's Life's Little Instruction books and Seven Habits series. Often those books contain many of the same ideas as newer favorites, just packaged a little differently for prevailing psychological theory and aesthetic tastes.
This book feels a little dated, both in design and writing style. Which makes sense, as the originator of the method has died and the author is applying the method to new problems. I think in theory, there are a lot of helpful ideas here, but perhaps for wide commercial success in the 21st century, they need to be reworked into the current dialogues of mindfulness, CBT, or even stoicism (which is making quite the 2,000-year comeback!).
But as always, I hope this book and this method can help some folks on their journeys.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.
This book feels a little dated, both in design and writing style. Which makes sense, as the originator of the method has died and the author is applying the method to new problems. I think in theory, there are a lot of helpful ideas here, but perhaps for wide commercial success in the 21st century, they need to be reworked into the current dialogues of mindfulness, CBT, or even stoicism (which is making quite the 2,000-year comeback!).
But as always, I hope this book and this method can help some folks on their journeys.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.
December 18, 2019
Another honest and simple to follow self help manual from Alan Carr this time looking at emotional eating. As someone who has struggled with this all her life this book although full of obvious knowledge of why we do this and why we shouldn’t it has a handy and easy guide to help you finally beat it and get back to eating for hunger and also pleasure without dieting or punishing yourself.
July 23, 2023
The Smoking version helped me quit smoking but this version is no where near as effective for emotional eating. I eat super fast but i do not eat junk food, also eating is something you need to modulate and cannot just stop doing.. so the book does not take into account of the variety of enotional eating and is too simplistic.
February 13, 2024
This is an early review.
I've been struggling with my ED and needed to try something before I went back to therapy again. This seems to have gotten my head back on straight.
I'll come back in a few months and update.
I've been struggling with my ED and needed to try something before I went back to therapy again. This seems to have gotten my head back on straight.
I'll come back in a few months and update.
Read
August 25, 2024Was listening to the audiobook and did not like the narrator's judgemental voice 😂 got about half way through then couldn't be arsed to finish.
October 1, 2025
This is not a book to help you stop ‘emotional eating’. This is a book which classifies “junk food” as a villainous addictive substance- which it absolutely can be, but to cut it out completely is against every piece of dietary advice I’ve ever heard. Even more unusually, included in the “junk food” category is dairy, meat and carbs. The book basically recommends a raw food diet, by claiming you don’t get nutritional value for anything that isn’t a fruit or vegetable. These are wild statements.
It is also misguided to say that you cannot binge on healthy food, the book asserts that people only binge on junk, again this feels wholly untrue.
If you are someone who would say they’re looking to kick a junk food addiction then this might be for you. But the claims that it helps eradicate emotional eating are false, mostly because a very small percentage of the book actually focuses on that.
It feels like the Easyway has just copy and pasted its book on Bad Sugar but changed the phrase bad sugar to junk food. I know friends who have had massive success through the Easyway smoking/substance abuse books. Which makes sense as it feels like the only way for Easyway to write a book is to focus it on a specific object in this case a category of food instead of helpful emotional advice.
I wonder how many food specialists, dieticians or doctors were actually consulted on this. As none of the testimonials are from anyone qualified. Again it feels like a copy and paste job.
Pros:
- From the off they categorically explain self-help books are not for those with any type of disordered eating and give sources for those people to find support.
- It talks about eating when you’re actually hungry not via a schedule. It also explores why we snack e.g boredom or emotions or special occasions. It then proposes you shouldn’t eat unless hungry and not for any of the aforementioned reasons. This was the most useful thing in the book and why I had sought it out in the first place.
- It speaks about being mindful about texture, smell and taste when eating. This was really useful and has led me to banning screen time when eating so we can be present with our food and take our time savouring it. Instead of zoning out while eating it all in a blink without thought or connecting to others while breaking bread.
It is also misguided to say that you cannot binge on healthy food, the book asserts that people only binge on junk, again this feels wholly untrue.
