Lessons from the Mountain: What I Learned from Erin Walton

by Mary McDonough

A fascinating look at what it's like to grow up in front of and beyond the cameras. --Eve Plumb

For nine seasons, Mary McDonough was part of one of the most beloved families in television history. Just ten years-old when she was cast as the pretty, wholesome middle child Erin, Mary grew up on the set of The Waltons, alternately embracing and rebelling against her good-girl onscreen persona. Now, as the first cast member to write about her experiences on the classic series, she candidly recounts the joys and challenges of growing up Walton--from her overnight transformation from a normal kid in a working class, Irish Catholic family, to a Hollywood child star, to the personal challenges that led her to take on a new role as an activist for women's body image issues.

Touching, funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and always illuminating, Lessons from the Mountain is the story of everything Mary McDonough learned on her journey over--and beyond--that famous mountain.

"For someone who started out as a sweet little girl afraid to speak up, it certainly is a pleasure to hear her shout from the top of the mountain now! --Alison Arngrim, New York Times bestselling author of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch

"She's a radiant woman whose truth comes from within. . .if I had to pick one word that described Mary Beth, it would be resilience." --Earl Hamner, Creator of The Waltons

"Mary is a whole lot more than Erin on The Waltons. This book shows how she's handled all the highs and lows with grace." –George Clooney

Includes Never Before Published Bonus Chapter!

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Tv, Biography Memoir

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2011

Reviews

[Tabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished watching the 9 seasons of The Waltons plus all the movies so I felt I just had to read this book. I read reviews on goodreads beforehand and they made the book sound shallow, as if all she talked about was breast implant awareness etc...and yeah she does touch on that but the book was also bursting with other goodness!
I definitely got my full of behind the scenes stuff and stories of her growing up on the show. I love how she never bad mouthed any of her co stars and they all seem to love each other! I would read this again. I'm glad you moved your mountain Mary!

[HR-ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this Kindle memoir 3.5 stars and rounded up. Mary
was best known as Erin Walton on "The Waltons" TV show,
and 6 subsequent Walton TV movies. She also served as an
acting teacher, an actress in commercials, TVs, plays, and
some movies, a seminar leader on body image & a health
advocate. She also produced some segments & directed a
film, and volunteered for several non-profits. She gave
kudos to several mentors.

Mary had no acting experience when chosen for the Walton
prequel movie "The Homecoming" and then the series. Mary
came from a loving family who had to economize. She never
saw her parents argue so she had no example of conflict
resolution. Mary never said 'no' or questioned authority, &
she wanted to be perfect. Mary turned 18 while on the show.
An established director on the show grabbed & kissed her
to demonstrate how to do a scene. He showed himself to be
a dirty old man.

Mary learned to journal her thoughts/ feelings from John
Ritter who played the minister in the early seasons of The
Waltons. Mary internalized critical comments from the crew
about her size (which was fine) & she dieted, to satisfy the
wardrobe lady and producers, who naively thought growing
child actors would stay the same size & measurements yr to
yr. Duh!

Mary shared her spiritual journey to become more assertive
and find her niche in the world. She thought having breast
implants would broaden her acting choices. 10 yrs later she
had the implants removed, after consulting w/ many MDs.
She was in tremendous pain, developed Lupus, her hair fell
out in clumps, she could not lift her toddler dtr, before the
2nd surgery. She learned later her implants had ruptured &
the silicone spread to various parts of her body & spread to
her dtr during her gustation period.

Mary overcame her public speaking fear to speak at rallies,
news conferences, and to appear before the US Senate & FDA
hearings, to share adverse health affects of breast implants
on the women who had this surgery and possibly
their offspring. Mary: a brave woman.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

After my Mom died when I was 13 many things changed in my life, one of the most influential being that the remote was passed from my dying mother to my father. We never were the family that had multiple tvs in the household so whatever was on was what you watched or you found something else to do. In the early 90's my Dad found reruns of The Waltons on tv and every weeknight for two hours (via two different channels) I watched The Waltons. In the beginning, I'd groan and make a fuss over it. It was the era of Roseanne... I mean really Dad, THE WALTONS?! Soon though, I got sucked into the story of the mountain and liked seeing each person grow up and tell their story. I always liked Erin the most - I still don't know why but I felt the most affinity for her.

When I saw on twitter she was releasing a book I was really excited, there are other stories from behind the scenes of other shows I watched but most of them I didn't discover until MUCH later in life, while it was in reruns, The Waltons was tied into my childhood a bit more firmly and I was curious if that family was as close knit as they appeared to be on television.

