Customer Reviews

Good Enough...When Losing is Winning, and Thin Enough Can Never be Achieved

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is an excellent book, fit for people with or without eating disorders. Reading about Cynthia's struggles and how she overcame them, can give anyone hope as well as strenght to continue and not give up. For anyone with an eating disorder or if you are related to someone who has one, this book offers hope that will push you to not give up on yourself, or your loved one. I have a sister who has been struggling with bulimia for over 7 years now, I thought it was a long time until I read "good enough" and found cynthia battled eating disorders for 25 years and overcame it to be the woman she is today. That gave me hope, and I realized that my sister could get better, for a while I had given up on her. It helped me understand my sister and the "irrational" behavior she constatly displays. Through this book I began to understand that no one wants that kind of life for themselves but they feel out of control if they abandon what they have come to know so well. Excellent overall, thank-you Cynthia.

This book is a true-story about the turmoil of living and dying from anorexia nervosa and bulimia. This book shows a real-life day to day, year to year struggle with eating disorders. It is amazing to me that after enduring so much pain and hardship the author is now living happily and healthily. I was ready to give up until I read Cindy's book. I believe she is godsent and I'm chosing to live because I have new hope because of her. Anybody recovering or struggling or who knows someone with an eating disorder should read this book now. Stephanie Mullennix

This book was so inspiring to me. So often I read books that are merely war stories, people telling you step by step their downfall, therefore describing how to go about having an eating disorder. Those books are very triggering for those of us who have an eating disorder. But this book was about recovery. And to read about someone who overcame a difficult thing was encouraging. It gave me hope that I will one day be able to do the same thing. The task doesn't seem so impossible anymore.

I purchased and read this book at a time when I needed someone and something to inspire me. GOOD ENOUGH was so uplifting. I've never known of someone so determined in their ability to overcome such overwhelming and deadly illnesses. Cynthia showed me that there is always hope, and that with faith and believing in myself that I, too, could overcome my own struggles. Although, I personally have not had an eating disorder, I know of others who have had unhealthy eating behaviors. This book has helped me become more aware that eating issues should not be used as a means of controlling other things or other people in our lives. Cynthia N. Bitter is a true Godsend and an inspiration to us all. I wish that her book could just go on and on as I found it so EMPOWERING. I say HATS OFF TO CYNTHIA N. BITTER. SHE IS A WOMAN THAT I TRULY ADMIRE!!!

...I expected this to be an inspiring, well-written book...but I was very disappointed. ...The writing sounds like that of a third-grader, and the language is dry and boring. What's more, the content is a letdown. The author doesn't really have any unique insights into the causes of her anorexia and bulimia, and frankly, to me it sounded as though she had written the book in order to whine about the terrible things people had done to her and to impress people with her incredible bravery at finally recovering. I'm sure I sound very unsympathetic here and I'm sorry about that - I have an eating disorder myself, and trust me, I know how difficult and painful it can be. And I don't mean to devalue the hard work that the author has put into recovering, and I admire her for it and hope that she continues to have a happy life. However, the whiny tone of the book is extremely annoying, and the author's absolute refusal to accept any part of the responsibilty, to acknowledge that she too had some role in developing the disorder and staying sick, is immature. For a much better-written, insightful, thoughtful account of life wiht an eating disorder, check out Marya Hornbacher's "Wasted".

Good Enough is one of the mosy helpful books I have ever read. Just recently I was hospitalized for the second time because of anorexia and bulimia, and a suicide attempt. While I was in the hospital I read and reread this book. To read someone else's story, especiallly as beautifly written as it was, gave me hope and inspiration. I feel as though if Cindy could get better, than so can I. I am so greatful for this book. It's one of the few stories of it's kind with such a positive outcome. It is a necessity to anyone with an eating disorder. It changed my life. It also helped me realize I wasn't alone in the struggle for my life.

This book was one of MANY I had read about women in recovery from eating disorders and it was the most inspiring one yet! It gave me hope that I will survive and that recovery is possible. Living with this ugly disease is all-consuming and this book really describes it perfectly. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone -- eating disorder victim or anyone who cares about someone who is. Cynthia is an inspiration and a wonderful writer...

"Good Enough" is inspirational! I've been battling anorexia for over 20 years, and the book was instrumental in helping me begin to overcome my fear of gaining weight. In her book, Cindy shares her feelings, the physical problems that she experienced as a result of anorexia, and her struggle to beat the disorder. Most important - she WINS! All too often I read articles and books about those who are anorexic, but very few describe their defeat of the disorder. As someone who's been there, and isn't through the struggle quite yet, her book provides inspiration to take the emotional risks that must accompany recovery. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is a victim of anorexia, or someone who is closely involved with someone who is suffering.

I have struggled with an eating disorder for sixteen years now, and have read just about every book that has come along on the subject. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who has known the pain & destruction of an eating disorder. Unlike many other personal narratives I have read over the years, I found the author was able to describe her illness in graphic detail, without creating a triggering 'how to' manual or 'glorifying' eating disorders. I am in awe of her writing because I could feel her pain - she was vividly honest in exposing the reality of eating disorders. I am truly inspired by her courage. She was on the brink of death, and in the depths of despair - and yet somehow she found the strength within herself to keep fighting and not give up.
I would love to meet Ms. Nappa Bitter and shake her hand, give her a big hug - and thank her for sharing her difficult journey with the world in her autobiography. She has given me some motivation to keep striving for my goals.
I hope Cindy, her husband - and CORBY(?) the "aging golden retriever", are enjoying the best of health & happiness today.

Cindy Nappa Bitter had an extreme case of bulimia. Cindy's autobiography takes us through the beginnings of her eating disorders all the way to its grimmest, darkest low, and then through her miraculous recovery. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled with their own eating disorder.