If you are someone who would say they’re looking to kick a junk food addiction then this might be for you. But the claims that it helps eradicate emotional eating are false, mostly because a very small percentage of the book actually focuses on that.
It feels like the Easyway has just copy and pasted its book on Bad Sugar but changed the phrase bad sugar to junk food. I know friends who have had massive success through the Easyway smoking/substance abuse books. Which makes sense as it feels like the only way for Easyway to write a book is to focus it on a specific object in this case a category of food instead of helpful emotional advice.
I wonder how many food specialists, dieticians or doctors were actually consulted on this. As none of the testimonials are from anyone qualified. Again it feels like a copy and paste job.
Pros:
- From the off they categorically explain self-help books are not for those with any type of disordered eating and give sources for those people to find support.
- It talks about eating when you’re actually hungry not via a schedule. It also explores why we snack e.g boredom or emotions or special occasions. It then proposes you shouldn’t eat unless hungry and not for any of the aforementioned reasons. This was the most useful thing in the book and why I had sought it out in the first place.
- It speaks about being mindful about texture, smell and taste when eating. This was really useful and has led me to banning screen time when eating so we can be present with our food and take our time savouring it. Instead of zoning out while eating it all in a blink without thought or connecting to others while breaking bread.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
3.5 Stars. Some of the ideas and information presented by this book are good ones, make you think, probably quite helpful. Some, however, is just ridiculous.
Sorry, I just cannot get on board with the idea that we are all brainwashed into believing that junk food tastes good but it actually doesn't taste good at all. If that was the case, then it stands to reason that ALL junk food would taste good to us. But I don't like every flavour of chip or biscuit or ice-cream or chocolate. What kind of weird brainwashing convinces you that junk food tastes good when it doesn't, but only convinces that some of it tastes good?
Another issue I had was the basic premise behind why people binge or eat emotionally. The book seems to ignore the fact that people use food to cover, escape, or distract from emotions that exist because of various life circumstances and experiences. Instead it states that the only reason we emotionally eat is because junk food is addictive, it makes us feel bad, and when we feel bad we want it again. But it's not food that makes me feel stressed, it's every other part of life. So.... Yeah, I agree with the ide this book presents regarding addiction and the cravings that addiction causes. But I the very obvious ignorance of the existence of emotions because of other reasons just doesn't help me gel with this book.
There's more, but that's enough to say here I think.
There is some stuff I will take from this book, stuff that is interesting or helpful. I like the idea near the end about when to start - if you were trapped in a room and finally found a way out, would you wait for new years day to get out, cause it's a special day? Nah you'd go immediately. The best time to start is always now. So yeah, there's some good stuff in there. But it's not as good as it makes out.
Sorry, I just cannot get on board with the idea that we are all brainwashed into believing that junk food tastes good but it actually doesn't taste good at all. If that was the case, then it stands to reason that ALL junk food would taste good to us. But I don't like every flavour of chip or biscuit or ice-cream or chocolate. What kind of weird brainwashing convinces you that junk food tastes good when it doesn't, but only convinces that some of it tastes good?
Another issue I had was the basic premise behind why people binge or eat emotionally. The book seems to ignore the fact that people use food to cover, escape, or distract from emotions that exist because of various life circumstances and experiences. Instead it states that the only reason we emotionally eat is because junk food is addictive, it makes us feel bad, and when we feel bad we want it again. But it's not food that makes me feel stressed, it's every other part of life. So.... Yeah, I agree with the ide this book presents regarding addiction and the cravings that addiction causes. But I the very obvious ignorance of the existence of emotions because of other reasons just doesn't help me gel with this book.
There's more, but that's enough to say here I think.
There is some stuff I will take from this book, stuff that is interesting or helpful. I like the idea near the end about when to start - if you were trapped in a room and finally found a way out, would you wait for new years day to get out, cause it's a special day? Nah you'd go immediately. The best time to start is always now. So yeah, there's some good stuff in there. But it's not as good as it makes out.
