In a time when ethical nihilism seems rampant, this slim volume is a ray of hope. Moran investigates the history and modern day practice of ethical veganism, based firmly in compassion for all sentient life. People who are put off by the angry tone of some animal rights literature will find this book a welcome change: gentle, without compromising the animals' interests. Deservedly a classic.

This is a beautiful book that doesn't just deal with how your house looks but how the place where you live--house, apartment, dorm room, whatever--can feed your soul. The author is a single mother who made a "real home" for herself and her daughter. She talks about eating at home more often, finding quiet time there, giving yourself the comforts you can only give yourself at home, and even how to make housecleaning spiritual practice. After I read this book, I stopped feeling like my home was a second job and I just started to exhale there and enjoy it. This is a spiritual, practical, warm, witty, wonderful read.

Creating a Charmed Life is a series of 75 essays, each exploring an idea that will pave the way to a positive, life-affirming habit. Each essay is about 3 pages long, starts with a catchy title and a quote. Examples: "Get Ample Shine Time", "Practice the Vacation Principle", "Stop to Realize", "Honor Your Cycles" and "Breathe"!
I enjoy Victoria Moran's style; it is beautiful, fresh and very friendly. The book is full of insights and wisdom, and will direct you to many positive habits that will make your life happier, easygoing and fulfilled.
Victoria Moran gave us, busy women, a gift by writing this very useful book. Reading it is obviously not enough. Put these "sensible spiritual secrets" into practical use, and enjoy a charmed life.

This volume is a treat for women and men of all ages. Victoria Moran gently challenges you to look inside yourself and to find out who is at home. Hopefully you will love the person you find inside yourself. In this book, you are offered the opportunity to expand your horizons and find the "fun" that you may have been overlooking while "caring for everyone else". The segments are manageable so that even with the busiest schedule, you can take 2-3 minutes at the start and at the close of your day to TREAT yourself.

Victoria Moran is a delightful person, as well as talented writer. This book is a wonderful gift to give your best friend, hopefully yourself or your spouse, as well as your other friends and family members.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to create your own "Charmed Life".

Life is what you make of it and most of our lives look like a great big 'To Dos' list, not exactly what makes a charming life. This author is gifted with words and delicately points out areas where small changes can greatly enhance the quality of day-to-day living. The book is not short on suggestions either, just pick up the thick tome. Definitely a worthy book for women who want to find charms in their lives. The treats are there; it's up to you to pull them out from the muck of everyday and let them shine. Share this book with your friends; they'll thank you.

I went to the bookstore looking for interior deisgn books but I ended up with this book instead. It is much more than how to create space you feel comfortable in -- it is helpful ideas about how to create a home in whatever space you live in. The book also includes advice on how to enjoy everyday tasks -- like cleaning, etc. What a breath a fresh air. I didn't need any interior design books after reading this book. I create my own ideas.

Ann Marie M. Andrews
West Harrison, NY

I got this on tape from the library, and she reads it herself-- it was the most awesome book I ever read (had read to me!) last year! I still haven't topped it this year. I am so impressed, I really loved it. I recommeded that out LLL group get it for our library. We are a homeschooling family, and because we spend so much time in our home (we are like soccer moms, but all day long, in and out, stuff all over!), so the clutter drives me nuts sometimes. Knowing that she too was a homeschooling mom (and single parent at that-- brave mom!) it made me feel better that she could know true clutter and still find her home to be a haven. I would reccomend this as tops to anyone. Good job to the author!

I feel like this book has changed me and changed my life - for the better! This book is exactly what I needed in my life at this moment. Victoria Moran has written more than a "how to keep house" book here - she has written a book that can help each of us fully enjoy our lives. She gives wonderful insight on things we can do to change our lives from hectic, frantic, and stressed out to serene and full of joy. Her suggestions are all "DO-able" suggestions - requiring nothing more major than a change of attitude. I am so grateful to Ms. Moran for writing this book - it has touched me deeply and I feel that my life will be much more appreciated from now on. I plan to sit down and re-read this book every year or so from now on to remind myself of what is REALLY important and to keep my priorities in line.

I loved this book so much that I just purchased eight copies to give every single one of my best girlfriends & treasured family members - I wish I could buy a copy for everyone in the whole world!

I have read many books on compulsive eating. This one is a little misdirected. It focuses too much on contol issues. I recommend "Overcoming Overeating" or "When Women Stop Hating Thier Bodies." by Jane Hirchman and Carol Munter. These books emphasize freedom from the inner critic, and body acceptance. It seems as if Victoria Moran got some of her ideas from women like Geneene ROth and the authors of "Overcoming Overeating" ;the concepts are somewhat similar. BUT, there is one main difference... The focus on thinness is too heavy in this book!! How can you really love your body, and build your inner world, when you are try to "love yourself THIN"?! Attention should be focused inward, and not outward on our bodies! Thinness is not the point of spiritual growth!!

