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Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It: Life Journeys Inspired by the Bestselling Memoir
A New York Times Bestseller -- True stories inspired by one of the most iconic, beloved, bestselling books of our time
In the ten years since its electrifying debut, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love has become a worldwide phenomenon, empowering millions of readers to set out on paths they never thought possible, in search of their own best selves. Here, in this candid and captivating collection, nearly fifty of those readers—people as diverse in their experiences as they are in age and background—share their stories. The journeys they recount are transformative—sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, but always deeply inspiring.
Eat Pray Love helped one writer to embrace motherhood, another to come to terms with the loss of her mother, and yet another to find peace with not wanting to become a mother at all. One writer, reeling from a difficult divorce, finds new love overseas; another, a lifelong caregiver, is inspired to take an annual road trip, solo. A man leaves seminary, embraces his sexual identity, and forges a new relationship with God. A woman goes to divinity school and grapples with doubt and belief. One writer’s search for the perfect pizza leads her to New Zealand and off-the-grid homesteading, while another, in overcoming an eating disorder, redefines her relationship not only with food but with herself. Some writers face down devastating illness and crippling fears, and others step out of their old lives to fulfill long-held dreams of singing, acting, writing, teaching, and learning.
Entertaining and enlightening, Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It is a celebration for fans old and new. What will Eat Pray Love make you do?
In the ten years since its electrifying debut, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love has become a worldwide phenomenon, empowering millions of readers to set out on paths they never thought possible, in search of their own best selves. Here, in this candid and captivating collection, nearly fifty of those readers—people as diverse in their experiences as they are in age and background—share their stories. The journeys they recount are transformative—sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, but always deeply inspiring.
Eat Pray Love helped one writer to embrace motherhood, another to come to terms with the loss of her mother, and yet another to find peace with not wanting to become a mother at all. One writer, reeling from a difficult divorce, finds new love overseas; another, a lifelong caregiver, is inspired to take an annual road trip, solo. A man leaves seminary, embraces his sexual identity, and forges a new relationship with God. A woman goes to divinity school and grapples with doubt and belief. One writer’s search for the perfect pizza leads her to New Zealand and off-the-grid homesteading, while another, in overcoming an eating disorder, redefines her relationship not only with food but with herself. Some writers face down devastating illness and crippling fears, and others step out of their old lives to fulfill long-held dreams of singing, acting, writing, teaching, and learning.
Entertaining and enlightening, Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It is a celebration for fans old and new. What will Eat Pray Love make you do?
240 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2016
303 people are currently reading
4,427 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Gilbert
70 books34k followersElizabeth Gilbert is an award-winning writer of both fiction and non-fiction. Her short story collection Pilgrims was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway award, and her novel Stern Men was a New York Times notable book. Her 2002 book The Last American Man was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critic’s Circle Award.
Her memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, spent 57 weeks in the #1 spot on the New York Times paperback bestseller list. It has shipped over 6 million copies in the US and has been published in over thirty languages. A film adaptation of the book was released by Columbia Pictures with an all star cast: Julia Roberts as Gilbert, Javier Bardem as Felipe, James Franco as David, Billy Crudup as her ex-husband and Richard Jenkins as Richard from Texas.
Her latest novel, The Signature of All Things, will be available on October 1, 2013. The credit for her profile picture belongs to Jennifer Schatten.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
March 10, 2016
Full disclosure: I am biased reader because my essay is part of this collection. I really did enjoy reading it though. The introduction by Elizabeth Gilbert, like every word she ever writes, is perfection and nails the common theme that runs through these diverse essays. I have always taken Eat Pray Love pretty literally because my experience was pretty similar - go through divorce that was of my own choosing and then travel the world finding myself. But this collection of essays reminded me that many women (and a few men) took her experience and applied it to their own lives in very different ways. And at its core, Eat Pray Love is just about realizing that you have agency in making your life look the way you want it to. I hope this book can inspire a whole new generation of Eat Pray Lovers, just the way it inspired me so many years ago.
March 31, 2016
I had high hopes for this, but I wasn't very impressed. There are a lot of short essays which almost all say the exact same thing (aka Let me kiss your butt Liz Gilbert as you and massive amounts of travel complete me). I'd much rather have seen fewer essays that go more in-depth and that are diverse in what people did.
