
The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day,
by Dr. Jason Fung, Jimmy Moore
At a glance
About the Author
Dr. Jason Fung, Jimmy Moore1 book reviewed
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Adult general-audience readers who have encountered intermittent fasting in health media and want a single, protocol-driven resource that explains the underlying rationale, differentiates between fasting types, and provides a practical starting plan — all grounded in clinical perspective.
Worth it if
Worth reading if you want a structured introduction to fasting — from 16:8 to extended multi-day protocols — backed by a practising nephrologist's clinical experience and a concrete 7-Day Kick-Start Plan to get you going.
Skip if
Skip it if you are already well-versed in metabolic health science and want peer-reviewed research depth, or if you have complex medical conditions that require a more cautious, physician-led approach before beginning any significant fasting regimen.
What readers & critics say
Reader reception has been strongly positive: an Amazon.co.uk reviewer highlights Fung's ability to explain fasting's benefits for insulin resistance "in a non-scientific language" that is easy to follow. A blogger at brettlore.com offers a more mixed take, finding the opening sections — including Moore's lengthy introduction and the "Fasting All-Stars" bios — unnecessarily padded, while still acknowledging Chapter 1 as "quite a good introduction to intermittent fasting."
Sources: Amazon UK, brettlore.com, pecheyponderings.wordpress.com, audible.comLook inside the book
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- Is it worth reading?
- For readers who have encountered intermittent fasting in health media and want a single resource that explains the underlying rationale, differentiates between fasting types, and provides a practical starting plan, The Complete Guide to Fasting is a widely referenced and substantive choice. Dr. Fung's clinical voice, paired with Jimmy Moore's communicator perspective, gives the book unusual reach across both clinically minded and general-wellness audiences. The main caveat is that Fung's broader dietary framework — particularly his work on insulin and obesity — has drawn scrutiny from other clinicians and nutrition researchers, so readers should approach some of its more sweeping claims with critical attention. Those already well-versed in metabolic health science may find the general-audience framing covers familiar ground.
- Similar books
- Readers drawn to The Complete Guide to Fasting will find natural companions in the broader metabolic and longevity health space. Dr. Fung's own The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss extends his insulin-focused argument into the mechanics of weight loss. Peter Attia MD's Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity offers a rigorous, clinically informed look at extending healthspan, while Casey Means MD and Calley Means's Good Energy connects metabolism and cellular health to energy and well-being. For a science-driven counterpoint with different dietary conclusions, Michael Greger M.D.'s How Not to Diet presents evidence-based nutrition research, and Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto makes a compelling cultural and scientific case for rethinking how we eat.
- Who should read this?
- The Complete Guide to Fasting is most directly aimed at adult general-audience readers who want a structured, protocol-driven introduction to fasting backed by clinical perspective. It's particularly well-suited to readers who have encountered intermittent fasting in health media and want a single resource that covers both the underlying science and the practical how-to — from choosing a fasting protocol to following a beginner's kick-start plan. Those managing complex medical conditions should supplement it with professional medical advice, given the book's prescriptive tone and the scrutiny some aspects of Fung's framework have received from other clinicians.
- Does it address the fasting vs. starvation confusion?
- Yes — dismantling the conflation of fasting with starvation is central to Fung's argument. The book contends that equating the two has unnecessarily discouraged a practice with documented metabolic effects, and it structures the argument to address that confusion directly. Fung draws on his clinical experience with more than 1,000 patients to ground this distinction in real patient outcomes rather than purely theoretical nutritional science.
- Are the book's health claims reliable?
- The Complete Guide to Fasting carries real clinical credibility through Dr. Fung's background as a practicing nephrologist and his patient-outcome experience, and reader reception has been notably enthusiastic, with many citing his medical grounding as a key reason they found the book persuasive. However, Fung's broader dietary views — particularly his framework around insulin and obesity — have drawn scrutiny from other clinicians and nutrition researchers who dispute aspects of his argument. LuvemBooks' assessment is that readers should approach some of the book's more sweeping claims with critical attention, treating it as a well-grounded entry point rather than a definitive or universally accepted clinical consensus.
- Where should I start with Dr. Fung's work?
- For readers specifically interested in fasting protocols and practical implementation, The Complete Guide to Fasting is the most direct starting point — its breadth of coverage, beginner plan, and recipes make it the most hands-on of Fung's titles. Readers more interested in the underlying theory of insulin, obesity, and weight loss may want to pair it with or follow it up with The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss, which develops Fung's broader dietary and metabolic framework in greater depth.
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Adult
Reading level
Adult
Skip if you want peer-reviewed research depth or a cautious, clinically hedged guide rather than a confident, prescriptive wellness framework.
Editorial Review
Published by Victory Belt Publishing in October 2016, The Complete Guide to Fasting brings together Toronto-based nephrologist Dr. Jason Fung and international bestselling author and health podcaster Jimmy Moore to make the case for fasting as a foundational health strategy — covering everything from 16:8 and 20:4 intermittent schedules to alternate-day and extended fasts, and equipping readers with a 7-Day Kick-Start Fasting Plan and 20 healing recipes to get started.
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