Great for anyone struggling with disordered eating if any kind or if you know someone who struggles. Stories that hold your attention and parcel out important life lessons that show being a women who is accepting of her own emotions is the most powerful way to overcome food obsessions. There are so many pieces of information that I will take from this book that were explored in such creative and memorable ways. Highly recommend.

This is a beautifully written book. Johnston uses storytelling and practical tools to help women work through their troubled relationship with food. My only criticism is that her approach is a bit too simplistic and doesn't offer enough step-by-step info that lends to actual behavior change. I see this is a great tool for clinicians as well as patients in treatment.

I really wanted this book to be life-changing, but it fell short. I was recommended this book at an eating disorder out-program I was apart of, and introduced to it through "the log metaphor," read the log metaphor here. While the log metaphor, and some of the other metaphors, stories and legends in this book spoke to me and helped me think about the impact that my eating disorder has had on my life and vice versa, there were major issues I had with Anita Johnston's perspectives on some aspects of eating disorders. Specifically, when she discusses about how there aren't fat zebras and giraffes on the safari has the potential to be incredibly triggering and is fatphobic. I believe a lot of this comes from the huge way language and perspectives on eating disorders has changed in the past 20 years. This is not a HAES book. This is not an anti-diet book. This book may be helpful for women who are beginning their eating disorder recovery, but for people a few years or more into their journey it has the potential to be more triggering than helpful. As well, if you are not spiritual (in a new age sense) it will be difficult to 'buy in' to this book and if you are religious in a more traditional sense, it may be offensive or contrary to your beliefs.

Interesting information but I couldn’t finish.

I LOVED this book! It has likely earned a spot on my top 5 list for the year.

Though I disliked the focus on gender norms, that is my only complaint. The fables and interpretations were beautiful. This book has changed how I think about my body.