March 19, 2016
I am biased since I do have an essay in this collection, however I do believe this book is a beautiful testament of the resilient human spirit! These are stories from people that were inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's beautiful journey in Eat, Pray, Love... But no matter where the motivation or inspiration comes from it is always touching to read vulnerable stories of people deciding to get back up, dust off, and start living again! <3
April 27, 2016
Like all of the writers who contributed to this book, Eat Pray Love also made a big impact on my life. I read it during the months soon after i left my ex-husband, and i remember exactly where i was sitting, and the way the light in the room looked, when i devoured it's pages. It was definitely a comfort to me during a very confusing, difficult time in my life.
AND who knew that so many of us cry curled up on the bathroom floor??!!
AND who knew that so many of us cry curled up on the bathroom floor??!!
March 1, 2019
This was adorably nostalgic, even though I didn't like the original book. I loved the idea that a small book with an idea inspired so many other people to change their lives - big or small. I love how it was broken in to small stories. It made it easier to read and really quick. There were some stories I liked more than others - but that is the fun of short stories, you can really appreciate each one for it's own voice and theme. I'm glad I gave this one a try
September 11, 2017
A few days ago, while going out for iced tea and some air, I entered one of my favorite bookstores to find this book. I held it close to check the cover because it had 'EAT PRAY LOVE' on it; I wasn't sure if it was by the same author or a book written about the memoir. I flipped the first pages and read the introduction by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book is a celebration for ten years have passed since it was originally published, it's about real women and men who were deeply affected by this book that they changed their lives after reading it. Nearly 48 stories.
Elizabeth was wondering why her book was this popular though there was many other books dealing with self discovery, to me, the book captured my attention for two reasons the first time I saw it, the title and the design of the cover struck me, it was so attractive. Also, I loved that the author wasn't telling us how to live, but only sharing her story, simply honest whether you like it or not.
Now that I read the whole book, I cried tons, felt so much love, pain and hope within these pages. I LOVED all the stories though a few I read more than once because they meant so much to me, like 'Happy Wife, Happy Life', 'A Bonk on the Head', and 'Fall Risk'. But seriously, ALL the stories were amazing and very human. It reminded me that this world is very vast, and there are many individuals with different stories and destinies, all searching for God and love. I hope we all find them.
Elizabeth was wondering why her book was this popular though there was many other books dealing with self discovery, to me, the book captured my attention for two reasons the first time I saw it, the title and the design of the cover struck me, it was so attractive. Also, I loved that the author wasn't telling us how to live, but only sharing her story, simply honest whether you like it or not.
Now that I read the whole book, I cried tons, felt so much love, pain and hope within these pages. I LOVED all the stories though a few I read more than once because they meant so much to me, like 'Happy Wife, Happy Life', 'A Bonk on the Head', and 'Fall Risk'. But seriously, ALL the stories were amazing and very human. It reminded me that this world is very vast, and there are many individuals with different stories and destinies, all searching for God and love. I hope we all find them.
April 5, 2016
I feel like they're all trying to sound profound and they're just a little meh. But I also wasn't captivated by (though I did enjoy it) the original book. Still this would be good for someone who needs encouragement to leave a confining situation or the confidence to feel secure in their own skin and independence. Two stars because... still meh.
September 4, 2016
I only enjoyed 1/4 of the essays in this book. The rest were prertentious and repetitive. The number of women who wrote that after reading Eat Pray Love they had the courage to divorce their husband was disturbing. The nunber of women who after reading Eat Pay Love quit their jobs and became artists/writers/creatives was unsustainable (I'm sorry but the world can't function if everyone can just quit their 'boring' job and become full time authors). The number of women who after reading Eat Pray Love backpacked around the world was frightening (um hello global warming and the fossil fuels comsumed from plane travel...Yikes ). I *think* these essays were meant to be inspiring but to me they were depressing. I loved Eat Pray Love, I really did. And it inspired me. But thankfully it didn't make me drop everyhing and do some far away soul searching, nor did I think Liz wanted me to. I think you can find yourself and have a purposeful and meaningful life without doing anything drastic.
