More Books About Eating Disorders
© Heather Mudgett.
Recently, I've seen numerous interviews with Sia and Shana Barbi (aka: The Barbi Twins), discussing their long battle with anorexia and bulimia. Sia Barbi and Justin Alexander have written a book about this difficult struggle, titled BARBI TWINS - DYING TO BE HEALTHY: MILLENIUM DIETING AND NUTRITION.
The reviews I've read have been mixed. One reader-reviewer on Amazon.com writes "The Barbi twins went through a lot struggling with their eating disorders. I could relate to their pain yet I couldn't see where the pictures were helpful. People actively struggling with an eating disorder will not benefit from this book. The pictures seem to be detrimental for one who has a distorted body image already. Truthfully, I took this book and showed it to my therapist and we threw it in the trash together. "
Yet, another reader-reviewer writes "This book...is so tremendous that my life had been altered. Beauty is so sought after and so strived for that our bodies become the testing ground for unhealthy and unrealistic goals. The Barbie Twins, Shana and Sia, look to most the definion of beauty; blond, thin, big busted, and famous. How many of us would "die" for what they appeared to have-too many. Vomiting, over-dosing on laxtives, and extreme exertion seemd like a perfectly good and healthy way to keep that sense of beauty strong and vital; they invented "tricks" to defy their addiction-when in truth they really were "dying" to be perfect. This book is just amazing. It offers an incredibly candid and thoughtful take on addiction-not just to food but to other areas of addiction as well. It totally opened my eyes to what some go through to obtain an inner sense of perfection that never is insaitable. Food is an addiction and this book is an avenue to recovery."
Another book I've come across recently, is ANGEL MOMMY: PORTRAIT OF A BULIMIC MOTHER. I'm really interested to read this one.... time to check Ebay to see if anyone's selling a used copy.
Here's what one Amazon.com reader-reviewer wrote "Angel Mommy was a compelling and accurate account of a person with an eating disorder. The author openly and honestly illustrates the life of a person with a "sickness". This subject, and this book in particular, may strike a personal nerve with some readers. This is really a compliment to the writer. This shows that she was able to depict the true meaning of having this illness in such a way as to bring on a feeling of passion. This is the ultimate goal of any book that touches on such an overwhelming subject. This book does not glamorize the disease. However, it is not something that is meant to be revered. Books like this are important and necessary to the understanding of this terrible lifestyle. This is clearly not meant to be a "Professional" opinion. The author openly confesses that she is not a Doctor. However, it is obvious from the input that it accomplishes its goals of bringing the symptoms and affects of this terrible situation to forefront."
