5 comments about The Body Betrayed: A Deeper Understanding of Women, Eating Disorders, and Treatment.

1. This book is informative and tremendously educational. The Body Betrayed is one of the best books out there. The author touches on almost every aspect of eating disorders and how a sufferer uses the disorder to make sense of the chaos their lives have become. They educate you on signs, symptoms, and causes, as well as treatment, comorbidity, and relapse. It is well written and some of the best material I have found to date.



2. This book might not be your best first introduction to eating disorders, but if you are somewhat familiar with the subject, Kathryn J. Zerbe adds tons of new insights.

   Especially helpful are the sections on eating disorders accompanied by other psychiatric problems, and the sections on the relationships between the mother/daughter and the father/daughter in connection to developing eating disorders.

   The writing is on a fairly high and intelligent level, but Zerbe never becomes caught up in psycho mumbo-jumbo that is beyond the scope of a lay person.




3. The Body Betrayed is an outstanding book! Kathryn J. Zerbe writes with much knowledge and compassion about the many complicated aspects of the different disorders, and devotes a lot of time to the discussion of dually-diagnosed patients. She gives careful analysis to the varied influences that effect the onset of these illnesses, and shares some of the real life experiences from her treatment facility. This is a very detailed, but readable book for patients, family, friends, clinicians, and anyone wanting to know more about eating disorders.



4. Too often, books written by professionals on mentall illnesses, particularly eating disorders, are harsh and technical. One could easily get lost in the psychiatric jargon and cold symptomology. However, Zerbe shines in this volume that welcomes patients, professionals, and laypersons alike. Her compassion for her troubled clients is obvious, as is her enlightened knowledge of her subject. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of this growing epidemic.



5. I struggled with bulimia for years and this book was one of several books which helped me on my road to recovery. The author is sensitive and cares deeply about men and women struggling with eating disorders and she delves deep into the causes as well as treatments. Another book that helped was the Minirth-Meier Clinic book on Eating Disorders. Fantastic resources for anyone dealing with this often deadly disease.

5 comments about The Fat Girl's Guide to Life.

1. Through my life experiences, which are similar to Wendy's, I have come to the same conclusions she has. My road took as many or more years to get me to the place she is. Everyone should read this - fat people who need compassion and acceptance and relief from the harangue of our culture to get thin at any cost - and anyone else who could stand taking in the experience of their "overweight" friends and relatives, stop the judgments and look at the true experience.



2. I think every woman over the age of 13 should read this. first for Wendy's down to earth take on the diet industry and what "healthy" is and second for the homerun she hits in reminding us that there are different defintions of beauty and we are ALL beautiful in our own way. She makes so many great points about what it means to be overweight in the world today and offers a fresh take on loving who you are.



3. I'm certainly not skinny, I've had times where I've certainly been in much better shape, but I have always had the body image problem that is spoken of in "The Fat Girls' Guide to Live" by the very funny writer, Wendy Shanker.
   She tells it like it is, and she knows she is fat, and she isn't going to let anyone get her down. She lives life in the fat lane but that doesn't mean she is going to slow down. NOt wanting to conform, she stands up for herself, and tells the readers about her experiences with diets, diet book camp, shopping, dealing with comments from pretty much everyone, and you know what? I related, laughed, and loved this book.
   It was a sudden suggestion for my book club and i read it in just a few days. I will probably read it again and again. It made me feel better about myself and not want to lose weight to please someone else.
   It's one thing to be fat and not happy with it, but if someone is comfortable in their own skin and body overall, good for them!
   I recommend this book to girls of all ages who has ever felt looked down upon cuz of a mere 15 pounds over her high end of the weight watchers range. I recommend this to anyone who has a bad body image. The way media has worked us all over the past few years, I can imagine there are many of us out there with a less than good image of ourselves and our bodies alike.