August 12, 2016
Eat Prey Love Made Me Do It is a compilation of almost fifty stories by people who did more than just imagine what it would be like to live like Elizabeth Gilbert (EG). They used the memoir as inspiration and after reading Eat Pray Love (EPL) took steps to change their lives.
I liked the concept of this book but for me this book just missed the mark. The stories aren't very long. Each one is only a couple of pages which for the most part isn't enough time for me to feel vested in their lives. And there is a distinct feeling that most of these woman (all the authors were female except for two - one of which wrote a story which confused me incredibly) were not merely inspired by Liz but wanted to be her.
I understand that in order to be happy, there is a need to nourish ones body, mind and soul. But I don't believe that travelling overseas, indulging in eastern religion and becoming yoga enthusiasts is the only way to do it. So many of these stories seemed to be penned by people who though of EG as some kind of deity and had her up on a pedestal. Referring to your copy of EPL as your bible and following her path exactly probably isn't the best way to happiness.
There was a sense in some of these stories that the authors were using this compilation as a way to help them to published authordom. Some of the anecdotes felt like the writer merely inserted some EG and EPL name dropping to make them more appropriate for the book and wonder just how much the Eat Pray Love philosophy really featured in their journey.
I liked the stories who took EG's Eat Pray Love message to mean they needed to achieve balance physically, mentally and emotionally. The ones who took it too literally and actually followed in EG's footsteps just seemed like deranged fangirls. I loved the ones who found themselves on their own path and were inspired by the fundamental principles. They already knew something needed to change to achieve happiness.
EPL seems like a beacon of hope to women who don't want the planned out career, marriage, kids and white picket existence. In fact - this book seems to be full of stories of people who had all that, read EPL and realised that there was more to life. The book showed them they were allowed to want something different because EG did and she emerged out the other side as a happier, emotionally healthier person. In many ways what EPL gave these readers wasn't inspiration but rather PERMISSION to not want the life society tells them they should strive for.
There is some variety over the course of this book. You get stories from the passionate devotes who bow before the EPL alter, and those who weren't immediately sucked into Liz's life-transformation story. They were the people who flipped over the pray section and scoffed at the love but came around in the end. There's a broad range in ages from teenager to elderly but for the most part these stories were written by 40-ish women living in North America. It wasn't as broad a cross-section as the blurb might suggest but I do think it is these women in Liz's demographic who were probably most moved by her story.
People who loved Eat Pray Love will probably love the intro to this book by Liz and find kindred spirits in the stories which follow.
The themes of achieving joy and feeling empowered which resonates through many of these stories and I think its amazing that these writers found happiness for themselves. I also thought the cover was gorgeous... I kind of want a cake like that. And it seems like ashrams everywhere have Liz to thank for increasing their numbers.
Ultimately this wasn't my kind of book. It was a little too in love with Elizabeth Gilbert. But I did enjoy some of the stories especially the following quote:
"Eat Pray Love did not make me bigger, better, more. Some days reality is all too real. Some days I can be impatient. I fret intermittently over my square toes. The difference is, nowadays I can live with myself."
I liked the concept of this book but for me this book just missed the mark. The stories aren't very long. Each one is only a couple of pages which for the most part isn't enough time for me to feel vested in their lives. And there is a distinct feeling that most of these woman (all the authors were female except for two - one of which wrote a story which confused me incredibly) were not merely inspired by Liz but wanted to be her.
I understand that in order to be happy, there is a need to nourish ones body, mind and soul. But I don't believe that travelling overseas, indulging in eastern religion and becoming yoga enthusiasts is the only way to do it. So many of these stories seemed to be penned by people who though of EG as some kind of deity and had her up on a pedestal. Referring to your copy of EPL as your bible and following her path exactly probably isn't the best way to happiness.
There was a sense in some of these stories that the authors were using this compilation as a way to help them to published authordom. Some of the anecdotes felt like the writer merely inserted some EG and EPL name dropping to make them more appropriate for the book and wonder just how much the Eat Pray Love philosophy really featured in their journey.
I liked the stories who took EG's Eat Pray Love message to mean they needed to achieve balance physically, mentally and emotionally. The ones who took it too literally and actually followed in EG's footsteps just seemed like deranged fangirls. I loved the ones who found themselves on their own path and were inspired by the fundamental principles. They already knew something needed to change to achieve happiness.
