Best Books on Intermittent Fasting {2021}

Best book for intermittent fasting

Last Updated on December 16, 2022 by Kayla

^ Indicates affiliate links. When you make a purchase through any of the links, there is no additional cost to you, and I may make a small {and very appreciated} commission. Thank you for supporting Nutrition Untapped!

Whether you are just starting to experiment with intermittent fasting or looking to fine-tune your fasting muscle, you’re bound to find your next read here!

I have scoured Facebook groups and Amazon to bring you the best intermittent fasting books of 2021 – all of which I have personally read.

Criteria for the books listed here include the following:

  • Published within the past 5 years
  • Minimum of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon
  • At least 1,500 user ratings

Please notice the books listed here aren’t ranked numerically – that is intentional. Recognizing that each person has unique reading preferences, I wanted to pluck a variety of fasting books to suit most peoples’ tastes. With that in mind, let’s get started!

The Obesity Code by Dr Jason Fung_Cover
The Obesity Code by Jason Fung, MD

The Obesity Code

by Dr. Jason Fung
Published March 2016

No list would be complete without including The Obesity Code^ by Dr. Jason Fung. It is among the most well-known and referenced by the intermittent fasting community. While this book does not discuss much about the how-to of fasting, it thoroughly covers the why behind fasting, insulin, and obesity.

With over 13,000 five star ratings, The Obesity Code is a top seller in Amazon’s weight loss and diet category.

This book one of the most comprehensive and takes a deep dive into the science and epidemiology of obesity. Fung covers why other diets such as calorie restriction fail time and time again. He references countless studies on fasting, all of which are listed within the book’s endnotes.

Bottom line: If you are looking for reasons or the why behind either starting or expanding your intermittent fasting routine, The Obesity Code^ should be your next read. It’s thorough, exhaustive {in a good way!}, and will change the way you think about weight loss and obesity as a disease.

Looking for a more laidback or holistic book on intermittent fasting? Then you might consider this read. It’s also one of the newest books on fasting.

Fast This Way by Dave Asprey_Cover
Fast This Way by Dave Asprey

Fast This Way

by Dave Asprey
Published January 2021

Fast This Way goes beyond intermittent fasting and takes a more introspective look at “going without”, or fasting. This includes “fasting” from things other than food such as social media, negative thoughts, and sex to name a few. Asprey ties in his real-life struggles with weight and body image as well as his life-altering vision quest he embarked upon in order to break himself from food and self-doubt.

While I appreciate the inclusion of recent intermittent fasting research, I especially enjoyed the author’s vulnerability and authenticity. Known for his Bulletproof brand, Asprey’s tone is casual yet motivating. I would label this a “bro book”, and I mean that in the most complimentary way! My husband {who rarely reads about health} absolutely loved this book.

Fast This Way_Table of Contents
Fast This Way table of contents

What I loved most about Fast This Way is how Dave Asprey emphasizes the importance of finding your best way to fast. He offers flexible strategies and tactics used in fast-mimicking diets to make intermittent fasting do-able. Like Dave says, fasting shouldn’t be unpleasant!

Bottom line: This book will help you reap the benefits of intermittent fasting without strict rules {i.e. “dirty” intermittent fasting}. Afterall, Dave Asprey is also known as the “father of biohacking”, so if you’re looking for shortcuts on how to maximize the benefits of fasting without being miserable, you won’t be disappointed.

If you consider yourself more of the vagabond or rebellious type, you’ll likely enjoy Fast This Way. For the fasting “purists”, “clean” fasters, and perfectionists, check out my next recommendation Fast. Feast. Repeat^.

Fast Feast Repeat by Gin Stephens_Cover
Fast Feast Repeat by Gin Stephens

Fast. Feast. Repeat.

by Gin Stephens
Published June 2020

This is Gin’s newest read and a spin on her first book Delay, Don’t Deny^ published in 2016. Fast. Feast. Repeat^ goes deeper into the science on intermittent fasting with Stephens’ same conversational tone.

With her educational background as a teacher, the author does a wonderful job of translating intermittent fasting research into digestible bits of information. Furthermore, Gin has certainly walked the walk, as she lost over 80 pounds by living the intermittent fasting lifestyle. She speaks genuinely about the struggles of weight loss and is exceptionally easy to relate to if you’ve found yourself succumbing to diet after diet.

Included within the book is the 28-Day Fast Start, so if you are new to intermittent fasting, this is a great resource for beginners. Gin coined the term “clean fasting”, and this is one of her non-negotiables for intermittent fasting.

Bottom line: If you are new to intermittent fasting and looking to ease into a daily fasting schedule, this book could be for you. The scientific language is simplified compared to the previously mentioned books on intermittent fasting, and Gin’s 28-Fast Start is a simple, step-by-step guide to help you begin your intermittent fasting lifestyle.

The Complete Guide to Fasting_Cover
The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung, MD

The Complete Guide to Fasting

by Dr. Jason Fung
Published October 2016

While The Complete Guide to Fasting^ doesn’t go into as much scientific detail on fasting compared to the other books listed, it provides many great resources and visuals. Consider this book your “quickie” for learning more about fasting. This book also talks more about extended fasting {beyond 24-36 hours} and includes sample protocols and recipes.

The Complete Guide to Fasting_Table of Contents
The Complete Guide to Fasting table of contents

Bottom line: For those of you who prefer visuals, testimonials, and bullet points, The Complete Guide to Fasting^ sums up the highlights. Consider it the “quick and dirty” intermittent fasting book meant to give a mixture of both the why and how of fasting.
A side note: If you have plans to travel with your next book on intermittent fasting, this one is the heaviest of them all! Included are colored, glossy pages which lend to the paperback’s 2 lb weight.

Welp, there it is! My top-rated books on intermittent fasting for 2021. I hope you enjoyed this post and were able to identify at least one book to help you begin or further your intermittent fasting journey. And consider fasting just that – a journey!

Flexible fasting

Intermittent fasting isn’t one-size-fits-all. It takes time to experiment and tailor an intermittent fasting plan to suit your unique needs and make you feel good. Cripes – I have been practicing the intermittent fasting lifestyle for nearly a year now, and I am still experimenting on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to find what works best for me and my body.

Be patient with yourself. Don’t expect perfection and make fasting work for you, not against you. Intermittent fasting is not a quick-fix or temporary diet plan as you’ll learn from any one of the books listed above. It truly is a lifestyle.

Wait until you meet other IFers like yourself. You’ll become instant friends with strangers at social gatherings. It’s the equivalent of joining a cult-like mob who inquisitively ask questions about your eating window and how you prefer to break your fast. You’ll throw out numbers like 16:8, 20:4, OMAD, 4:3 – it will be as though you’re talking code!

Anywho – I realize this is not an all-inclusive list of books on intermittent fasting, and I would love to hear about your favorite fasting reads. Please leave a comment with your book recommendations {… so I can selfishly grow my intermittent fasting library} and why you think it’s worth a read!

Yours truly,

Blog-Signature 1 Use

Helping women after bariatric surgery lose weight without eating “perfect.” Learn how to balance blood sugar & optimize your “tool” today! Apply to learn more!

This post may contain affiliate links. When you make a purchase through any of the links, there is no additional cost to you, and I may earn a small (and very appreciated) commission. Thank you for your support!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *