Customer Reviews

Appetite for Life: Inspiring Stories of Recovery from Anorexia, Bulimia, and Compulsive Overeating

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having gone through my own recovery from compulsive overeating, I have found that books on this topic have often been either over-simplified and condescending, or complex and intimidating. Personal memoirs have been either overly dramatic and maudlin, or saccharinly sweet. Ryerson's compilation of stories is refreshingly free of all of these extremes. She adds clear prose and heartful insights to her clients' stories, so that the book reflects a tone of partnership, the kind of thing all of us could use when grappling with this topic: We're not alone, even when we might feel alone. "Appetite for Life" did indeed inspire me - to keep on keeping on with my recovery, and in the process, I was moved to tears, smiles and some of my own insights about myself. This is the kind of book that would be great to read even if you're not a recovering addict - but want to be informed, and read some plain-ole-good stories while doing so. And what a gift this book will be for friends and family members still struggling.

As an eating disorder counselor, I've worked with over two thousand women with eating disorders at an inpatient treatment facility. This book gives a good overview of what an eating disorder is, what it can do to a life, and the great changes that come with recovery. But it is just that, an overview. Because the stories are short, they cannot paint a deep picture of who these people (in the book) are, or the true self-destructive nature of eating disorders. This book is inspiring in that you will read about several people who have made significant changes in their lives for the better, but you will not come away with a particularly deep understanding of the diseases. This is a good book to read if you are hopeless about your own eating disorder, but not if you want to learn about eating disorders overall.

I was very impressed with this book. I found that I could not even put it down! There is something wonderful about reading a book that focuses on people's lives and how they overcame terrible situations. "Appetite for Life" approaches eating disorders from a different angle, and I have already told all my friends, especially those with young daughters, to read it!

I'm 18 years old and suffer from anorexia. I am currently in the process of recovering. I really enjoyed reading this book because it gave me hope that I can recover. There were also some very useful tips and suggestions mentioned. However, my only qualm is the fact that more than one of the stories focused on how having children saved the eating disorder sufferer's life. I can appreciate this and while it's a very valid point, it is not a tool I can currently use. I only wish there were more examples in regards to how people found a life outside of their abusive relationships with food.

If you struggle with an eating disorder, I would HIGHLY recommend "Appetite for Life."

"Appetite for Life" is one of the most interesting books that I have read on the subject of eating disorders. Reading about seven people and their experiences made the problem much more understandable than just a regular how-to book. I like how the author combines these stories and examples from her therapy practice. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about eating disorders.