EPL seems like a beacon of hope to women who don't want the planned out career, marriage, kids and white picket existence. In fact - this book seems to be full of stories of people who had all that, read EPL and realised that there was more to life. The book showed them they were allowed to want something different because EG did and she emerged out the other side as a happier, emotionally healthier person. In many ways what EPL gave these readers wasn't inspiration but rather PERMISSION to not want the life society tells them they should strive for.
There is some variety over the course of this book. You get stories from the passionate devotes who bow before the EPL alter, and those who weren't immediately sucked into Liz's life-transformation story. They were the people who flipped over the pray section and scoffed at the love but came around in the end. There's a broad range in ages from teenager to elderly but for the most part these stories were written by 40-ish women living in North America. It wasn't as broad a cross-section as the blurb might suggest but I do think it is these women in Liz's demographic who were probably most moved by her story.
People who loved Eat Pray Love will probably love the intro to this book by Liz and find kindred spirits in the stories which follow.
The themes of achieving joy and feeling empowered which resonates through many of these stories and I think its amazing that these writers found happiness for themselves. I also thought the cover was gorgeous... I kind of want a cake like that. And it seems like ashrams everywhere have Liz to thank for increasing their numbers.
Ultimately this wasn't my kind of book. It was a little too in love with Elizabeth Gilbert. But I did enjoy some of the stories especially the following quote:
"Eat Pray Love did not make me bigger, better, more. Some days reality is all too real. Some days I can be impatient. I fret intermittently over my square toes. The difference is, nowadays I can live with myself."
October 28, 2018
This was a wonderful night time read. A lot of stories resonated with me and felt empowering but there were also a lot that I couldn’t connect with hence the lower rating.
March 9, 2017
A beautiful and inspirational tribute for one of the most important books in my life - "Eat, Prey, Love". Simple, honest stories, written by average people who got motivated by Elizabeth Gilbert's book. It is not perfect, yet very true, written from the heart, and it show's the true power of words.
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„A wszystko to dzięki ‘Jedz, módl się, kochaj’” to zbiór pięknych opowieści, które stanowią świetne uzupełnienie i hołd dla książki Elizabeth Gilbert. Są dowodem na to, że słowa mogą odmieniać życie innych, że potrafią być piękną motywacją do szukania własnych odpowiedzi. Ludzie z całego świata dzielą się swoimi doświadczeniami, udowadniają, że można znaleźć swoją życiową drogę bez względu na róg, w który się zapędziliśmy. I może będzie to trudniejsze niż podróż przez trzy „I”, czyli Italię, Indie i Indonezję, zdecydowanie mniej przyjemne niż joga o wschodzie słońca w popularnym aśramie, ale zdecydowanie możliwe. A wszystko to dzięki „Jedz, módl się, kochaj”.
Jeśli czytaliście „Jedz, módl się kochaj”, jeśli zainspirowała Was do zmiany, albo wciąż szukacie odpowiedzi, to koniecznie sięgnijcie po opowieści „A wszystko to dzięki ‘Jedz, módl się, kochaj’”.
---
„A wszystko to dzięki ‘Jedz, módl się, kochaj’” to zbiór pięknych opowieści, które stanowią świetne uzupełnienie i hołd dla książki Elizabeth Gilbert. Są dowodem na to, że słowa mogą odmieniać życie innych, że potrafią być piękną motywacją do szukania własnych odpowiedzi. Ludzie z całego świata dzielą się swoimi doświadczeniami, udowadniają, że można znaleźć swoją życiową drogę bez względu na róg, w który się zapędziliśmy. I może będzie to trudniejsze niż podróż przez trzy „I”, czyli Italię, Indie i Indonezję, zdecydowanie mniej przyjemne niż joga o wschodzie słońca w popularnym aśramie, ale zdecydowanie możliwe. A wszystko to dzięki „Jedz, módl się, kochaj”.
Jeśli czytaliście „Jedz, módl się kochaj”, jeśli zainspirowała Was do zmiany, albo wciąż szukacie odpowiedzi, to koniecznie sięgnijcie po opowieści „A wszystko to dzięki ‘Jedz, módl się, kochaj’”.
