A highly readable delve into the ancient and modern worlds of fasting. 'The Fast' by John Oakes provides a fascinating exploration into what it means to 'fast', a practice which has maintained popularity, and for some spiritual reverence, throughout recorded history. Oakes takes the reader along with him during a week of fasting, balancing within the book his own expereinces and insights with the expertise of various professionals and acedemics, and key historical moments and movements. I will admit that the introduction and opening pages of chapter one did not immediately grab me; I was momentarily concerned that the book was going to be an overly self-indulgent diary of the authours experiences, but this was not the case and I was well repaid for persevering. In fact the books is broadly outward looking and it is clear that considerable time and effort has been taken to research each of the many subjects covered. The book is a 210 pages, not counting the introducion or the thorough notes and bibliography, and is densely packed with information yet without falling into a dry and complex acedemic style. The tone throughout is confident, grounded and reflective, inviting the reader into Oakes' clear passion for the subject matter. One of the stand out features of the book is the clever interweaving of the personal, scientific, historic, and philosophic strands. If, like me, history is your area of interest you will be able to find that historical thread running through each chapter and will find the other threads as interesting supplements to your understanding. Yet if you are more interesed in science or philosophy you will similarly find yourself following your thread and find the history a diverting aside. The biggest recommendation I can give for this book, however, is that it has left a lasting impression on my thinking. As Oakes himself states this is not a book about how to fast or what the health benefits of fasting are, though it touches on both these subjects. Rather, it is a book which explores what is means to refuse to consume in a consumer world. Not only did I learn many new things (about fasting but also about various other related subjects) but I now actually want to give the practice of fasting a go myself.

Now that secularism is predominant in the post-Modern world, many people reject institutional religion but not spirituality or the practices associated with formal religion. Fasting has made a comeback as individuals recognize the benefits of the practice, but many world religions have advocated sound health for centuries. The author explores the history and science behind the religious practice.

Self-deprivation is unremarkable in religious contexts and spirituality has long advocated abstinence from sex, drink, sleep, or food. Today, fasting has returned mostly for secular and health-related reasons, or as a departure from a person's daily routine.

In the volume, the author interviewed practitioners of fasting and engaged in fasting himself as self-discovery. The survey of history includes a notable list of exemplars who fasted including: Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez; moreover, fasting has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be tuned into the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood.

In addition, The Fast considers complex science at the heart behind the biological phenomena that occur inside the human body when we fast. Metabolic switching induced by fasting can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level; such fasting can provide benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Prolonged fasting can serve both to reinvigorate the immune system and to protect it against damage.

The author alludes to the political aspect of fasting—a hunger strike—which has signaled purity of intent and action. It’s a tactic that has provoked a response to individual commitment, focusing on an unjust system. Advocates who have waged hunger strikes include Gandhi in India, Bobby Sands in Ireland, and the Taxi Workers Alliance in New York City.

Fasting is a determined stance, a commitment, and a hearkening to a basic survival mode. The practitioner is focused on basics and mastery of one's body. Practiced well, it can be ultimately empowering.