June 3, 2023
I wanted to leave this review before someone sells their penny stocks to buy it out of desperation. This book is NOT WRITTEN BY ALLEN CARR. I know the man is deceased but I was thinking Allen Carr had left some notes or a unpublished manuscript on the subject. In desperation and somewhat glee I bought this book expecting the same magic. But this book is wholly written by someone who has the fitting last name of DICEY! Allen Carr has a way of making you chomp at the bit to finish the book.. This man had me like more scared then I was before reading the book about quitting emotional eating. He isn't a Allen Carr nor a emotional eater I don't think. It kind of sucks. Its a shame he is almost tarnishing the Allen Carr name and method. Its one thing to say based off the Allen Carr method but to put the man as a author I mean is that even legal? I say if your getting off emotional eating bypass this book because it will make you more scared. Its kind of wacky. It starts off really good but when he gets to the only eat when you are hungry part that's where it falls off. Because that's a huge leap. Honestly if you just cut out processed foods but eat when you want then your body and mind will naturally persuade you to eat one meal a day. But you have to just detox off the processed foods first. And even if you don't start eating one meal a day just eating fresh whole nutrient dense foods will have a impact on your health and weight. He should re write it and stick to the addictive nature of processed foods
June 5, 2022
I first read Allen Carr’s “Stop Smoking” method back in the 1980s. Since then, his method has been successfully applied to many other habitual and addictive behaviours. This book concerns those who have an emotional compulsion to eat certain types of food. Someone with an emotional eating issue is going to reach for something fatty or sweet or salty (or a combination of those), whether they want to celebrate a special occasion or whether they want to console themselves for having lost out or been disappointed somehow. We never reach instinctively for a nice salad to celebrate or console themselves, do we? It’s always something unhealthy or rich in carbs.
I listened to the audiobook version, read by Gabrielle Glaister. Her authoritative style suits this kind of material. She reads fluently – but I was astonished to hear that she mispronounced the word “dopamine” repeatedly. I was even moved to check it myself because it stood out like a sore thumb – which I suppose does imply that the rest of it was pretty good. Still, it annoys me that she didn’t pick up on that, and neither did the audiobook proofer – although these days a lot of audio proofing is done by software, so mistakes are slipping through more often than when humans did it all. Unfortunately, the software is good, but it just isn’t quite good enough yet.
If you have a problem with emotional eating, this audiobook could help with it. I certainly have no hesitation in recommending it.
I listened to the audiobook version, read by Gabrielle Glaister. Her authoritative style suits this kind of material. She reads fluently – but I was astonished to hear that she mispronounced the word “dopamine” repeatedly. I was even moved to check it myself because it stood out like a sore thumb – which I suppose does imply that the rest of it was pretty good. Still, it annoys me that she didn’t pick up on that, and neither did the audiobook proofer – although these days a lot of audio proofing is done by software, so mistakes are slipping through more often than when humans did it all. Unfortunately, the software is good, but it just isn’t quite good enough yet.
If you have a problem with emotional eating, this audiobook could help with it. I certainly have no hesitation in recommending it.
March 31, 2021
In yet another desperate search to find something that will help me conquer my sugar and food addiction I just happened to stumble across this book. It's good. I mean, in some ways there was nothing new in there but in other ways it seemed to say the kinds of things I need to hear in just the right way. Things like, " THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO GOODNESS WHATSOEVER IN REFINED SUGARS."
"THERE ARE NO BENEFITS TO EATING REFINED SUGAR AND JUNK FOOD."
The concept of being brainwashed by the food industry as to think that refined sugar is a treat. There are treats in life, things that actually benefit or add joy to your life. Refined sugar isn't one of them. His comparison of refined sugar with heroin really struck me. There's no benefit of doing heroin. You wouldn't take just a little bit of it telling yourself a little won't hurt. Why consume something that HAS NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE? And also DOES DAMAGE. It may not stop you right at the moment, but it WILL stop you. It will hinder you in some way down the road, and majorly depending on your intake. The best method: abstinence. It's not a sacrifice to not do heroin. Sugar should be on par with that. Again, why consume something that has no nutritional value. How is that a treat? Fruit. Veggies. Nuts, seeds, these are the treats. BE FREE.