March 7, 2016
I may be a little biased since a) I LOVE Elizabeth Gilbert, and b) I have an essay included in this book. I love the transformative tales told by such a wide array of people from vastly different backgrounds. If you're looking for a dose of inspiration in your day, this is it!
April 11, 2016
I liked Eat, Pray, Love well enough. I didn't find the mega-bestseller absolutely profound and life-changing like the contributors to this essay collection did, but I still enjoyed it and found Liz Gilbert's personal struggles relateable. My one real issue with the original EPL is that there are lots of people in Gilbert's position--or much worse--who don't have the money or resources to go find themselves on a global adventure. So I was very intrigued when Gilbert announced the idea for this collection, as it seemed like it would address this issue. I was curious to read about how people reacted to the book and how it inspired them to change their lives.
In this collection's introduction, Gilbert wrote that EPL was never really about eating pizza in Italy, meditating in India, etc., but rather about reaching the realization: my life doesn't have to look like this anymore. This concept was why I liked EPL, and it was explored in various ways in the essays. There were people who left bad marriages, dealt with heartbreak, struggled with life-threatening illnesses, or just found the courage to do something they had always wanted to do. Of course there were lots of travel stories, but there were also stories of people who made changes in their everyday lives without ever leaving the country. It was these stories I liked the most, because they showed how individual and unique each person's journey really was. The constant worshipping of EPL and Liz Gilbert did begin to get on my nerves after a while, although since this is a story collection inspired by EPL, I can't say that wasn't expected.
That being said, I don't think reading EPL is a necessary prerequisite for this book. (Although honestly, I don't see someone picking up this book if they haven't already read EPL.) The essays are written in varying degrees of skill; some are quite strong while others read awkwardly, like they're trying too hard to be dramatic and profound. The collection overall was average, with strong hints of Chicken Soup for the Soul, so perhaps if you like that series you will like this collection. It was a very quick read as well. Three stars because it provided me with a couple of hours of entertainment while waiting in a train station.
In this collection's introduction, Gilbert wrote that EPL was never really about eating pizza in Italy, meditating in India, etc., but rather about reaching the realization: my life doesn't have to look like this anymore. This concept was why I liked EPL, and it was explored in various ways in the essays. There were people who left bad marriages, dealt with heartbreak, struggled with life-threatening illnesses, or just found the courage to do something they had always wanted to do. Of course there were lots of travel stories, but there were also stories of people who made changes in their everyday lives without ever leaving the country. It was these stories I liked the most, because they showed how individual and unique each person's journey really was. The constant worshipping of EPL and Liz Gilbert did begin to get on my nerves after a while, although since this is a story collection inspired by EPL, I can't say that wasn't expected.
That being said, I don't think reading EPL is a necessary prerequisite for this book. (Although honestly, I don't see someone picking up this book if they haven't already read EPL.) The essays are written in varying degrees of skill; some are quite strong while others read awkwardly, like they're trying too hard to be dramatic and profound. The collection overall was average, with strong hints of Chicken Soup for the Soul, so perhaps if you like that series you will like this collection. It was a very quick read as well. Three stars because it provided me with a couple of hours of entertainment while waiting in a train station.
June 25, 2016
I loved Eat, Pray, Love. This book had an interesting concept and some of the stories were good. Unfortunately, about halfway through I got really tired of reading it. A lot of the stories were boringly repetitive. I ended up skimming quite a bit because I just didn't care that much anymore.
June 21, 2016
I really thought the stories were great for about the first 80 pages and then it was so repetitive. They all found their way, met a Brit/Aussie man and had a great life. No specifics on what they did. anyway, it was inspirational but you only have to read the first 50 pages or so to get the gist.
June 12, 2016
Got 1/3 through. Glad that folks were inspired by the book, but they just weren't very interesting writers. Good concept, poorly delivered
June 14, 2016
This is a cute and interesting concept for a book: a collection of essays from real readers, those who made it the best seller. The book collects stories from those who were so moved by Eat Pray Love, it “made” them resee their own lives and take action. (I would love to see such a collection for other authors: Toni Morrison Made Me Do It).
So many of these pieces individually deserve a four or five star rating. They have a clear tone and structure. They are well crafted in their specificity and thus their universality. Some of my favorites that fall into these categories, that have such a sharp, particular voice: Russell’s “Garden State,” Donvito’s “Reaching My Boiling Point,” Belmont’s “Pepperoni Epiphanies,” and Granieri’s “Good Enough.”