Mary's story is a bit disjointed (I am chronologically anal) but despite the back-and-forth of the timeline, I really enjoyed reading her journey from normal child to child actor to activist. What I thought would be the most interesting part of the tale - The Walton years - was interesting but her story about her complications from silicone implants is what really blew me away. I knew there were issues with it but I had no idea of the scope of damage that they did and are still doing with little from the government to help. My mind is still a bit boggled from reading all of this and I hope that more women read this and pass the information onto their friends.

I highly recommend this book to any woman that's ever felt they weren't good enough, were fat or just loved The Waltons. I enjoyed this read immensely.

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was (and still am) a huge Waltons fan. I don't live too far from Schuyler, Virginia, where Earl Hamner grew up. I was excited to read this book.

I was a bit disappointed. The majority of the book had nothing to do with "Walton's Mountain"; I guess I found the title of the book somewhat deceptive. I thoroughly enjoyed her commentary about the show and growing up as a child actor. Still, after 9 seasons, I felt she could have devoted more of the book to the actual show and her fellow actors and actresses.

The bulk of the commentary was about her breast implants and the subsequent activism she was involved in to take Dow Corning to task and to make the implants safer. Please don't misunderstand me - there's nothing wrong with this. She was very brave in her endeavor to make right something that was very wrong. But perhaps (in my opinion), a separate book should have been written detailing this commendable fight.

I purchased this book because of my love for the show and the family that I felt a connection to (there are 6 kids in my own family).

It was still a good read, but I wish now that I had borrowed the book from the library instead of buying it.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book, hoping to find some guilty pleasure reading about my favorite Walton girl, Erin. Unfortunately, I found the book fell well short of my expectations. McDonough gives snippets of information about her fellow castmates from The Waltons, often writing no more than a paragraph or two about her memories of each. Throughout the book, she describes her various insecurities which led to a lifetime of self-doubt. This includes several periods in her life when she contemplated suicide. Although she states towards the end of the book that she has overcome her demons, it appears that she has yet to address the underlying self-doubt. I find it ironic, therefore, that she is now a life coach helping others climb their own "mountains" of insecurities. She disperses metaphors about mountains throughout, but somehow the book falls short of reaching its peak!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

lessons from the mountain by mary mcdonough , tales of background scenes while filming
different episodes of waltons mountain. all the things i learned, wow just in time for my
trip south to visit the waltons museum in a few weeks.

[Jamison · Rating 3 out of 5]

erin was the walton who was sort of...vague. she wasn't a tomboy. she didn't have long, fiery hair, and get into trouble. she didn't play piano. she didn't have a sink-hole on her cheek. she was just...there.

the actress who played her is...nice. and she thinks everyone in the cast was... nice. and she thinks her life in the future could turn out...nice.

just don't get her started on lupus. or breast implants. (never never never gonna get breast implants.)

she talks about each of the cast members, in an almost roll call fashion. it would have been good if she had a definitive picture of the cast, though. i *swear* i can't tell ben from ..that other guy.. sometimes.

she talks about ellen corby, but doesn't really go into the wonderful life corby had in hollywood. she mentions john ritter, and winds up words like she's going to give out with an awesome tribute to him, but it sort of...cuts short in the middle.

i'd compare this book to the impact given by the melissa sue anderson book. both are....rather lukewarm, with this one being just slightly more useful.

[Kris · Rating 1 out of 5]

After my Nellie Oelson bio delight, I thought I'd go with a Waltons bio,as I enjoyed both shows. Alas, lightning didn't strike twice.

Her anecdotes about the show were slim,and that's what I wanted. It was really more about her poor self-esteem,eating disorder and early breast implants. Oh wait - they made her sick,now it's about her crusade against something she never should have gotten in the first place. On top of that,it was poorly written.

I honestly skimmed heavily after about the 70th page and didn't really finish. Don't bother. If you notice, all of the reviews listed on the back were ones from old castmates who never read the book! They were "early praise" basd on knowing her.

[Dawn Michelle]

** I had removed this because there was no audiobook and I was really struggling with read reading. Things are better now [in the sense I can read/read for at least an hour each day], so I am adding it again to the TBR since it isn't a long book and it is one I really wanted to read. **

RWYO: 4.17.2015

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the kind that people who loved a TV show like The Waltons will love--it is filled with plenty of behind-the-scenes stories about the series from the childhood memory of one of the kids. However, the writing is extremely weak, the timeline jumps around to the point where she goes off on recent tangents in the middle of old stories, and the writer's liberal political/religious views unnecessarily infuse sections. Then about two-thirds of the way through, the book suddenly turns into a disease-filled diatribe against breast implants, and the whole thing is negatively tinged with the constant lack of self-esteem of the author. She is just plain annoying.

Unlike most books from TV stars, this one has a lot of on-set stories. They're very self-focused and harmless. Everyone she worked with was wonderful and she portrays herself as an awkward, clueless amateur. But there are one or two surprises. The biggest being that the man who played Grandpa was a wild hippie who gave the author a book of nudes when she was 12. McDonough thinks he was great, even though he was going against her prudish parents' wishes. Then there's a fascinating story about guest star Stephen Collins, who made comments that may have seemed innocent when she wrote the book in 2011 but in retrospect now seem creepy as he leered at the beauty of the 14-year-old girl. She also tells of how around that age her older brother introduced her to pot, and doesn't appear to think there was anything wrong with that.

Namely, the author doesn't have much of a moral compass unless you agree with her stand for a few liberal causes. She spends way too much time discussing her diseases and her non-profit work, which took up of most of her adult years when she couldn't get acting work. She gives very few clues about her private life or dating history, and she pretty much skips the last seven years before the book was published. In the end it doesn't appear she really learned too many lessons and it's a dull book that can only be recommended for die-hard Waltons fans.

[BJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lessons from the Mountain" is the first book written by any of the Walton's TV show stars. Mary McDonough who played middle-sister, Erin does a good job of combining the story of her activism concerning lupus and silicone breast implants with anecdotes from her days growing up on the Walton's. She is not out to ruin any reputations of her cast members, so if you are looking for dirt, this is not the book to read! In general, she seems to have loved her fellow Walton's and still stays in touch with most of them today, 20 years later. I found this book a refreshing change from those who want to tell all the dirt about people they have worked with. It was a fast, enjoyable read.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the book to begin with because I like Mary. She has always been appreciative of her Waltons experience and obviously loves her co-stars but still didn't make it seem like her life was perfect just because she was on a very popular tv show. I admire her writing, her courage in being truthful and telling her story. I loved the book on its own merit because it changed me and how I look at myself and the world around me. And it did have enough Waltons references to not overwhelm the rest of the story but to put a smile on my face. Thank you to Mary for that.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This autobiography is written by Mary McDonough, better know to many of us as Erin Walton. The behind the scenes information about filming the Waltons is interesting and fun. After finishing the show, Mary struggled with insecurities and depression which lead to some unpleasant consequences. Her honesty and openness about her struggles is to be admired. Sometimes the book is difficult to follow -- not always sequential and many of the people she discusses the reader may not know. Her insights about life are admirable.

[Carolynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary played Erin Walton on the TV show about "The Waltons." If you enjoyed the show, you'll enjoy this. Not unexpectedly, in view of the challenges most child actors face as the become adults, she has had to face numerous difficulties, including serious complications from breast implants which have apparently affected not only her own life but that of her daughter Sydnee.
Her fight to make manufacturers of implants accountable for their products is moving and inspiring.

[Terry Coffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Waltons was one of my favorite shows and I've watched many of the episodes several times, so it was interesting to read about what things were like on the Walton's set and how the actors interacted together. McDonough became an advocate for women who suffered after having breast implants since she was a victim of implants gone wrong.

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since The Walton's is my all time favorite television show, I totally enjoyed reading Mary Beth's behind the scenes accounts. Also, I enjoyed getting to know "little" Mary, pre, mid, and post Erin Walton. I was privileged to meet Mary at a book signing a few weeks ago. I have to say, she is so warm and inviting. Very down to earth. Now I am looking forward to reading her fiction series.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this memoir! It's about so much more than Mary's days on The Walton's, although I did enjoy all the little tidbits a lot.
I particularly enjoyed reading how Mary found her identity, followed her path and and ultimately, found her destiny. Highly recommend this memoir.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story of erin and mary life on and off screen.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone (like me) who was a great fan of The Walton’s (That, and Little House kept me going throughout my grade school years), this is not only a book that will bring you back to that time, it is also a fascinating and amazing memoir of a little girl who became a part of a huge, fast-paced world.

Mary McDonough played Erin on that set – after starring in the movie The Homecoming - which came out on television and was the start of one of the most dramatic and much loved series in the history of television. This is a girl who went from being a normal child with an average family to a girl who was suddenly thrust into the limelight. She went from a classroom and friends to interviews and covers of magazines overnight; from reading and learning her history lessons, she had to begin memorizing lines for episodes. Readers will note from the author’s in-depth emotions that although this was amazingly fun it was also an extremely difficult way to grow up. As one can only imagine puberty is hard enough without having it play out in front of the whole wide world.

