Hale Sofia Schatz &Shira Shaiman, If the Buddha Came to Dinner: How to Nourish Your Body to Awaken Your Spirit Review

Overall Rating

If the Buddha Came to Dinner: How to Nourish Your Body to Awaken Your Spirit
Hale Sofia Schatz and Shira Shaiman
Hyperion, 2004, $14.95, 302 pp.
ISBN: 078686883X

This is an interesting self help book that encourages, perhaps even lectures, readers to change their eating habits as if Buddha came to share a meal with us. The underlying theme of the book is to ponder whether the reader would provide Buddha with processed foods or organic fruits and vegetables? If not why not treat oneself in the same manner? There are four Parts. "Who Are You Feeding" promotes the audience to feed your spirit. This section is difficult to attain though anecdotes provide some uplift and many boomers will think of White Rabbit ("Feed Your Head"). The book really takes off with Part two, "Nourishment as Daily Practice" and Part three, "Awakening Your Spirit". These two sections provide specific steps on how to make eating an enjoyable harmonious rite as a major part of discovering one's inner spirit. The final segment contains suggested recipes.

Though this book is well done with a powerful message on health and eating right, IF THE BUDDHA CAME TO DINNER: HOW TO NOURISH YOUR BODY TO AWAKEN YOUR SPIRIT contains too much fat hiding the meat of the guidebook. When the message is front and center readers receive a terrific tome, but will need patience to cut through the extra calories. It is still worth peeling to get to the heart and spirit of this intriguing look at what you eat impacts your health.

Harriet Klausner