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13th out of 30 books
—
53 voters
Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin
by
Allen Zadoff (Goodreads Author)
Allen Zadoff spent years reasoning that a big, healthy man should have a big, healthy appetite and that his rapidly increasing girth was no more than a regular guy thing. At 350 pounds, however, it became clear that what had started as a little weight problem was destroying his life. Desperate to find a new way of living that would carry him into thin and beyond, Zadoff be...more
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
October 23rd 2007
by Da Capo Press
(first published October 22nd 2007)
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Sep 30, 2012
Allen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
· (Review from the author)
Recommends it for:
everyone who struggles with food, weight, or their body
At last, Hungry is an e-book! It's hard to believe that when it was published only a few years ago, e-editions were nowhere near a sure thing. I've updated, edited, and added new sections and made it available in all formats. I'm happy to be able to share it as an "alternate" take on the food/diet issue for those who might be struggling.
Rather than review my own book, I'll share this piece from the Los Angeles Times Book Review:
Los Angeles Times | Discoveries
THERE'S no shortage of books on ho...more
Rather than review my own book, I'll share this piece from the Los Angeles Times Book Review:
Los Angeles Times | Discoveries
THERE'S no shortage of books on ho...more
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Oct 01, 2012
Cynthia Vogel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people struggling with food issues
A great peek into the secrets of a food addict; the classic overeater. Allen shows us the shameful secrets that he spent half a life time hiding as he struggled to overcome a life lived solely for the purpose of eating....as much as possible, as often as possible. As his health was being destroyed; as his social life was non existent; as his emotional life was stunted; as his professional life too was harmed....all by the toxic effects of a food addiction; Allen searched for the key: the magic p...more
I binged on and quickly devoured this book. As someone who treats mostly obese diabetic patients, I appreciated his insightful and compassionate perspective on his own eating disorder. It’s not about the food – it’s about what the food compulsion is covering up. As he says, a bagel never jumped into his mouth and a muffin never tackled him in a grocery store. It was his addiction, his obsessive use of his addictive substance, that was controlling his life and freezing his emotional development.
M...more
M...more
My sister convinced me to read this by telling me her favorite line from the book, which I have copied and pasted from her review:
"I'd like to try the bunny," I said, pretending I hadn't already eaten three or four pieces. "But how?"
I tried to decide from Zadoff's description whether I was a normal eater or a problem eater (I could tell quite easily that I wasn't a compulsive eater). Eventually I decided that I was a normal eater who happens to enjoy thinking about food, but who strangely does n...more
"I'd like to try the bunny," I said, pretending I hadn't already eaten three or four pieces. "But how?"
I tried to decide from Zadoff's description whether I was a normal eater or a problem eater (I could tell quite easily that I wasn't a compulsive eater). Eventually I decided that I was a normal eater who happens to enjoy thinking about food, but who strangely does n...more
Apr 16, 2013
Heidi Garrett
added it
I was a chubby teenager, so every now and then I'm drawn back into food and eating and weight memoirs. I used to read these all the time. Not so much anymore, but every now and then something flashes across my kindle world and I'm curious. I don't rate these books. They're mostly people sharing their personal experience. I didn't realize when I picked this up it was about Overeaters Anonymous (OA), but that's really what Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin is about. I've actu...more
I picked up this book a couple of years ago at the library, due to the back cover and the jokes about how being thin didn't lead to all expectations being fulfilled.
I took it home and was unable to put the book down. Alan Zadoff had written my struggle with food and life. For the first time in my life I discovered that I wasn't alone with the demons that plagued me.
So what did I think of the content? Well for me it was life changing. For others it may not be so. It's a short book and easy to dig...more
I took it home and was unable to put the book down. Alan Zadoff had written my struggle with food and life. For the first time in my life I discovered that I wasn't alone with the demons that plagued me.
