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)

Would recommend

Liked the story and the picture painted in my mind of the places she travels to across the world. Also liked learning about the spiritual journeys available in India.

Enjoyed the journey

Listen to this book!!! This book was a refreshing tale. Whitty and charming. I found myself reflecting on things in my life and about my life. It knocked some sense into me. I actually wrote a quote down in my journal from chapter 60. "...As smoking is to the lungs, so is resentment to the soul..." Man... that hit me hard, and I'm still processing that.

Better than I expected

I didn't know exactly what to expect but, I was pleasantly surprised. It is actually narrated BY the author herself, and the narration is one of the best I have ever heard. She is really good! She doesn't sound like she is reading at all, but having a conversation with you, or telling a story from memory. She is a smart and witty writer/storyteller. I have heard the complaints about the "me me me" attitude of the book...but come on, it IS a memoir after all. That said, I enjoyed the book, and I don't generally read memoirs. I would recommend this book to a friend.

I loved this book.

This book was amazing,from her doubting her decisions to all her traveling, I thought everything was so well explained, she would speak of how the food taste it was like you could just taste it and the same thing when she would say how something looked, I could see in my mind, I love this book, when I listened to it I felt like I was on the same trip as her. PLEASE narrate more of your books because know can do it as well as you.....One of the very best books I have ever read or (listen to) Thanks a bunch...

My sister was right

My sister recommended this book to me. She and I follow a similar path and have similar points of view. This book spoke to the things I find important in life - pray, learn, question, search, grow, but never forget you are a human who needs to eat and love to remain human and truly enjoy this wonderous life we have been given. Ms. Gilbert is deep, intelligent and funny, easily flowing from one to the other. Her voice is incredible and made listening to this book immensely enjoyable.

Gorgeous Memoir

Not only is she a great thinker and writer, but Elizabeth Gilbert is a great reader. She brings her stories to life by taking on the voices and personalities of her various characters. Bravo!

Yes, I succumbed just like everyone else.

Altho I had trouble getting into this at first, I was hooked at least 1/4 of the way thru and found it meaningful and funny. It is in a genre of "self-help journeys", but it maintains the integrity of a story while being quite funny.
Read it.

Charming

Having survived depression spawned by a painful divorce,Elizabeth Gilbert takes the listener on a charming journey of self-discovery and reflection as she enjoys pasta and gellato in Italy, finds God in an ashram in India, and learns at the feet of a medicine man in Bali (where she also gains a new love interest). Although I was skeptical that this could be a memoir that was a tad Birkenstock and carrots and granola in baggies for my taste, I found that I was completely absorbed by Gilbert's experiences in these exotic locales and, more particularly, by the various (and always amusing) people she befriended on her travels. As an extra bonus, because Gilbert narrates her memoir, the listener knows exactly the emotions she is trying to evoke, whether it is wry, sarcastic, or sincere.

Loved It!

I purchased this one by a recommendation of a friend who read the book. I really loved listening to this! Especially since the author was the narrator. It was such an interesting journey that she took. I really related to many parts of this book and I will definetly will listen to it again.
I highly recommend this book.

a fun and educational experience

the first part of the book was a little dark but soon bloomed into an intimate sharing of a fabulous adventure. I loved it and learned more of the cultures of the countries the author visited than i could of from any other means. I highly recommend this book. Great fun.