4. Wendy Shanker has a great message in this book: What else could you be doing with the time and money you are spending obsessing about your weight? This book is funny and insightful but mostly practical! You are practically ticking the moments of your life away worrying about your thighs or butt or ____ . I would recommend this book for anyone that wants to get off the diet rollercoaster and learn to love your unique body and what it can accomplish.



5. I took this book out from my local library several times and decided that it was worth adding to my permanent collection. I love this book! It discusses so well how so many women beat themselves up throughout life to be thin and fit into a certain "standard" of beauty. I highly recommend this book to ALL women. It's reads as though you were talking to a close girlfriend with a very witty sense of humor.

5 comments about Body Wars.

1. Margo Maine has done it again in her book Body Wars. I learned how to connect myself with various groups working for a better community, to recognize examples of brainwashed thinking in myself and to do something about it. Margo Maine is an intelligent and empassioned researcher and activist and I am glad she continues to regale us with her comprehensive style and life-changing material.



2. For yourself, for your children, for the women and girls in your life. Read this book! It was like having the wool pulled from eyes. I can finally see the lies for what they were. I was angry about these "ideals" for so long and the pressure to get thinner. Now I know why, because it was all a lie to kepp women in their place, make money, and destroy the self esteem of nearly every woman in the Western world.



3. This book should be applauded for pointing out things about today's media and culture that many people overlook. It provides a pretty good well of facts about women in the media to draw upon. Having said that, the level of analysis taken in this book is disappointingly superficial, and appears to be motivated more by shock and awe than honesty. Main fails to make several important disctinctions (in my opinion), and I fear that this book may perpetuate its own set of misconceptions about health and beauty that are no less dangerous than those perpetuated by the culture it exposes.



4. This book read more like a personal workbook or discussion book for small self-help groups, with short, superficial chapters followed by questions. That is fine, though I personally would have preferred a different approach.



5. This isn't a bad book... I don't want to say that this is a bad book. I just didn't like it. If you have read 1,2,3 books on the subject of body image Body Wars will not offer anything new. It's more of the same about eating disorders and the media's role in destroying women's self esteem. For me this book wasn't terribly thought provoking. I would echo what some of the other reviewers seem to be saying, that this book is written like a reference guide for therapy groups. The author seems to be big on the whole "self-reflection" thing. It is not that I am mocking the idea that we should all look within ourselves and really think about why we hold the specific beliefs and prejudices that we do, in fact I think that our world we be a far happier place if everyone did preciseley this. The problem that I have with the whole armchair psychology approach that this book sometimes uses is that it feels forced. I want to do the thinking on my own time. I don't want to be quizzed or prompted. I don't need you to ask me specific questions. If a book is meant to provoke self-reflection than it should do so naturally. This felt forced.

No comments about Eating Problems: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Treatment Model.

4 comments about Overeating: A Dialogue: An Application of the Principles of A Course in Miracles.

1. I have reviewed this book two times previously but for some reason they were not posted. Maybe the third time will be the charm...I think any serious Course student would benefit from reading this book for we all have issues with food though maybe not a weight problem. In addition, the issues raised in this small book are applicable to all addictions, obessesions and problems. And it is still in print and available if you look around.



2. This is a clearly written book which is taken from A COURSE IN MIRACLES and helps you to lose the ego and when this happens you can begin to eat normally and eventually get to a healthy weight, not a weight loss book a life book.



3. This book is excellent! And,it's thin----as thin as I want to become. So many diet books become heavy,filled with superfluous minutiae about how many cacao b eans Moctezuma put into his chocolate drinks in order to get enough energy to please his harem.
   We don't NEED that. I have a friend named Carlos Valle who carries all of that stuff in his head.
   This little book approaches weight loss metaphysically.It's wonderful.All that's lacking is the address for the Hemlock Society in case I fail



4. I don't feel like this book really zeroed in on my own particular issues about overeating. Interestingly enough, it was another one of Wapnick's books that I found addressed the issue better and it wasn't even about this subject ("Children and Parents, Our Most Difficult Classroom").
   
