I thought this book was really amazingly written. It a perfect self help book, with light reading contents and a simply story flow. It was very inspiring and gave me a hunger to see the world differently and get enjoyment from food and culture and to find happiness within and around us. I actually liked how personal this book was and admired how open and honest Elizabeth Gilbert was in writing her account of her feelings. I think an open mind is something that is needed to enjoy this book to its fullest as I think some people might brush aside some of the authors methods to finding happiness. The author really considers the reader as a close friend; she lets us into her most intimate thoughts and recounts all of the emotionality surrounding her failed marriage. We travel with her to the three I’s as she seeks out pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and balance between the two in Indonesia. She leads us to crave pasta and skilled young lovers. She invites us to meditate and contribute in seva (service) within the closed walls of the Ashram. She allows us to look over her shoulder as she finally rediscovers herself and takes another chance at love. Even I, the admitted apathetic spiritualist, found myself questioning if a visit to an ashram might not be such a bad idea. The part that I will remember best is when Gilbert informs her friend Iva that she thinks asking God for specific things is a sign of one’s weakness of faith. Iva, who completely disagrees, convinces her to write out a simple plea to God asking for help in finalizing her divorce quickly and without further pain. The two friends brainstorm a rather lengthy list of people who would undoubtedly be happy to add their names to the petition of the almighty and it becomes a bit of a lighthearted game. It’s that ability to look at the same circumstance from an entirely different angle, whether applying new wisdom, a new philosophy or an entirely new culture; it’s this multifaceted gaze that eventually helps us to make the right decisions and to develop into the people we need to be. In many ways, Eat, Pray, Love is a typical New York book. Gilbert is incredibly well-educated and stupidly well-read. I learnt so much, just from the back story or the background research. It’s New York in how it manages to bring together everything – cuisines, philosophical traditions, cultures – as if you are snailing down Broadway Avenue armed with a time lapse camera, imprisoning all the details and all bird’s eye at the same time. You may like this book if…you are a spiritual seeker, you enjoy traveling (even if it is vicariously), you like glimpsing into the lives of others, you yourself have recently undergone a major life disturbance, you enjoy savvy intelligence and well-fleshed out metaphors, you like stories that break apart easily and are easy to read over a long period of time if necessary, you are interested in alternative medicine, pasta, meditation or languages, you have battled with depression, you sometimes feel that you are your own best friend, you like reading about real characters. You may not like this book if…you don’t care to read so much about how it feels to meditate or you don’t want to read a spiritual memoir, you prefer a more traditional novel-sequel storyline, you want to stay with one set of characters in one setting for the course of a book rather than jumping about all over the place, you are on a diet and don’t want to be tempted.Read full review
I really enjoyed the movie, and have heard there were many things left out of the movie that are in the book. I am looking forward to reading this, as well as having my teenage daughters read this book. Life is meant to be lived for yourself, not for others. That may sound selfish to some, but one truly has to be able to love oneself and be happy with his/her own choices in life before those gifts can be passed on to others. That is an extremely important lesson for others to learn. Once someone has learned how to do that, then the love and happiness will spill over to other people. Each person has a different perspective on happiness, love and spirituality - and each person is on their own journey and adventure of life. Sometimes we have to do things by ourselves, many other times they include other people and the experiences that go with having those people in our lives. I admire that Ms. Gilbert recognizes this, and is teaching others (through her book) how to find and recognize their own individual love, happiness and spirituality.Read full review
Ms. Gilbert chronicles her international journey of self-discovery with such amazing detail and tenderness and humor that I recommend this book to anyone who has found him or herself in a place or state that he or she would like to change or leave (I imagine, that's everyone!). The story is engrossing and the writing is skillful. I couldn't put it down, and I feel more empowered to follow my own dreams and heart after finishing the book. The movie based on this book is starred by Julia Roberts. A married woman realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself". It's truly inspiring.
This author doesn't just tell a story. She is a skilled writer with a pleasure to read style.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I can totally related to Elizabeth in the book and found myself more than once nodding my head in agreement to her thoughts and ideas. The book is very well written and insightful. Any woman who has felt the need to "find herself" can relate to this book. I highly recommend.
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Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
TRUE STORY.....EXCELLENT STORY......MAKES A PERSON STOP AND THINK ABOUT THERE LIFE.....I BELIEVE IT WILL HELP IMPOWER PEOPLE TO GET REAL WITH THEMSELVES...WHAT REALLY MAKES YOU HAPPY? DO YOU KNOW? ARE U LIVING THE LIFE YOU REALLY DESIRE?SURE MADE ME STOP AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT MY LIFE....
Thank you
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I read the book once before and with the movie coming out, I wanted to reread it before I saw the movie. Book is excellent and very well written. Probably will read it for a third time sometime in the future.
Book was in great shape, it is one of my favorite books. A captivating story about the ultimate adventure toward self discovery. I wont tell much more about the story than that because you HAVE to read it, it is so inspiring.
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