However, others read more like diary entries, involving lists of what was done. Since these “lesser” (for lack of a better word) stories hit the same notes that other stronger pieces did, they got a bit boring.
I also gravitated toward more toward the essays that drastically differed from Liz’s to avoid more redundancies—the ones that didn’t focus on divorce or a decision to not have children or a big trip of some kind. These can be important, influential topics for women, but because they get repetitive (since it’s a collection in response to a book about divorce/babies/travel), they lose some of their power here. On the other hand, the stories on sickness or mourning, mental illness or abuse; the stories revolving around people of different cultures, classes, sexualities all sparked more of my interest (and I wanted more of them--a better balance of stories and strong voices would have bumped this book up a star or two). Not because one type of suffering is greater than another, but because it is powerful to see how all suffering is so interconnected. It shows how we can help others through our own stories even when we are so drastically different. Seeing someone of a different class take lessons from Eat Pray Love and apply them in a way that is more fiscally available is the power of literature.
One more note on repetition: because the essays were all written in response to the prompt: what did Eat Pray Love make you do, the collection as a whole repeats that line quite a bit. Many of the essays also end with “Thanks, Liz” or some version of that. I would’ve wanted the editors to condense or vary some of that overlap—asking their writers to make changes after acceptance now that it would be part of a collection. Overall, this book is not really one you sit down and read all at once because of the various forms of repetition. However, it’s a nice book to dip in and out of, and some of these essays are well worth that dip.
So many of these pieces individually deserve a four or five star rating. They have a clear tone and structure. They are well crafted in their specificity and thus their universality. Some of my favorites that fall into these categories, that have such a sharp, particular voice: Russell’s “Garden State,” Donvito’s “Reaching My Boiling Point,” Belmont’s “Pepperoni Epiphanies,” and Granieri’s “Good Enough.”
However, others read more like diary entries, involving lists of what was done. Since these “lesser” (for lack of a better word) stories hit the same notes that other stronger pieces did, they got a bit boring.
I also gravitated toward more toward the essays that drastically differed from Liz’s to avoid more redundancies—the ones that didn’t focus on divorce or a decision to not have children or a big trip of some kind. These can be important, influential topics for women, but because they get repetitive (since it’s a collection in response to a book about divorce/babies/travel), they lose some of their power here. On the other hand, the stories on sickness or mourning, mental illness or abuse; the stories revolving around people of different cultures, classes, sexualities all sparked more of my interest (and I wanted more of them--a better balance of stories and strong voices would have bumped this book up a star or two). Not because one type of suffering is greater than another, but because it is powerful to see how all suffering is so interconnected. It shows how we can help others through our own stories even when we are so drastically different. Seeing someone of a different class take lessons from Eat Pray Love and apply them in a way that is more fiscally available is the power of literature.
One more note on repetition: because the essays were all written in response to the prompt: what did Eat Pray Love make you do, the collection as a whole repeats that line quite a bit. Many of the essays also end with “Thanks, Liz” or some version of that. I would’ve wanted the editors to condense or vary some of that overlap—asking their writers to make changes after acceptance now that it would be part of a collection. Overall, this book is not really one you sit down and read all at once because of the various forms of repetition. However, it’s a nice book to dip in and out of, and some of these essays are well worth that dip.
March 18, 2017
This is the most mediocre book I've ever read. Sure, good for those people that they turned their lives around but it's written very poorly (duh, those are random people, not writers) and it's painfully average. None of the stories really stayed with me, I was listening to it as I was running some errands, drifted off with my thoughts a couple of times and after refocusing wasn't able to say if it's still the same story or a new one. They're all so similar! They mostly say "I was stuck in my safe job while I had always dreamt of being an artist, I read the book and it gave me the balls to be the artist."
I'm 27, still secretly dreaming that in a couple of years I'll take a 3 month sabbatical from my desk job as a data analyst to go Farsi in Iran and have my "Eat, Pray, Love" break covered with hummus and filled with culture and self-discovery. We all have those kind of dreams and some of us choose to follow them with determination. But we live in times when everything is labeled "courage", it's not, it's life and hard work and motivating yourself to do more than just watch Netflix all day long.
I'm 27, still secretly dreaming that in a couple of years I'll take a 3 month sabbatical from my desk job as a data analyst to go Farsi in Iran and have my "Eat, Pray, Love" break covered with hummus and filled with culture and self-discovery. We all have those kind of dreams and some of us choose to follow them with determination. But we live in times when everything is labeled "courage", it's not, it's life and hard work and motivating yourself to do more than just watch Netflix all day long.
May 30, 2016
Much like Dan Savage's book, It Gets Better, I feel like this book is probably very important for a certain audience having existential crises. It's also proof of how powerful words and books can be-- Elizabeth Gilbert's words changed so many lives, seemingly for the better. I loved her venture into fiction but wasn't enamored of Eat, Pray, Love (except, predictably, for Eat), and so I couldn't really get into the stories in this volume. Different books at different times of my life, though, have saved me in some way (however small or big), and as Roxane Gay writes, "Salvation is certainly among the reasons I read."
January 28, 2021
Some stories were better than others. Most of them are about women in unhappy marriages that realized they had the ability to leave. I felt at one point that I was reading the same story over and over again.
The true standouts were the ones that didn't write about their adapted version of Liz Gilbert's journey. Those writers shared how inspired they were to make a change or try something they always wanted to do, like live off the grid or learn to identify with their heritage. It's these few gems in this collection that made it worth the purchase.
The true standouts were the ones that didn't write about their adapted version of Liz Gilbert's journey. Those writers shared how inspired they were to make a change or try something they always wanted to do, like live off the grid or learn to identify with their heritage. It's these few gems in this collection that made it worth the purchase.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2016
As someone who loved the memoir, "Eat Pray Love", I was very excited to see this on the shelves of the library. I couldn't wait to read of how people became inspired and transformed their own lives after reading about Elizabeth Gilbert's journey.
This compilation of essays was not a disappointment. Each story was inspiring and it was interesting to read of each individual's "moment" when they knew that they had to make a change.
This book has made me want to reread Eat Pray Love and read more memoirs of those who have had transformational journeys. Definitely an inspiring read!
This compilation of essays was not a disappointment. Each story was inspiring and it was interesting to read of each individual's "moment" when they knew that they had to make a change.
This book has made me want to reread Eat Pray Love and read more memoirs of those who have had transformational journeys. Definitely an inspiring read!
March 18, 2024
Rating: 2.5 Stars rounded up
In "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It," a diverse group of individuals shares their personal narratives on how Elizabeth Gilbert's iconic memoir, "Eat Pray Love," influenced their lives. While the concept is intriguing, the execution falls short for various reasons, resulting in a mixed bag of stories that fail to fully engage the reader.
The collection comprises nearly fifty essays, each offering a brief glimpse into the author's post-"Eat Pray Love" transformation. Unfortunately, the brevity of these narratives limits the depth of connection readers can establish with the storytellers. Moreover, there's a pervasive sense that many of the contributors idolize Gilbert, aiming not just to be inspired by her journey but to emulate it entirely. This reverence often feels forced and detracts from the authenticity of the essays.
One of the book's primary shortcomings is its narrow interpretation of happiness and fulfillment. While Gilbert's memoir advocates for self-discovery and balance, the essays in this collection often reduce her message to a formulaic prescription for happiness: travel, spiritual exploration, and yoga. This narrow focus neglects the diversity of paths individuals can take toward personal growth and contentment, undermining the book's potential impact.
Furthermore, some essays come across as thinly veiled attempts at self-promotion, with authors using Gilbert's name to bolster their own narratives. This opportunistic approach diminishes the sincerity of the stories and leaves readers questioning the true role of "Eat Pray Love" in the authors' journeys.
Despite these shortcomings, a few essays stand out for their introspective exploration of Gilbert's themes. These authors delve beyond surface-level emulation to find their own paths toward fulfillment, recognizing that happiness is not a one-size-fits-all pursuit. Their stories offer a refreshing perspective amidst the book's sea of idolization.
Ultimately, "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It" may appeal to die-hard fans of Elizabeth Gilbert and those seeking validation for unconventional life choices. However, for readers looking for nuanced reflections on personal growth and fulfillment, this collection may fall short of expectations.
While the book's themes of empowerment and self-discovery are commendable, its execution leaves much to be desired. Despite its flaws, "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It" serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Gilbert's memoir and the diverse ways in which individuals interpret and incorporate its message into their lives.
In "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It," a diverse group of individuals shares their personal narratives on how Elizabeth Gilbert's iconic memoir, "Eat Pray Love," influenced their lives. While the concept is intriguing, the execution falls short for various reasons, resulting in a mixed bag of stories that fail to fully engage the reader.
The collection comprises nearly fifty essays, each offering a brief glimpse into the author's post-"Eat Pray Love" transformation. Unfortunately, the brevity of these narratives limits the depth of connection readers can establish with the storytellers. Moreover, there's a pervasive sense that many of the contributors idolize Gilbert, aiming not just to be inspired by her journey but to emulate it entirely. This reverence often feels forced and detracts from the authenticity of the essays.
One of the book's primary shortcomings is its narrow interpretation of happiness and fulfillment. While Gilbert's memoir advocates for self-discovery and balance, the essays in this collection often reduce her message to a formulaic prescription for happiness: travel, spiritual exploration, and yoga. This narrow focus neglects the diversity of paths individuals can take toward personal growth and contentment, undermining the book's potential impact.
Furthermore, some essays come across as thinly veiled attempts at self-promotion, with authors using Gilbert's name to bolster their own narratives. This opportunistic approach diminishes the sincerity of the stories and leaves readers questioning the true role of "Eat Pray Love" in the authors' journeys.
Despite these shortcomings, a few essays stand out for their introspective exploration of Gilbert's themes. These authors delve beyond surface-level emulation to find their own paths toward fulfillment, recognizing that happiness is not a one-size-fits-all pursuit. Their stories offer a refreshing perspective amidst the book's sea of idolization.
Ultimately, "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It" may appeal to die-hard fans of Elizabeth Gilbert and those seeking validation for unconventional life choices. However, for readers looking for nuanced reflections on personal growth and fulfillment, this collection may fall short of expectations.
While the book's themes of empowerment and self-discovery are commendable, its execution leaves much to be desired. Despite its flaws, "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It" serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Gilbert's memoir and the diverse ways in which individuals interpret and incorporate its message into their lives.
September 21, 2020
Just as Eat, Pray, Love was a delight to read, so was Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It. We resonated with Liz's words describing her depression and loss of joy in life in Eat, Pray, Love and further felt her need to escape the weight of emotions. Unlike Liz, not everyone could go abroad to find themselves and through Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It, you find that not everyone had to to change their lives.
A great collection of essays that will have you crying, laughing, and connecting with each experience.
A great collection of essays that will have you crying, laughing, and connecting with each experience.
January 5, 2024
I think this book worked better for me than Eat Pray Love, which I did enjoy. As the partner and parent of people with chronic, life-threatening conditions, as well as the sole source of income for my family, Gilbert’s story was more an escape fantasy for me than a narrative I related to. Sharing multiple stories of self-reflection and acceptance connected me more to the idea of embracing who I am and being open to the possibilities of my life. Now I need to do the work.
October 22, 2016
No one in this collection received a writing advance to change their lives and improve their self concepts, which immediately put them in my good graces. I now understand the movement that is Eat, Pray, Love, but maintain my loathing of the book itself.
April 21, 2021
I listened to this on Audible, although I bought the book at Dollar Tree, so I wasn't sure about it.
It was a fun book based on many people's stories of their influences to the original memoir.
I felt touched and helped and loved EPL. I appreciate an author reading their own book, too.
It was a fun book based on many people's stories of their influences to the original memoir.
I felt touched and helped and loved EPL. I appreciate an author reading their own book, too.
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August 22, 2020Exceptional🥰
May 19, 2023
I really liked the concept of this but naturally only connect with some of the stories so couldn't take much from it as a whole.
June 9, 2019
I wasn’t a huge fan of the book Eat, Pray, Love itself per se but I found this (surprisingly) refreshing and inspiring
June 11, 2019
Eat, Pray, Love is one of my favorite books of all time. I had high hopes for this one, but found that there wasn't much variation in the stories and the plot lines started to feel predictable.
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