Her first book, the memoir Wasted, appeared when she was 23, and was shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize. In 1998, Marya Hornbacher published her first book, Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia, to international renown. How Marya uses the Twelve Step model in her recovery and current life. Why self awareness and self compassion are vital in the process of healing. Recovery is “messy” because life is “messy.”Īccepting our personal limitations vs beating ourselves up over them. The line between being “triggered” and being an educated consumer. The invasiveness of social media consumption and the role of personal responsibility. The unintentional/intentional “glamorization” of eating disorders in the media. The phenomenon of the “trainwreck girl” during the memoir boom of the 1990s. The motives behind the raw, graphic nature of Wasted. With a new ending to her story that adds a contemporary edge, Wasted continues to be timely and relevant. While she doesn’t sugarcoat the hard work of recovery, she does assure that healing is attainable and within reach.

In May 2014, 15 years after the original date of publication, the book was updated with a Postscript by Hornbacher. Her first book, the memoir Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia, appeared when she was 23, and was shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize. In this episode, I am joined by award-winning essayist, journalist, novelist, poet, and New York Times bestselling author of five books, Marya Hornbacher.

Marya hornbacher anorexia