Conventional wisdom says that all we need to do to stay fit and trim is to exercise regularly and eat a low-fat, whole-food diet. Yet more and more people want to fast, forgoing food altogether. But should we fast? And does fasting speak to something deep and immutable within us? Why are we so well adapted to undertake it? And is there a way we can balance the demands of our busy lives with an ancient ritual that requires taking time to rest and rejuvenate?

This book tackles all these questions and more. It shows that the story of fasting has roots in the most fundamental aspects of the human condition, and is in fact a quest for mastery - over our bodies, our minds, our health, our circumstances and our fate. And the book tells of the hopes, anxieties and convictions that set us upon that journey.

'This multifaceted, clear-eyed account explores issues around fasting, including its health benefits and risks, why we are so well adapted to undergo it, and how we can balance its benefits with the demands of our busy lives.' - The Bookseller (UK)

'Fasting is deeply embedded in most of the world's major faiths. This book makes a modern argument offering a new form of transformation and redemption.' - Ken Albala, University of the Pacific