Starving Women: A Psychology of Anorexia Nervosa

by Angelyn Spignesi

Starving Women by Angelyn Spignesi is an absolutely essential book. It explores anorexia through the imagery, language, and metaphor spontaneously produced by those who suffer the affliction. Informed throughout by a compassionate scholarship and a deep insight, Starving Women allows a reader to enter the symbolic dimension of this perplexing affliction and to understand its hidden meanings and intentions. The author's profound respect for the distinctive nature of the female psyche is evident on every page. I cannot recommend this book too highly-- it is a major contribution to our understanding of what it means to be a woman.

-Kim Chernin

138 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1983

Reviews

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jungian psychology appears to fall in the same category as quantum gravity theories - interesting in the abstract (ie a lens to view literature through), but zero grounding in reality.

[Maysa R Bayona · Rating 5 out of 5]

In general, this was the most interesting work relating Eating Disorders with Archetypical Psychology I have ever had the opportunity to come across. A must read not only for therapists and patients, but each and every woman who desires a deeper and wiser connection with her true self.

[c · Rating 3 out of 5]

she nearly had me with the first half