This powerful, spiritually oriented approach to compulsive overeating was just the book I needed now: 12 Step friendly, incredibly insightful and practical. Unfortunately, its title doesn't do it justice, and makes it sound like just another silly diet book; it's not! For anyone struggling with compulsive overeating and searching a spiritual path for the answers, this book should be part of your journey.

I am taking the time to write this review becuase I have been moved by the simple yet profound enlightening words Victoria Moran has written. This book taps into your inner core and assists you in the most important motivation- internal love. If you have even a question, do yourself a favor and purchase this book.

This book has become my best friend. It supports and guides me in my decisions, it cheers me in my smallest and most grand accomplishments, it encourages me to be kind to myself. It offers me practical advice that really works. I love this book as I would a dear friend, and I recommend it sincerely to anyone who is not 100% accepting of the way she feels, looks, or thinks she is perceived in the world.

I recommend it also as an alternative to protein diets, low-carb diets, special supplements, and other diet gimmicks. This is about real life and real food and living in the real world. It is really a helpful book.

Fit from within is a must read for everyone trying to lose weight and keep it off. It is not a regular diet book; actually it is far from a diet book, as it tells you not to diet but to eat as a healthy person. There are no menus, recipes or success stories but there is plenty of good advice that will provide you with everything you need to know to change your body and your life. To let go of the diet mentality and start eating as a healthy person is an important message in this book. You do this by eating three meals a day while sitting down, eating good delicious food that you enjoy, in portions that will satisfy your hunger, and making water your beverage of choice. But remember healthy people do not stuff themselves with salty greasy fast food! The author guides you to realizing your spiritual self and surrendering your life to God to be able to come to grips with your life and your eating habits. Don't worry, no breaching here, but do give thanks before and after meals! Another focus of the book is on living a good quality life all the way and not postponing your life till you reach your target weight. Stay centered in today, wear clothes that you like in your current size, groom yourself like a racehorse, develop your mind and talents, laugh and play and get plenty of sleep. As for exercise, walk more, join a friendly gym or discover yoga, don't do too much too soon or it will backfire! Above all be patient, this has to be for the long haul. As the author puts it " If you want only a different body, and not a different way of life, you can't expect the body changes to last, because there will be nothing to sustain them. In other words, you can't just lose weight and go to business as usual without becoming overweight as usual. This has to be for the long haul."
Other recommended books for more details on eating and staying healthy for life are:
1.Eating well for optimum health by Dr. Andrew Weil
2.Fight Fat after Forty by Pamela Peeke
3.Volumetrics by Barbara Rolls and Robert Barnett

I checked this book out at the library before I bought it. I have been burned too many times with weight loss books and weight loss products. Therefore I was wary of buying another
weight loss book.
This book Fit From Within is different. It's as if the author
lived in my skin and knows what I've gone through. One of the
biggest challenges for guys is gaining inches around the stomach.
It just creeps up on you.
I have lost weight and am losing inches since reading Fit From
Within, but more importantly I'm less afraid about what to eat
and less worried about how I look.
I guess I'm becoming "fit from within". Anyway, this is a
great book and I recommend it for everybody!!!
Bob from Kansas City

I am a guy and I was given a copy of this book with a note of apology for the gift of a "girly" book. But I read it and the lessons within, full of warmth and wisdom, are applicable to EVERYONE. It's about self love, self acceptance and finding self worth in your day to day life.

Victoria Moran writes with great insight and common sense, with a warm heart and a keen mind and this is a book I will treasure and give as gifts to all my friends, girls and otherwise.

I love Victoria's newest book. Reading Lit From Within is like getting a front row seat at the counter of the world's most compassionate make-up artist. One learns early on in this book that beauty means more than what stares back at you from the full-length mirror. Beauty is more than what's hanging in your closet and beauty is more than how you've felt in the past about your looks. Victoria gently leads the reader through a self-exploratory journey that resonates with compassion, understanding, and hope. Victoria makes it clear that many of our questions about self-worth, authenticity, and self-love have more to do with how we feel and less to do with how others see us. This book is like a safe house for me. I read it whenever I need of dose of vitamin C for my soul. Read this book and eliminate from your self-talk any doubts about how beautiful you really are.

I once had the pleasure of running into the author, Ms. Moran at the New York City airport and we shared a cab. The ride to manhattan was the most enjoyable cab ride I ever had. The positive vibes Ms. Moran exuded, and the quality of our conversation left an indelible impression on my mind. So after reading her book, Lit From within, I now know how she has been able to reach that high level of living and thinking. I particularly liked her discussion on distinguishing between dreams and fantasies, her emphasis on regarding others as important and allowing others to be beautiful too.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone wishing to bring more positivity and pure beauty into their life. Anil Minocha MD, Author: "How To Stop Heartburn" http://www.diagnosishealth.com/heartburn.htm

This book provides a good journalling exercise for those on a mission to take care of themselves, but in itself is not sufficient for hardcore journalling. I would recommend a nice, thick blank book if you are serious about using journalling as a tool to help you on your journey, but this makes a nice companion volume with thought-provoking writing prompts.