Eat, Pray, Love

One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia

By: Elizabeth Gilbert

Narrated by: Elizabeth Gilbert

Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned 30, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want: a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be.

To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world, all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the 23 happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way, unexpectedly.

An intensely articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery, Eat, Pray, Love is about what can happen when you claim responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live in imitation of society's ideals. It is certain to touch anyone who has ever woken up to the unrelenting need for change.

©2006 Elizabeth Gilbert (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., and Books on Tape. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"The author's reading of this memoir adds depth; she's obviously not a professional narrator, but her vocal presence provides vivid color and quirky humor as she eats (in Italy), prays (in India), and finds love (in Indonesia). This is a delightful memoir that explores exotic countries as well as the author's heart and soul." (AudioFile magazine)

"Sustaining a chatty, conspiratorial tone, Gilbert fully engages readers in the year's cultural and emotional tapestry, conveying rapture with infectious brio, recalling anguish with touching candor, as she details her exotic tableau with history, anecdote and impression." (Publishers Weekly)

"Gilbert's sensuous and audacious spiritual odyssey is as deeply pleasurable as it is enlightening." (Booklist)

A must read

Some part of this book will touch everyone. I highly recommend this one to anyone that reads anything, this story has love, hate, trails & triumph. And told in such a way it will hit you in the gut or heat at some point.

I will cry when this book ends.

I have never written a review before I was done with a book. The only reason that I am doing this now is because I am going to be devastated when this book is over. It should be required reading. A moment will remind you of this book's stories and you will smile. A mischievous smile that only you and your mind gets......then you will smile at that.

Inspiring Book!

What did you love best about Eat, Pray, Love?

Elizabeth Gilbert told her story with her heart. So glad I decided to listen to this book on audio instead of reading it.

Lovely

Would you listen to Eat, Pray, Love again? Why?

Yes, always inspiring to hear another's personal experience on the journey inward. Made me hungry to pick up the pace on my own path.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Irish plumber ? (If i remember correctly). author of "The direction for letting something beautiful go, so something else beautiful may come".. Roughly stated...

Have you listened to any of Elizabeth Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Haven't heard others, can't compare...this was fantastic though.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Actually both... And I'm not the crying type, ASPCA commercial excluded!

Any additional comments?

Audiobook comes across with more depth I though..

Witty, Inspiring, Beautifully done.

This is the best book I've ever read! I dont read much, so I wanted something easy. Boy, was I blown away. I've been infected with wanderlust.

surprisingly compelling

I went to read this book thinking to be critical of a woman's sappy spiritual westerness. but at the close I find I have resonated with so many truths she speaks about that I have changed my own perspective of pursuing happiness. Gilbert is a great narrator of her own work and it was and thrilling journey inside the life one hopes they can one day acheive.

A beautiful memoir

I don't believe you need to experience a life crisis to find meaning in this book for yourself. It was so easy to listen to and I LOVE that Gilbert herself narrated the book. The performance was incredible and the story was even better. I'm going to watch the movie next because I am sad the story is over.

Simply amazing!!!!

I'm so glad I downloaded his book, the story is just life changing.... . It felt as if the book was reading me as it perfectly describes some of the aspects of life that I struggle. Finding balance to what brings you peace and happiness... to what brings your own peace and happiness. The narrator made it even better, weather you decide to read it or listen is totally worth it.

Completely sold me on audiobooks!

This is the first audiobook I listened to in its entirety. I started listening to it when I started running and I would lose track of time and distance, which says a lot for a beginner runner.

I enjoyed the fact that the author herself narrated the book. I loved her impressions of the accents of the people she met and I felt like it had more meaning coming from her. The 12 hours or so flew by.

I recommend this audiobook to all of my friends. I will probably listen again sometime in the near future.

She is a true poet

Would you consider the audio edition of Eat, Pray, Love to be better than the print version?

Absolutely, listening to her voice was half of the experience of this novel for me.

What did you like best about this story?

The way in which she writes about everything in her ventures is by far the most poetic and expressive way I have ever heard a human describe anything. It is her magic.

What does Elizabeth Gilbert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not sure.

Any additional comments?

Love it!