This lead her to search out others that have suffered from eating disorders, find out their daily struggles, what caused relapses, habits and traits they have, and in general their lives. Aimee also takes a look at the medical and scientific reasons people give for eating disorders and tries to divide fact from fiction.

This is not Aimee Liu’s first book and she makes sure that you know that. Throughout “Gaining” Aimee Liu’s other book Solitaire (a memoir of her eating disorder) is mentioned easily a hundred times. I’m sorry I’m not much for self promoting when you are trying to get another point across. It is basically seen as tacky.

But the rest of the book is decent and could perhaps provide you with some peace of mind. I had a daughter that struggled with anorexia so it was interesting to have some insight into what she was thinking and feeling and what she may still be going through. “Gaining” provides you story after story from women telling you what lead up to the disorder, what kept them going, what they faced in trying to recover, and challenges they face now. Some of the women that Aimee talks too aren’t fully recovered and gives you even more of a look at the disease.

No subjects are off limits. You can hear how it affects family life, parenthood, and sex. But in the end you can hear from those that made it through and have learned something from it. Overall the book can provide you with some hope, understanding, and no longer feeling like you are alone. But just know that even with other women’s stories the author almost always manages to make it about her and then mentions her other book. I just personally can’t get behind anything that is that self involved; but my daughter got something out of “Gaining” so I can’t trash it.

-Martha has been a writer for Shakefire.com since 2006.

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