"THERE ARE NO BENEFITS TO EATING REFINED SUGAR AND JUNK FOOD."
The concept of being brainwashed by the food industry as to think that refined sugar is a treat. There are treats in life, things that actually benefit or add joy to your life. Refined sugar isn't one of them. His comparison of refined sugar with heroin really struck me. There's no benefit of doing heroin. You wouldn't take just a little bit of it telling yourself a little won't hurt. Why consume something that HAS NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE? And also DOES DAMAGE. It may not stop you right at the moment, but it WILL stop you. It will hinder you in some way down the road, and majorly depending on your intake. The best method: abstinence. It's not a sacrifice to not do heroin. Sugar should be on par with that. Again, why consume something that has no nutritional value. How is that a treat? Fruit. Veggies. Nuts, seeds, these are the treats. BE FREE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I think it asked a lot of good questions about the reasons behind emotional eating. I see several of the reviews are quite negative for this and I would argue it's more a case of them possibly not needing this kind of help in the first place, or they possibly didn't want to find the truth of why they are doing what they do. Which is understandable, when your own actions hurt you, that can be a tough thing to process.
I found the explanations very clear, and am very aware of my own role to play. I fully agree with the several prompts along the way from the author, to stop, and reread whole chapters of the book to make absolutely certain that you agree with the concept as well as understanding it. I could see that being a directive many people ignore in their haste to be rid of something that causes them misery. But deep dives into our own shortcomings are never pleasant, but they are the only thing that offer genuine relief in the end.
I feel like this book is well written, and the concepts could & should work. As long as you believe they will for you, and you do the work on your end to understanding why you do things the way you do. And question the belief system that got you where you are today.
I found the explanations very clear, and am very aware of my own role to play. I fully agree with the several prompts along the way from the author, to stop, and reread whole chapters of the book to make absolutely certain that you agree with the concept as well as understanding it. I could see that being a directive many people ignore in their haste to be rid of something that causes them misery. But deep dives into our own shortcomings are never pleasant, but they are the only thing that offer genuine relief in the end.
I feel like this book is well written, and the concepts could & should work. As long as you believe they will for you, and you do the work on your end to understanding why you do things the way you do. And question the belief system that got you where you are today.
September 19, 2025
When I first picked up How to Escape Emotional Eating, I had high hopes. I expected clear, scientific explanations and, most importantly, concrete solutions that would help me understand and overcome this habit. The opening pages sparked my curiosity, but as I read further, my enthusiasm gradually turned into disappointment.
The book tends to repeat the same ideas chapter after chapter, almost like a refrain that never ends. Instead of feeling like I was diving deeper into the subject, I felt stuck in a loop, going over the same points again and again.
What I missed most was depth. There were no solid scientific explanations of the psychological or biological mechanisms behind emotional eating. I was also hoping for practical tools, clear steps, concrete recommendations, strategies for handling cravings or stress but those were nowhere to be found. What remained was repetition, which might be useful for a beginner, but felt superficial to me.
In conclusion, How to Escape Emotional Eating could serve as an introductory read for someone who is encountering the topic for the first time. But if you’re looking for scientific depth, structure, and concrete strategies, the book falls well short of expectations.
The book tends to repeat the same ideas chapter after chapter, almost like a refrain that never ends. Instead of feeling like I was diving deeper into the subject, I felt stuck in a loop, going over the same points again and again.
What I missed most was depth. There were no solid scientific explanations of the psychological or biological mechanisms behind emotional eating. I was also hoping for practical tools, clear steps, concrete recommendations, strategies for handling cravings or stress but those were nowhere to be found. What remained was repetition, which might be useful for a beginner, but felt superficial to me.
In conclusion, How to Escape Emotional Eating could serve as an introductory read for someone who is encountering the topic for the first time. But if you’re looking for scientific depth, structure, and concrete strategies, the book falls well short of expectations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews