Wasted

By Marya Hornbacher,

Book cover of Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

Book description

A 'retired career anorexic' examines herself and her, and our, culture in a masterpiece of confessional literature.

At the age of four Marya Hornbacher looked in a mirror and decided she was fat. At nine, she was bulimic. At twelve, she was anorexic. By the time she was eighteen, she'd…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Wasted as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I was first introduced to Hornbacher’s classic memoir in 2007 by my little sister, who was desperate to help me understand the eating disorder that had plagued her for more than 15 years. The book wasisa no-holds-barred account of life with an eating disorder, a terrifying narrative of a young woman's gradual and deliberate path towards self-destruction, and it left me in pieces for weeks afterward. And yet, despite the pain it caused, it really did help me understand my sister’s illness better, and in doing so helped reduce the divide that had begun to open…

From Andy's list on family dysfunction and drama.

Want books like Wasted?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Wasted.

Browse books like Wasted

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in health, eating disorders, and cancer?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about health, eating disorders, and cancer.

Health Explore 116 books about health
Eating Disorders Explore 22 books about eating disorders
Cancer Explore 117 books about cancer