*A Real Simple Best Book of 2018* "A deeply moving book about the power of appetite to shape all of our lives. Sole-Smith writes with warmth and insight about the sheer complexity of eating today - and how this most basic and joyful of human activities can be relearned." -- Bee Wilson, food writer and author of First Bite: How We Learn to Eat "I thought food was food was food until I read the Eating Instinct. Now I understand so much better what''s operating on me when I do what I''ve done a million times before.eat. Following Virginia Sole Smith on this ride that''s both adventurous and personal will land you at a place where you feel so much more aware and also liberated every time you sit down for a meal. Read it before you take another bite!" -- Hanna Rosin, host of NPR''s Invisibilia and author of The End of Men "[A] deeply personal and well-researched indictment of American diet culture." -- Publishers Weekly "Sole-Smith offers shrewd insights into far-ranging concerns about struggles with food.
her narrative leads readers toward a better understanding and acceptance of individual instincts.a worthwhile read for anyone with anxieties about food." -- Kirkus Reviews " The Eating Instinct is a watershed book for smug foodies, worried dieters, and unrepentant junk-food lovers alike--none of us eats in a vacuum. As Virginia Sole-Smith casts a clear gaze not just on familiar villains like "big food" but on organics, "clean eating", and the wellness industry, she encourages us all to look more closely at what influences our choices, and does it in a smart, informed book that''s hard to put down." -- KJ Dell''Antonia, author of How to Be a Happier Parent " The Eating Instinct is a thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking book. Reading it will help to liberate you from the power of our national obsession with thinness and the insidious diet culture it has spawned." -- Janet Poppendieck, author of Free For All: Fixing School Food in America "Virginia Sole-Smith is a first rate reporter and a warm, compassionate, funny writer to boot. That makes her the ideal guide for this tour of our many struggles around food, from obsessive dieting and "clean eating" to trying to eat healthy food on a food-stamp budget.
If you''ve ever wondered why half of americans think Coke is a breakfast beverage while the other half thinks a French fry will kill them, The Eating Instinct is the book for you." --Katha Pollitt, columnist for The Nation and author of Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights "To demand a program from her would be to miss her point, but if Sole-Smith has any advice in conclusion, it is to take a risk and trust yourself more with food." -- Shelf Awareness "With nuance and compassion, Sole-Smith asks how and why food has become so fraught--entangled with shame and fear and aspiration--for so many of us. Taking aim at not only weight-obsessed diet culture but also the "clean" eating dogmas of the alternative-food movement, she skillfully explores the cultural forces that have eroded our trust in our own instincts about how to eat. The Eating Instinct will make you think about your relationship to food and then make you hunger for a world in which we think less and just eat--simply and joyfully--more." --Maya Dusenbery, author of Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick "Virginia Sole-Smith tackles one of the most complex and emotionally trying areas of life with depth, humor, and wisdom in her book The Eating Instinct . With a sensitive and thorough explanation of the issues and context, she creates a unique window through which to view the challenges that learning to eat and navigating the ever-present cultural food landmines create for many individuals. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled with eating, dieting, or judgement around food--and that is likely every person in America.
" -- Jenny McGlothlin, SLP, Co-Author of Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating and Conquer Picky Eating for Teens and Adults.