This book was a lot better than I expected it to be when I spotted it and thought, "Judy Collins . . . That Judy Collins?" Yes, it's that Judy Collins, whose beautiful voice (and eyes!) I remembered from my childhood, but whose life and continuing career I hadn't followed at all. Cravings is quite a lively and frank tour through both dieting history in general and Collins' own experiences with alcoholism and bulimia (among other problems) in particular. Yes, there's some name-dropping and a bit of out-there stuff that borders on being flaky, but the woman has gotten it together, seems quite vital and healthy at 78, and her insights are often good. Whether I, or anyone else, would want to follow to the letter her stringent dietary solution to her food woes is another question, but her basic conclusions about what to eat (protein, veggies, a little fruit) and not to eat (sugar, flour, junk) are solid, and consistent with what seems to be the growing consensus today. ( )

Cravings is both harrowing and inspirational. Judy Collins, the renowned folk singer, shares all the dirty laundry from her serious addictions to alcohol and food binging / purging. She takes the reader in detail from her early teens until her mid-forties. Then gives an extremely quick summary of the thirty years since finding the answers she craved to stop her cravings.

This isn't a long read but I think it treats the subject with plenty of gravity, without inducing emotional burnout.

In between the chapters with her own story, Collins tells the stories of a wide variety of diet gurus. It's a bit disjointed to go back and forth, but ultimately the variety keeps the book more readable.

Collins' writing style is conversational, never straying into preachiness or judgement. She clearly says her intention is to possibly help an addict who wishes to recover.

I enjoyed the book overall, but haven't yet figured out who I'd recommend it to. It seems to be a book that the reader must reach for themselves, much like treatment for addiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for a digital review copy in exchange for this honest review. ( )

Iconic singer, (folk legend) songwriter, and author, Judy Collins delivers her most timely and critical memoir yet CRAVINGS: How I Conquered Food — courageously told, a personal harrowing struggle with painful addictions and her battle food: bingeing, bulimia, weight loss, and gain.

One of hope, recovery, renewal, and inspiration.

CRAVINGS is the author's heartfelt honest story of finally "filling the black hole" in her soul that comes from untreated food addiction. Sixty years of experience, struggling to find a solution. Compulsive eating. How she "slayed her demons" and conquered food addiction.

Insightful and informative, the musical star shares her personal story with others, to help them find a way to break free. Folk singer Judy Collins' tumultuous relationship with food began when she was a child, and led her into a downward spiral of bingeing, purging, and alcoholism that followed her for much of her life.

"In music, Judy found spiritual solace. In her addictions, she lived in a spiritual desert and had to find water and sustenance, the spark of inspiration and some solution that would end the drama of diets, pills, plans, doctors, extreme answers and mutilating consequences. . . "

Her proven plan has been a success offering joy and continued health. She is sharing her discovery with others. To help others out there seeking answers to their own food disorders. A new life, "free" of cravings.

It wasn't until she met her now-husband, Louis Nelson, in the 1970s that she decided to get sober and recover from bulimia. Collins, now 77, hopes her upcoming book, will help others resolve their own addictions

Her solution is a balanced food plan "free of the foods" that cause the addictions: Sugar, grains, flour, wheat, corn, and many foods which she is allergic to (containing alcohol). The foods which cause bulimic, anorexic, or overweight disorders; causing feelings of fear and self-loathing; diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, among many others. (It works. Trying removing all these items for your diet, and you will remove the cravings.)

Collins highlights her life from childhood through her music career and her battle with alcoholism. Her personal and business relationships. Her family and the many people she has met along the way and influences in her life. Diet Gurus and others in her fight. Her ups and downs. She has spoken out previously and references here, regarding her alcoholism and the suicide of her only child, and the survivor of her own attempt to end her life at age fourteen.

With CRAVINGS the author wants to encourage others who suffer from the same problems—there is a way "through the dark" night of the soul of compulsive overeating.

The folk star has been sober for thirty-eight years from alcohol; however, has had to learn to eat in a different but healthy way. Someone who was controlled and obsessed by food. From fasting, compulsive exercise, restricting food, bone loss, purging, bulimia and an array of dieting.

As we learn from Judy’s personal story and account, this horrible addiction begins at childhood. With our children and grandchildren today — being subjected to large amounts of sugar, processed foods, chemical, additives, and preservatives— (as well as adults) trouble lies ahead which will carry into teens and adulthood in many ways, if not identified and corrected. We all have to take control. She like many of us, have become an advocate for healthy foods, speaking out against the big food companies which make money with added corn, fat, sugar, salt, and additives.

Judy steps out to share her tragedies, even from an early age of three, nothing made her happier than to devour sugar in any form. Sugar fueled her race through life, as does many others today. It was the beginning of her dance with the devil.

From depression, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, sadness, nightmares, anxiety attacks, and blackouts. She spent most of her life deep into her addictions, trickling over into other areas of her life. She explains how alcohol addiction is sometimes twinned with sugar addiction.

“My mind is clear, my heart is light, my health is perfect, she writes. . . I surrendered to it and never looked back." Collins has been sober now for 39 years and recovered from bulimia for more than 33 years.

"We are all in the same lifeboat, but the rescue ship is in the harbor, and we can all come aboard," she writes, hoping that readers will be inspired by her story to resolve their own addictions.

In summary: Teaching people about addiction and opening up a forum is part of Collins’ goal with Cravings.

After reading her latest book, have even more respect for her incredible journey. She is a timeless legend. Compelling and absorbing, readers will be moved by her inspiring journey and hopefully educated about food addictions— and make the necessary changes needed. Highly recommend!

A special thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for an early reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read more (on a side note) on my blog:

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