   Of course, all Course in Miracle concepts are just the same one repackaged in a different form: the issue of forgiveness. So, if one book doesn't help another one might. This book may be exactly what someone needs but for me it didn't quite get there. The issue of punishment and victimization seems more relevant to the topic and I wish it had been more elaborated upon in this book.

4 comments about Dying to Be Thin: Understanding and Defeating Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia--A Practical, Lifesaving Guide.

1. I read this book as my daughter was hospitalized for anorexia. The fear and guilt were HUGE as I began reading (they still are) but Zimmer's and Sacker's work as an M.D. specializing in Eating Disorders has provided much-needed insight into sufferers' motivations and pain. My daughter, age 14, marked all the pages that "spoke" to her...she marked MANY pages. Authors Zimmer and Sacker attempt, and for the most part succeed, in explaining all variations of EDs. Esp poignant for me were the comments from a mother, and her powerlessness to stop her daughter from destroying herself through starvation. I bought several copies to distribute to family members so that they can support my daughter in recovery. Very useful is a section for educators on how they can assist a student who has an ED.



2. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who suffer from anorexia or bullemia. I purchased this book at the height of my disease in 1997 and it gave me the courage to quit. The stories are real and so easy to relate to. I cried through half the book realizing how pathetic I was. I would love to someday personally thank the authors...



3. Dying to be Thin helped me in ways beyond measure. I knew that a lot of what I was doing to my body was destructive, but only after reading the book did I want to seek help to end the disease- or try to at least. A big thank you and hugs to the authors.



4. With society placing the stress it does on females being physically thin, I think the numbers this book quotes for the totals of US women with serious eating disorders is, if anything, on the low side. I along with virtually every woman I know has at one time or another had what amounts to an eating disorder and in a few cases, had them to a serious extent. With body image being as important as it is, particularly with teenage girls, I'm pessimistic that this book or anything else can do more than try to spur the one suffering from this insidious disease to WANT to do something about her affliction. I read this book because I was curious to see if things have gotten any better in the last decade as far as treatment of eating disorders goes, and also in the level of collective recognition among young women that a disorder is there in their own lives. From what I read here, I'd say the answer to both is no. On the positive side, this book did one of the better examples of addressing this life-threatening situation and if it can be gotten to the right hands, it could truthfully save some lives that might be in danger right at this very moment.

5 comments about Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery.

1. Hall advises, "The first step in recovery from anorexia is simply to choose life." Echoing that decision in her own epiphany, Ostroff observes that women she knew who had recovered had in common that "they accepted who they were. They knew how to herald their successes, be patient with their flaws, and gentle with their pain." From these compassionate insights into the turning point in one of the most enigmatic disorders of our day, these two survivors chart the path to healing in this extraordinarily helpful book. Straight answers to common questions about anorexia and practical advice on all aspects of the recovery process sandwich a frank personal account in a well-balanced presentation of fact, support, and guidance.

   I found of particular value two chapters speaking straight to the anorectic: one section devoted to what has worked for many others who have won the battle; and another section on how to remain committed to recovery. Concrete ideas, exercises, and insights are given, all written in the language of those familiar with the territory, sharing a love and hope that is nothing short of nutrition for the starving heart. I feel I can give no greater praise for this book than to acknowledge that it will save and change many lives.




2. I have had anorexia for 11 years. I am now 24 and am in treatment. Hall and Ostroff's book helped me to understand that I was not alone, and that I was in charge. Most importantly, and the most difficult issue to deal with is that anorexia teaches you things about yourself. I strongly recommend this book to someone who does not know where to start. No, once you read it, you will not be cured but at least you will have explored what you are most afraid of--letting go of the control and the selfdestructive coping strategies. I read the book within the first week of group therapy and came the next week with photocopies of certain sections that were very helpful for the rest of the members. This book helps you want to get rid of the anorexic thoughts. You will be much happier while on the road of recovery. Letting go of the obsessive thoughts that come with anorexia was the best thing I have ever done.



3. Reading this book evokes the feeling of talking to a concerned and supportive friend about anorexia. The authors don't throw out harsh statistics or Freudian theories, and there are no disturbingly graphic depictions of binging or purging. Instead, the reader is treated with affection and respect. It is assumed that anorexia develops as a method of coping, and the reader receives suggestions for new ways to deal with feelings. This book gives the reader a feeling of hope and self-reliance, and avoids shaming language. The authors give helpful, practical methods of overcoming anorexia and learning to love oneself.



4. This book is not only a wonderful resource for sufferers of anorexia. But it is also a resource for thier family and friends. The book explains anorexia, tells Monika Ostroff's personal story, and has a special chapter for family and loved ones. Everyone who suffers from anorexia or has a spouse, family member, or friend with anorexia, should read this book.



5. I've read 3 other books on this topic and found this to be the easiest to read and very inspirational. Short chapters, pick-up and read as much or as little in one sitting. Practical, real life examples of dealing with the complexities of an eating disorder. Not sugar coated, yet it does not dwell in the depths of dispair. Encouraging, hopeful, realistic. I consider this a must read for anyone dealing with an eating disorder, their friends, and family included. I am a mom to a recovering daughter.

4 comments about Binge No More: Your Guide to Overcoming Disordered Eating.

1. This is the second self help book I have invested in. The book tends to go a bit over the top on statistics but does manage to give advice and information on bulimia, anorexia and BED all at the same time. The author is obviously well read in such matters and the book is full of useful information. Useful if you don't already know why you or a relative have disordered eating. Sadly as with the last book I knew all the information already, the book added nothing and certainly hasn't guided me in overcoming my eating disorder. The author does acknowledge that sometimes a person will need some kind of one to one therapy to overcome the problem. Perhaps those with minor disorders will find a solution here and I'm sure it will help others understand why someone has an eating disorder and how they can help. Unfortunately the book has convinced me that self help books like this are not the answer and that professional help is required. Coping with an eating disorder, let alone trying to overcome it is difficult enough on your own, I don't recommend this book as the answer it professes, a little help maybe but thats about it.



2. I thought this book was very helpful with its ABC approach at helping to stop the behavior that leads to the binge. Its model of a chain helps one figure out the path that lead to the binge right from the begining of the day and learn how to prevent it. I would suggest this book to anyone that is looking for a little bit different approach on overcoming binge eating.



3. I found this book a tremendous resource, and still do. It's written from a technical perspective, quoting studies and providing case studies on disordered eating. Its message is that if you understand why you binge (ie, lose control) you can stop it. It's all related to stress eating, but for me, the message was that I absolutely had to have a beginning and an end to my meals...I'm a grazer. It made all the difference. I lost 40 lbs and I'm now "normal" weight.



4. This book if full of concrete information anyone with an eating disorder needs to know. The exercises give you insight into the way you relate to food and your body. Anyone who eats will relate to this book and anyone who is obsessed by food in any way will be greatly helped by it.

5 comments about Making Peace With Food.

1. After years of learning negative behaviors around food, and years of an unhealthy relationship with food, I found a book that challenged my ideas about food and weight. I read a review on this book that mentioned how upset they were about this book telling you that it is ok to gain weight. Well, what this book really says is that we all come in different shapes and sizes and that is ok. Maybe it is not healthy to be the weight that we desire? I loved this book because it helped me to learn that food is no longer my God or my enemy. It taught me that it is ok to eat.



2. Making Peace with Food is so good because you can't read it as a passive audience. The exercises that allow you to internalize the messages of the book are invaluable to anyone who is tired of being preached to by someone who doesn't understand ED. The themes of the book include learning how to stop objectifying yourself by constantly focusing on your body. Also, it shows how to appreciate all kinds of bodies, including your own. It made me think twice about who I was starving myself for. I finally found someone who understood my situation and my feelings instead of just telling me to relax and eat. It is so good. I wish I could give a copy to every woman in America. By the way, it is clearly written for young women, I am 19 and found it quite relevant.



