Eating Disorders: Anatomy of a Social Epidemic [Paperback]

Richard Gordon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631214968 | ISBN-13: 978-0631214960 | Publication Date: April 17, 2000 | Edition: 2

In an extensively revised new edition of the successful Anorexia and Bulimia, Richard Gordon includes new information and discussion of the latest ideas in this rapidly growing research field. The past two decades have witnessed an enormous increase in the number of cases of eating disorders in industrial societies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"He (Gordon) has successfully produced a very useful volume, which can be recommended as a primer which is readable, informative and well referenced...interesting and persuasive...coverage of the field is broad and most approaches are represented. A good read." Paul Robinson, European Eating Disorders Review, 2000, Vol 9, No 1.

Book Description

Richard Gordon brings together historical & cultural perspectives, as well as his own clinical experience, in order to examine the Sociocultural roots of this epidemic.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (April 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631214968
• ISBN-13: 978-0631214960
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,623,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate Insight into Modern Women, June 28, 2000

By 

Therese H. Sissons (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eating Disorders (Hardcover)

If you read only one book to understand eating disorders, makeit this one. One might almost say that if you read only one book to understand women in todays culture, read this one. It is a wonderful book, written with an insight and compassion for women in the modern world that is simply outstanding. You do not need to suffer from an eating disorder to make reading it worthwhile. If you or anyone you know has ever eaten the whole bag of cookies, the entire box of ice cream, the whole cake in one go, and wondered why, read this book. If you or anyone you know is chronically on a diet or worried about being fat, read this book. If you or anyone you love is simply a women in todays world trying to balance a career, marriage and children, it is worth reading this book I personally watched eating disorders proliferate according to the authors predicted pattern in Spain. Twenty years ago, Spain was still a fledgling democracy, and the doors to the outside world were just opening up after the death of Franco. The local pharmacy was stocked with traditional medicines in plain boxes. Today the shelves of the pharmacy prominently display anti-cellulite and diet products of every conceivable variety. Side by side is the changing role of women. Now Spain has its own feminine icons, the super-women who have husbands and careers, and children, and eating disorders. At the same time in England, Princess Diana was trying to help those suffering from eating disorders, but her publicity of her own anorexia added to the upper-class status and glamour of the disease. I can say the professionally critical things about this book - it is well-organized, clearly written, well-researched, and certainly very timely. But I am sure the authors wife and family, along with his clinical experience, must contribute to the compassionate understanding of individuals suffering from eating disorders, which complements the drier bones of research throughout this work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate Insight into Modern Women and Eating Disorders, June 29, 2000

By 

Therese H. Sissons (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eating Disorders: Anatomy of a Social Epidemic (Paperback)

If you read only one book to understand eating disorders, make it this one. One might almost say that if you read only one book to understand women in today's culture, read this one. It is a wonderful book, written with an insight and compassion for women in the modern world that is outstanding.

You do not need to suffer from an eating disorder to make reading it worthwhile. If you or anyone you know has ever eaten the whole bag of cookies, the entire box of ice cream, the whole cake in one go, and wondered why, read this book. If you or anyone you know is chronically on a diet or worried about being fat, read this book. If you or anyone you love is simply a women in today's world trying to balance a career, adult relationships and children, it is worth reading this book

I personally watched eating disorders proliferate according to the author's predicted pattern in Spain. Twenty years ago, Spain was still a fledgling democracy, and the doors to the outside world were just opening up after the death of Franco. The local pharmacy was stocked with traditional medicines in plain boxes. Today the shelves of the pharmacy prominently display anti-cellulite and diet products of every conceivable variety. Side by side is the changing role of women. Now Spain has its own feminine icons, the super-women who have husbands and careers, and children, and eating disorders. At the same time in England, Princess Diana was trying to help those suffering from eating disorders, but her publicity of her own anorexia added to the upper-class status and glamour of the disease.

I can say the professionally critical things about this book - it is well-organized, clearly written, well-researched, and certainly very timely. But I am sure the author's wife and family, along with his clinical experience, must contribute to the compassionate understanding of individuals suffering from eating disorders, which complements the drier bones of research throughout this work.