So what did I think of the content? Well for me it was life changing. For others it may not be so. It's a short book and easy to dig...more
If you think this is a diet book you would be wrong. It's not a self help, philosophy, or what to do book. It is one man's journey of recognizing that he has a disease. His disease is overeating. This is his story of realization that what he thought was a terrible way of life was actually a disease. You may look at someone that 'you' consider over weight and say, "why can't they just quit eating, exercise, etc". Allen help us see the struggle, frustration, pain, and recovery from addictive beha...more
This book came to me at the right time, and it was eye-opening to say the least. This isn't a self-help book. This is just the true story of a man who changed his relationship with food, eating, and most importantly, the way he began to live his life after 28 years of hiding behind food. As someone who overeats, this book showed me that I'm not alone in my own experiences, and that a lot of work and support is needed into order to change. Throughout the book, Allen clearly states that this is ju...more
This book was honest and full of insight. I was skeptical that I would like the book, but found myself flying through the sample I got on my Kindle. I was not disappointed by the whole book and appreciated the short and succinct chapters. Memoirs are my favorite genre currently but I feel cheated when authors say the same thing repeatedly and embellish their points to expand them to book length. This book does not have that problem. He makes a point, then moves on to the next one. "Hungry" left...more
I love Allen Zadoff's fiction, so when I saw him promote a memoir on his addiction with food, I was immediately curious. I, too, had suffered from food addiction, and I wanted to know how this fantastic author had grappled with the affliction. Wow. I was unprepared for just how much his story would resonate with me. I can safely say that, despite having spent many years on my own road to recovery, Allen's memoir not only reinforced my own discoveries, but also gave me new insight into the dilemm...more
Sep 30, 2012
Paul Hankins
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
adult-some-pull-out-material-for-o,
memoir-autobiography,
mr-hankins-says-don-t-miss,
non-fiction,
september-2012-reads,
young-adult-inspiring,
young-adult-issue-don-t-miss,
young-adult-memorable-writing,
young-adult-reader-advisor-book,
young-adult-social-issues,
young-adult-tender-touching,
young-adult-writers-readers-connect
I've been reading Allen Zadoff's book in this first month of my own journey with weight loss through Weight Watchers. Allen's book has been on my radar for some time.
Allen was among those first authors that came on board RAW INK Online with this title, FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CANNOT HAVE. I remember seeing a picture of Allen that didn't seem to connect. If I remember correctly, he is wearing a red-striped shirt at the beach. His hair is curly and he is notably (using observation, not per...more
Allen was among those first authors that came on board RAW INK Online with this title, FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CANNOT HAVE. I remember seeing a picture of Allen that didn't seem to connect. If I remember correctly, he is wearing a red-striped shirt at the beach. His hair is curly and he is notably (using observation, not per...more
It's good. Allen Zadoff is funny, honest, and earnest in this very short [it's 178 pages] "memoir meets advice" book. This isn't the first time [won't be the last, either] I've read stories of food addiction. It's also not the first time I've read/learned the concept of red/yellow/green foods/behaviors. It is the first time that an author has said [paraphrasing here] "it worked for me, it probably won't work for you; but try to find your own way."
I want to say I loved this book, but I can't. Zadoff does a good job explaining how his hunger developed, but as soon as you ride the rollercoaster along with him to the top, he says that his solution worked for him, but probably won't work for you. I almost put the book down because if he's going to be that uninspirational, I didn't see the point in continuing. However, I hate leaving a book unfinished. 3 stars because it was humorous and was a pretty reflective memoir.
This book was suggested to me by my current trainer. I wasn't sure what I was getting into but found that I actually liked it a lot. It's great for putting weight loss goals into perspective and not to get so obsessed over food and dieting. Another perk was that it's short and a fast read!
Feb 17, 2008
Susan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in eating disorders, addiction
"I'd like to try the bunny," I said, pretending I hadn't already eaten three or four pieces. "But how?"
My favorite line in the whole book. I think it's a nice representation of what the book is about and the style of writing, which is the book's greatest strength. The short vignettes work nicely, Zadoff has a sense of humor, and I love his conversations with his eating disorder.
I have an ARC; it seems like the book was marketed as a memoir, but it doesn't feel like one. He also repeatedly says t...more
My favorite line in the whole book. I think it's a nice representation of what the book is about and the style of writing, which is the book's greatest strength. The short vignettes work nicely, Zadoff has a sense of humor, and I love his conversations with his eating disorder.
I have an ARC; it seems like the book was marketed as a memoir, but it doesn't feel like one. He also repeatedly says t...more
Eating disorders are no laughing matter, but Allen Zadoff manages to inject alot of humor into the story of his own struggle with overeating. He does not propose that what works for him will be for everyone, but he does offer some good insights into possible management for sufferers of an eating disorder.
I feel the need to qualify my 5-star rating, in that it's not like I think this book deserves a Pulitzer or even a screen adaptation. It's more about the authenticity and relatability of the book to my life. I've read a lot of self-help weight loss books (which this book purports *not* to be) and there seems to be an unspoken competition among them as to who can have the worst food disorder and be the sickest. This one was different in that a guy was just getting very real about his behaviors to...more
I liked this book. Was an easy read. I didn't see it a s a self help book but more as a book that bears witness to the struggles of eating disorders and how to deal with them.
I related to many of the stories and anecdotes referenced.
I related to many of the stories and anecdotes referenced.
I enjoyed this book, it was insightful. I'm not sure really if I am an Overeater or not, but it was interesting to see his points. It gave me some really good ideas though for understanding why I eat what I eat.
This book was very eye opening to struggles many people have. Allen told it how it is. He even got me thinking a little about my food choices and why I make them. Very interesting!
This book was fantastic. I really feel like my life has been changed by it. It's a delicious book that I devoured in only a day. Zadoff offers a unique testimony and matter-of-fact approach to recovery. I highly recommend it.
As you know, I was attracted to this book because of the fabulous cover and, as it turns out, you can't judge a book by the cover, because Hungry isn't at all the book I was expecting. The back cover describes it as "laugh-out-loud funny" as do many of the reviews on Amazon US.
I found it sad, wise, inspiring and interesting, but not funny (I think I might have smiled once or twice...).
Allen Zadoff was overweight from a young age and was, quite literally, killing himself with food. At 350lbs and...more
I found it sad, wise, inspiring and interesting, but not funny (I think I might have smiled once or twice...).
Allen Zadoff was overweight from a young age and was, quite literally, killing himself with food. At 350lbs and...more
Downloaded this to my Kindle a while back. Started reading it on the return flight home from Texas last month and I was so amazed by the simple advice that he offers that I have managed to lose weight and keep it off over the past few weeks!
Eye opening look into the reasons we eat. It offers good advise and hope to over come this addiction, and any others you may be fighting.
This quick read is honest, funny, heart-breaking and refreshing. Allen Zadoff believes that overcoming over eating is more about spiritual healing than about food, more about action than knowledge, and more about living life than living to eat. It's profound and sweet and a really nice read.
interesting book. I can relate to his failures... not sure there is a solution here for me, but I might read it again and see. most realistic book on being overweight I have ever read.
A man's story of his life from fat to thin. Not a diet book, but what it's like to live the life of a food addict. Well written.
May 09, 2011
Karol Silverstein
added it
This is a wonderful clear and concise explanation of what goes on in the head and heart of a compulsive overeater.
It was good insight into the thinking of someone with a food addiction.
It was interesting, and makes you look at food differently.
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Allen Zadoff is the author of three YA novels. His debut novel, Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award and was a YALSA selection for Most Popular Paperbacks of 2012. His second novel was My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies, the story of a techie hiding from life after a family tragedy. His most recent novel Since You Left Me is set in Los Angeles and te...more
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