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Dying to Please: Anorexia Nervosa and Its Cure
The author discusses her own case of anorexia nervosa, describes the symptoms and psychological causes of the disease, and looks at various treatment techniques
- GenresNonfictionMental Health
116 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 16, 2026
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September 20, 2026
>The presence of this morsel is critical. It is a part of her salvation, a symbol that she is in control, a comfort in the absence of internal solace, and a barrier between her and her horrific emptiness<
Dying to Please: Anorexia is simultaneously an academic book and a memoir. This is difficult to pull off, but Rumney makes it work well here. The author explains thoroughly the anorexic condition and adds the human with her own experiences. This makes for a very sympathetic study with a necessary a wide look at both causes and solutions to the problems (internal and external for each).
I was impressed with the accuracy of the pro-ana internet culture of the early 2000s. Some of it has been revived today, so those wishing to understand and help friends/family might find it helpful. However, take everything with a few grains of salt; not everyone suffering from anorexia finds internet motivation/community, and the communities, while sharing similarities (even the same photos circulating), have still changed a decade after. This goes double for the treatments chapter.
Not sure I go for *all* of the psycho-analysis. Some of it seemed astute, but I didn't find all of the mother-daughter relationship pieces to be true to life. Much more complicated and diverse than the book allows for, and was rather overly reliant on Freudian psychology. Besides this, the majority of the claims throughout are backed by research and cited. The bibliography, resources, and index are particularly through and helpful.
Dying to Please: Anorexia is simultaneously an academic book and a memoir. This is difficult to pull off, but Rumney makes it work well here. The author explains thoroughly the anorexic condition and adds the human with her own experiences. This makes for a very sympathetic study with a necessary a wide look at both causes and solutions to the problems (internal and external for each).
I was impressed with the accuracy of the pro-ana internet culture of the early 2000s. Some of it has been revived today, so those wishing to understand and help friends/family might find it helpful. However, take everything with a few grains of salt; not everyone suffering from anorexia finds internet motivation/community, and the communities, while sharing similarities (even the same photos circulating), have still changed a decade after. This goes double for the treatments chapter.
Not sure I go for *all* of the psycho-analysis. Some of it seemed astute, but I didn't find all of the mother-daughter relationship pieces to be true to life. Much more complicated and diverse than the book allows for, and was rather overly reliant on Freudian psychology. Besides this, the majority of the claims throughout are backed by research and cited. The bibliography, resources, and index are particularly through and helpful.
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January 3, 2013Good, reliable information about someone that has survived the disease.
September 4, 2013
Non-fiction.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews