whats your favorite eating disorder book?

CATHYGAYM

I have started reading a book about recovering from an ED, it's called "Desperately Seeking Self" , it's written by Viola Fodor, a therapist who is also recovered from a 15 yr ED experience of her own.

She gives an analogy of an iceberg , that an Ed is a lot like an iceberg. All we see are the symptoms of the ED above the water, things like problems with food, disordered eating, distorted body image, but that's really only 1/3 of the issue. And that what is under water is what has to be dealt with in order to get well. Things like, perfectionism, low self-esteem, poor coping strategies, believing social myths about what we should be. Then there are the larger life issues we are all trying to grasp, the meaning of / for our life, our purpose for being, and our relationship with the world.

I encourage any of you to get the book and read it, it's not a "how to" manual , it's a book that I believe will help us in our journeys of knowing our deeper selves and give us the strength to heal ourselves and move on with our lives.

thinnnnnnner

Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi...LOVED IT!

^^ This was my fav too!!

It was amazing! She was so real and while some may find it triggering, I was inspired by her journey.

Yes really loved it! Though some points were very triggering, in the end I'm so happy I read it.

thinnnnnnner

I read them for help. I want to read other people's stories about their ED. I want to hear how it started. I want to hear their highs and lows. I want to relate to them. Finding other people who struggle with the same type of behavior is somewhat relieving because it helps me to stop blaming myself. I want to know how other people figure out how to overcome their ED behavior. I want to continue to learn everything there is to know about ED because I truly believe knowledge is power.

exactly.

P.s. Thanks for the book reccomendations, I haven't read most of the books mentioned so I will have to check some out.

jellybaby84

I like the ones which are from the perspective of someone other than the sufferer - The Invisible Girl etc. Mainly because they remind me how not okay EDs are.

Wintergirls is probably my favourite though because most of those kind of books make me want to restirct really heavily and become skin and bone etc. But Wintergirls horrifies me. It's an anti trigger to me.

Recovering_for_cupcakes

I will only read stuff that is recovery oriented at this point so my current favourite (just re-read it yesterday) is "Brave Girl Eating" by Harriet Brown. I love Unbearable Lightness too.

freenewme

the reason I like "Life with Ed" so much is because the author is very careful not to put in triggering information such as her weight, her caloric intake, etc. She talks about the psychological side of it and the thoughts that run in and out of our minds while suffering with an eating disorder. I highly recommend it to anyone on this board.

there is a second one by her called good by ed hello me

its about how to keep living once you are in recover

Butterf1y23

Wasted... it's the ED bible.... and Life-Size and Wintergirls.

vilecreature

I've never read an ED book i've like, Wasted apart from being really ****ing triggering made me want to punch the author because she came across as such a smug git. It had a vibe of like "i'm the best anorexic ever blah blah blah"

I am currently reading wintergirls but i just can't get into the story. I really don't like the writing and its just seeming to drag so far, it may get better so i'll probably read a bit more of it whenever I can be arsed.

zombie_porno

The Best Little Girl in the World and Kessa both by Steven Levenkron

I LOVE this man. His book on cutting was also extremely healing to me.

zombie_porno

Eve's Apple by Jonathan Rosen.

caterpillar3

I really like "more than you can chew". Character is lovable and keeps the book somewhat lighthearted, but still hits home takes you through the ups and downs of getting over Ed.

BuffyEat2Live

"Eating in the Light of the Moon" by Anita Johnston, PhD

This book has been amazing and eye-opening for me. The subtitle is: how women can transform their relationships with food through myths, metaphors, and storytelling

Seriously, please look into this book, it's wonderful!

daggoneit

Wintergirls. I haven't read Wasted yet, but I'm going to soon.

cole_ashleyy

Next to Nothing - Carrie Arnold

I tend to read recovery books... I can't handle the triggers in some of the other stuff.

Amybcb

I would have to say Wasted too. But I find that I typically start reading ED books when I'm starting to develop unhealthy eating thoughts and patterns so I try to stay away from them. They can just be really triggering to me. I remember in high school, back when my ED began (gosh am I really that old, that was 20 years ago!) that I read "Paper Dolls" - I think that was the name. And it sent me completely over the edge. I began using the tricks she mentioned and just getting deeper into the ED. That was when I started reading lots of books like that, more to be inspired to NOT eat and to steal their tricks. That was when I decided I would NEVER tell anyone my tricks, because I would not want them to use them!

rainydayvivi

Just read the GREATEST book called "Being Ana" -- super cheap on Amazon and SO insightful. Highly recommend!

i_will_lose

I absolutely loved Wintergirls. My favorite so far.

lizafava2

I'm currently reading Wasted by Marya Hornbacher
next I want to read Feminist Perspectives on Eating Disorders then Minding the Body

This is an old thread but I was so surprised to see someone mention Feminist Perspectives on Eating Disorders I wanted to comment. That book totally changed my life. Also, the Beauty Myth. It pissed me off, politicized me and got me to eat and empowered me to stop (most) of my ED behavior. It also ****ed up my credit, lol, because I refused to return it to the library and the Austin Public Library sent my late fee to a credit agency. I still have it on my shelf Everyone effecting by ED should read it.

GraceCamD

"Letting Ana Go" I don't know why it's a true story and she dies in the end, very sad, but im obsessed the book.

JULIEdance

Unbearable Lightness is my favorite so far.

SomeNights246

For any men or transmen wanting a guy's perspective or just women who are curious about how they affect men, Nothing was a good read. I don't remember the author.. but I found it on Amazon. It's about a boy struggling with bulimia.

A Trick of the Light is, also, about a boy and deals with anorexia (can't remember the author of it, either..). It was not as good, and the female character seemed stereotypical and left a bad taste in my mouth. But it is worth the read, and does raise awareness to eating disorders in males.

Wintergirls was, also, a decent read.

dracolucas

I'm so obsessed with Wintergirls, I barely read anything else unless its online. lol
~DracoLucas