Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books Review Summary

If you are going through a tough time and wondering how to discover the true "you",Eat, Pray, Love:One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia gives you some things to consider. Author Elizabeth Gilbert endures a nasty divorce and decides to take a road trip to find meaning in her life. This book is the story of that journey told, "in a way that truly resonated with me and flipped the light switch to an ah ha moment." Gilbert goes to three diverse countries and experiences their cultures in different ways, coming to terms with her own life. One reviewer observes, " Eat, Pray, Love is very heavy on Eastern religion, Yoga, meditation, and new age subject matter so it may not appeal to everyone." The overall reception of the book, however, was positive. Not everyone agreed, though, saying, "A good book to purchase on sale" and "illogical thinking does no service to her 'spiritual journey'"
71% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 5 stars
71% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 5 stars%
71%
17% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 4 stars
17% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 4 stars%
17%
9% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 3 stars
9% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 3 stars%
9%
3% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 2 stars
3% of people rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 2 stars%
3%
No one rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 1 star
No one rated Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books as 1 star%
0%
94% 94% of people recommend Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books 6% of people don't recommend Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books 6%
 

Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's... Comparison

4 star rating Most Helpful
Favorable Review
FEB
18
2008

I always have a book with me.  Waiting in line grocery store or doc's office, waiting in the theatre for a movie or concert to start, you name it I've got my book and I'm not afraid to whip it out and keep myself occupied.  And rather than let me be weird and read in peace people have to comment as...

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 Staff
an avid reader, a fan of quick, page turning books

Buggheart
Detroit Rock City, MI
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3 star rating Most Helpful
Critical Review
MAR
16
2008
I read it and altho' I liked reading about her experiences in India, I'm not sure what all the hoopla is about!  I certainly would not put it on my top 10.  Most people can't afford to live around the world for a year.  I wish someone would e-mail friends to get me a lot of $!
reviewer
reading non-fiction, a fiction reader

KKL
Edgerton, OH
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Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman... Ratings and Reviews

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2
helpful
votes
a fiction reader, avid reader, not rich, appreciate nice things, eating out weekly

FEB
25
2009
I enjoyed this book (eat, pray, love), but i also think that you have to be in the right frame of mind to really get into it.  some books find us at certain times in our lives, you know?  if youre just into reading, it is very entertaining, but a little preachy, so be aware.  But i truly enjoyed the read and find myself going back to certain parts of the book when i need certain afformations.  I recommend. 
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4 star rating
reviewer
whatgoeson21
Los Angeles, CA



2
helpful
votes
reading non-fiction, a fiction reader, an avid reader, In Love, library lover

MAR
4
2008

I read this book at a time of transition in my life. It was the perfect book for me to have read at that time. This book takes its reader on a very personal journey into the authors life, as she tries to find her self.

Italy, India and Indonesia, eating, praying and loving really fantastic places and great activities to do in each place. When it was over I wanted to start reading it from the beginning again.

I read it well before Oprah "discovered" it, and in some ways I am sorry that she did discover it. I saw Elizabeth Berg on Oprah, and because I disliked her so intensely it somewhat diminished...

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5 star rating
2009 Advisor
TaraLee
Portage, MI



1
helpful
vote
reading non-fiction

AUG
19
2008
When I first started reading this book, Eat, Pray Love, I could not put it down.  It is one of the best books I have ever read.  Reading this book makes you want to hop a plane and go experience the things she did, but you also realize that you don't have to go to that extreme to find the love and peace and happiness that you can or need.  If you haven't read this you need to and give this to anyone you feel would read this.  This would be a great gift to anyone who reads.
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5 star rating
2008 Contributor
grandma3
Inez, TX



1
helpful
vote
a fiction reader, avid reader, A Believer, a writer, a lover of unique and different things

APR
28
2008

Used to read a lot of non-fiction.  Been awhile since I read anything other than fiction.  This book came recommended by a group of like-minded beings.  I am so glad I took action on that recommendation.  This is the first book in some time to have a meaningful impact on me.  Liz didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.  She just said it in a way that truly resonated with me and flipped the light switch to an ah ha moment.  I got it that everything is about the search for and connection between the Big I and the little i.  And it has nothing to do with being self-centered.  I...

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5 star rating
Bea
Lancaster, TX



1
helpful
vote
avid reader, a library-goer, married

DEC
18
2007

It was a good book and a good book for a group of women to get together to discuss. I do not think the messages in the book are universal to all women or to all people though. For many women Elizabeth Gilbert's story may be inspiring, but I was not looking to be inspired - I was reading a book for a neighborhood book club and it was good - we had good discussion - and there are some great messages in the book. But India dragged on and on and on - and it was great once she got to the rooftop and learned the lessons there, but otherwise, it droned on like a metaphysical Groundhog Day. 

I have...

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3 star rating
reviewer
ShellieCarr
Roswell, GA



1
helpful
vote
a fiction reader, an avid reader

MAY
6
2008
HATED it. Boring. NO point. Do not waste time reading it. Though She {Elizabeth Gilbert.} writes well. Whined a lot. STUPID!!!!! DO NOT READ! I read a lot, and I usually love what I read. Not in this case though. Stupid story, no plot. The characters were pointless and were not tied in well with anything.
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2 star rating
reviewer
yourmom123
Hinton, WV



D
reading non-fiction, a fiction reader, an avid reader, re-reading the classics

MAR
5
2008
"Eat, Love, Pray" is about one womans search through herself and three countries to find God and love herself. Although Gilbert is an easy enough to read writer with a funny and self depricating sense of humor, her illogical presuppositions in the beginning of the book about 'God' and religion ruin the journey. She says "Let me first explain why I use the word God, when I could just as easily use the word Jehovah, Allah, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu or Zeus." This sort of illogical thinking does no service to her 'spiritual journey'. You cannot go assigning deitys of certain religions to other religions.... review »
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3 star rating
reviewer
Wondermima
Heath Springs, SC



D
reading non-fiction, a fiction reader, an avid reader, re-reading the classics, reading Oprah's picks, into romance novels

FEB
25
2008
What can I write or say about this book that hasn't already been written by a critic.  This book is written for every woman and every man who has ever had a conflict in their life.  Even if you are not going through a divorce, like me, or have never been through a divorce, you can relate to how she feels about life.  I just love the fact that first she ate her way through feeling better about herself, then she went to an ashram and prayed, and lastly she learned how to love herself from the inside out.  Hence, the title eat, pray, and love.  The details of Italy, and India, and the ashram... review »
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5 star rating
reviewer
Lorifuninthesun
Columbia, MD



D
avid reader

JUL
11
2008
Eat, Pray, Love is a novel that was recommended to me but I wasn't wild about it - with that title, who would be? The first page or so didn't hook me but her humor gradually wormed its way in and I was turning the pages quickly. The first section, eat, is hilarious and yet my heart went out to her as she lost everything because she didn't really know what she wanted. The second section literally taught me how to pray. I wanted to get on a plane and go right over there. Since I couldn't, I got on my knees and prayed like I never had before. The last section was OK - the book sort of needed it to... review »
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5 star rating
reviewer
pbear52
Greenville, SC



D
character-lover, a homeowner, avid reader, a library-goer, seeking balance, a woman, seeker of fun and interesting places

DEC
11
2007
ELizabeth speaks equally well of the deeply personal turmoils in her life and the universal problems of trust, hurt, confusion we lal face as we move from accepting all that "happens to us" to realizing our own responsibility for our joys and our sorrows. Her diary of her travels and quests are both funny and heartbreaking; always real, tangible and believable. She has gone on a journey that has been internal and all over the worl,d and we get to see both of these landscapes through her descriptoive and emotion-evoking prose. I felt at the end that I had shared some small steps of the journey WITH... review »
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4 star rating
reviewer
Valleishman
Rye, NY



D
a comparison shopper, seeking balance, noticing the details, into trying new things, an animal lover, value conscious, a bargain hunter, into finding great deals online

NOV
17
2007
This book has given me better awareness of my thoughts and how they affect me. However, told through Elizabeth Gilbert's perspective, it's a fast-reading story about one woman's experiences. I learn easily by example...maybe most people do. The author shares very personal thoughts as she actively works on resolving the pain of divorce, and her struggle to figure out who she wants to be. The universal truths that ultimately lead her out of this life crisis are both her own personal discoveries and the gifts of many wise teachers.
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5 star rating
reviewer
theveryidea
Brighton, MI



D
avid reader

FEB
3
2009
Elizabeth Gilbert truly shared her intimate, soul-searching experience as she visited Italy, India and Indonesia.  I read this book at the same time as my two good friends and it was interesting to explore the different perspectives each one of us took on the three different experiences.  It is admirable this individual took the time and money to explore herself through these different experiences.  I definitely yearn to have a similar experience  as Gilbert, if only I had the courage and time to do the same.
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4 star rating
reviewer
Beckd303
Cincinnati, OH



D
an animal lover, a comparison shopper, read for fun, A frequent snacker, casual reader, a fan of educational toys, a fan of clever plots, unwilling to give up food groups

NOV
21
2007
This is an amazing book, without a doubt.  Gilbert has a fantastic way with words, and even in some of her most painful moments, she describes her feelings with such wit and humor.  She is an excellent writer, and the more I read, the more I want to meet her.  Her voyage through the world and through her thoughts is inspirational.  I love that just when things start to get a little too fairy tale-like, she'll backtrack and re-explain something so that it seems more realistic.  An absolute must read!
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5 star rating
reviewer
lucygoosy81
Elkridge, MD



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