3. This is an excellent book/workbook. Even though there are places for the reader to write, the workbook parts are very helpful and there is still a lot of content in the book. I really enjoyed reading about obesity myths, because it made me question health "facts" pertaining to weight, meaning, that being overweight is not as unhealthy as it is portrayed in society. I also really enjoyed the section on weight set-points, which made me question a lot of classic assumptions, including: everyone is able to be thin if only they diet and "fat" people eat more than "thin" people. The whole book promotes a life free of diets, and body- and self-acceptance, which is very comforting and reassuring. Anyone who is sick of dieting and putting themselves and their bodies through torture should definitely read this book!



4. This is an excellent book. I am a Holistic Cardiologist and I use it as a workbook for a 10-week Weight Loss Workshop For Women that I conduct twice a year.



5. I struggled with weight and body image for years, and eventually developed an eating disorder. This book helped me recover, and develop healthy attitudes towards food and my body. When therapy and medication had failed, this book succeeded.

5 comments about The End of Diets: Healing Emotional Hunger.

1. when i first started to read this book i felt it was going to be someone's success story and that if you did this and that it would work. luckily i kept going past my judgement and allowed myself to hear my excuses and my fears and my past wanting me to stay fat, that has allowed me to stop dieting and just start being, not doing anything but slowly allowing myself to just sit with myself and learn about myself that i wasn't willing to look at and love before. i don't think i will lose weight quickly, but i think i will finally be able to have a balanced control over food.



2. I got a lot from de la Altagracia's heartfelt guide to healing emotional eating, both as a professional counselor and on a personal level. It is a shame that this book suffers from a lack of editing with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout.
   Some of the author's suggestions are familiar and one could dismiss this book as nothing new, however de la Altagracia brings a deeply felt commitment to her process of healing the pattern of "eating through emotions". She succeeds in engaging the reader on a personal, not just intellectual level.
   I appreciate the integration of body-awareness and body work into the book's program. The author's approach synthesizes cognitive, emotional, and body-centered methods into a multi-modal strategy. She also provides a simplified explanation of the myriad of diet options currently vying for attention.
   De la Altagracia emphasizes the life-long nature of the healing journey, instilling hope and realism.



3. In reading "The End of Diets", I found it so refreshing that someone had written about eating from a personal voice that really spoke to me. I have read countless books on eating and dieting and they all say the same thing, but this one actually explains WHY we eat and what tools are at our disposal to finally, finally, finally eradicate the behavior for life.
   
   I have read "The End of Diets" several times and each time I get something new from it, it has literally changed my life. Because of its insight I have been doing yoga for over a year now and have not been on a "diet" for the first time since I was 12 years old. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is on that roller coaster of dieting and constantly looking for that book that is going to "be the one" that is going to help them.



4. I don't use food to address difficult emotions; rather, I am dependent on nicotine. It was easy to read this book and substitute nicotine for food. I believe this book deals with the cause for emotional eating and probably overuse of any substance. I'm using her approach and withn a short time my nicotine dependence reduced. I am hopeful that I will soon be able to accept my emotions and be emotionally independent.



5. This is a very comprehensive approach to emotional eating which I am starting. For me, discipline is tough at times. This book provides a lot of good simple and helpful discussion of issues with a defined program of making progress one day at a time. If you expect to buy this book, get the answers and move on - don't waste your money. If you think you are worth the investment of time and care - and you are - then get this book. Be prepared it will take time. This would be a great book for two people to buddy up with or a small group.
   I do recommend the book - just like most everything else - this book will give you what you put into it - and it does have some good steps (although I don't agree with all of them). I am going to be looking for a buddy - i might even start a small group to work through together.
   
   Godspeed and know that YOU ARE WORTH THE TIME AND CARE!