Some of the absolute favorite parts of this book deal with the memories that Ms. McDonough is kind enough to share with her readers. The Walton’s cast gave her many a day of happiness and love, especially her two “moms” – offering wonderful recollections of Patricia Neal and Michael Learned; as well as memories of Richard Thomas and Will Greer – a ready-made family that she was placed into.

What Erin also shares are the horribly difficult times where she seemed to fight her good-girl, Walton’s Mountain image. She fell into the adolescent pain and suffering that comes with fame, and battled everything from depression to drugs. She fought constantly against her image and even tried her best to reinvent herself as an actress after the series ended.

Mary is now a huge number of amazing and different characters in life. She is, all at once, a writer, director, actor, producer, and an outspoken activist for women’s health issues. Readers will truly love “meeting” the real Erin Walton – the little girl who was a favorite in the worlds’ eyes and became a strong, courageous, fantastically talented woman in her own right. A dazzling novel filled with passion, choices, success, failure, and the reality of traveling down various paths, through the tunnels, and coming out on the other side. It will make you look at that beloved Mountain in a whole new light.

[Joanna Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have an opportunity to get my own personal copy of the book signed by the author last December. If you'll remember, I attended the 40th anniversary screening of the Christmas TV movie "The Homecoming" last year and I served as the moderator at that event for The Waltons cast reunion.

Waltons fans will be delighted to discover that McDonough's book is chock full of details about her experiences during the ten year run of the hit TV series. Approximately 150 of the 250 pages in the book are devoted to her experiences on the The Waltons. Mary, of course, played the character of the middle sister Erin which was based on Earl Hamner's real-life sister Audrey. I was especially interested in the details she reveals about the joy, boredom and hijinks of shooting those iconic scenes of the family gathered around the dinner table--scenes found in nearly every episode of The Waltons. I was also intrigued about what other television shows were being shot on the studio backlot near The Waltons set, such as the Shaolin Temple set from Kung Fu as well as the set for Eight is Enough. I can't help it--I'm a TV junkie! I was also touched by a story she retells explaining that it was actor John Ritter (who played the Reverend Fordwick for a couple seasons on The Waltons) who first suggested to Mary that she keep a journal to express herself--an act of encouragement and insight that she credits helped change her life for the better.

McDonough does discuss her work after The Waltons including the horror movies "Midnight Offerings" and "Mortuary." She also shares about her work she's found very challenging but most rewarding: speaking out against the manufacturers and big business industry of dangerous silicone breast implants. Drawing from her own difficult experiences, she's working to change laws and help educate women about getting the accurate information they need to make decisions about their bodies and their health.

[Shari Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary McDonough is best known from the TV show The Waltons; she played the part of Erin Walton for 9 seasons. I grew up watching this show, and it's still one of my favorites. I enjoyed reading about what it was like to grow up while being part of the show, and the things that happened behind the scenes.

It was not always easy being a child star; while Mary talks about the down side of the business, she is still very appreciative of the opportunities that she was given. They were all truly a family, on screen and off.

She also talks about her decision to get breast implants, and how they almost cost her her life, when they ruptured and caused her to have other health problems, such as lupus. I had a bilateral mastectomy almost 10 years ago, and opted not to have reconstruction; after reading about her problems with implants I am very glad I made that choice. She is also an advocate for other women who have had health issues from implants, including those that had them because of breast cancer. She stood up to the FDA and Dow Chemical Company despite fighting unbearable pain and unrelenting fatigue; I admire her for that; I'm going through treatment for stage IV breast cancer and I know how miserable that pain and fatigue can be, so the fact that she fought through that to help other women is just phenomenal to me. She was also raising a child at the time.

This is truly an inspirational story. I hope some of the other cast members will write their stories too, (in the book, Micheal Learned, who was Olivia Walton, hinted that she is working on a book), I would love to read them!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

an almost four. I liked watching the Waltons back when they were on in the 1970s.I was a kid myself then and reading this book brings back some memories of the Waltons. Mary McDonough gave some fun accounts on her nine years as Erin Walton.she had fond memories of growing up working on that show and has nice things to say about the whole cast.she also mentions some of the other child actors she met growing up and became friends with.she also talked about the rough times growing up. her being quite sensitive and having a hard time speaking up her insecurities she had growing up.
when she was in her twenties she was talked into getting breast implants. to further her career. it turned out to be a big mistake. her body took a terrible toll with these implants, rashes, and even developing lupus.she I felt she was an inspiration to be brave enough to talk about her horrible experience with breast implants and how dangerous they can be. she as since been an advocate against breast implants. and body image for women. I enjoyed reading this book and found it interesting. if anyone liked the Waltons,, they may find this book a good read..

[Susan Nations · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child I was a Walton's Mountain "nut"! I wanted to live there and have a family just like Ma and Pa Walton. So I thoroughly enjoyed having a look into the "Walton Family" and the making of that television show. Mary McDonough, who played Erin, also gives a glimpse into her own life as a child actress. The book also takes a turn as Mary shares with readers her "life after the Mountain." Mary, developed lupus as an adult and was a victim of the dangers of silicone breast implants and has spent much of her adult life being a voice for women and trying to work with the FDA to change policy and to make things safer for women. For a bit of this part of the book, I found myself wondering if she was really writing more than one book...after all, the part that lured me, was the Walton's connection. Mary even brings this up when she talks about the mosaic of her life when she writes, "People wanted it to be just The Waltons, or just lupus, or implants, or acting or activism, but I am not just one element of my life." Fair enough. Mary, then, has given a glimpse into the multi-facets of HER. As a reader, I found her story one that was interesting and compelling all at once.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

While helping a boy find a biography in the M's, I found this book. Erin Walton wrote a book - get out! You see, I AM Erin Walton! OK, not really, but I filled that role in my family. I had the older sister much like Mary Ellen and the cute little sister Elizabeth. I was the freckle-faced one in the middle. (We also had John-Boy, the eldest son, but I guess they forgot to have Jason, Ben and Jim-Bob.) So I always felt an affinity for her. It was fun to read, and unlike some other reviewers, I thought she gave a lot of information on what it was like growing up on the set. I didn't know anything about the breast implant saga, so that was interesting and horrifying at the same time. I might have given it four stars, but I was a little irritated by her ongoing little barbs at the Catholic church. I'm sorry she went to a "bad" school, but she even alludes to the fact that her cousins were having a different experience at theirs, so why throw the baby out with the bathwater? But beyond that I found it an enjoyable read.

[Edwin Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went to the library Monday before 11am, and by closing time at 5pm, I had read the last 80-90% of this book, so I'm saying I finished it. Only part I didn't read was the part before she was cast to play Erin Walton at age 10 in THE HOMECOMING.

Nice nostalgic look back at the best true American family TV show ever made. Best because it's realistic in both the mother and father characters. And Grandparents as well. If you didn't grow up with this show (I'm only 6 months older than she) then it won't mean anything to you unless you read the part about her activism against the medical industry and politics of selling things women think they need without proper testing.

"Somewhat" interesting to learn what Mary Elizabeth has done since her TV days have mostly past. It is a biography of her life, and the struggles she had in real life that were sometimes seen by us viewers of the show, from what I remember as I watched it every Thursday from the time I heard about it until I left for college and it lost some of the charm as all 7 kids grew up.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Mary McDonough at the Southern Kentucky Bookfest where she was promoting her book. I was a huge Waltons fan and was so excited to actually get to talk to her and say "goodnight, Erin." when I left--like she hasn't heard that a million times. She was so lovely and sweet and her book is just like that. It's amazing to have seen her on the show, know about her success and learn how "insecure" she felt about so many things. I loved the first part of the book where she talked about her life on the show as Erin and all her acting "family" members. When that part of her life is covered though, she tells about having breast implants and what they did to her health. It also talks about her marriages and her daughter and the causes she has dedicated herself too. She has become a big campaigner for woman accepting appropriate beliefs about their own body image. Overall, it was a fascinating look at the life of a strong, opinionated woman who used to be thought of as a cute little girl from Walton's Mountain.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title was deceiving. I liked learning about the other aspects of her life but it was a bit off topic for what the cover proposed. It was written in a way that was more like a conversation that quickly jumps from one topic to another. Like many of chats go when girlfriends gets together. Lol. It was a bit of a pain at times to keep reading, but I still enjoyed it since I like Mary. If you are looking for Waltons info,you will get some, but mainly the book is about her own personal life struggles ( things we all deal with though some are worse than others). Her activism & issues were something I never knew about till I read the book, & I loved learning about it all but it took up more of the book than the title alludes to. It's more about her own life struggles which I think she would have had issues even if she never became an actress. So, it's an ok read, but it drug on a bit too much at times.

[Devika Koppikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Walton fan, I had to read this book to learn about the story behind the taping of this wonderful show.

It was interesting to learn what was going on behind the scenes:

* How hard Mary tried to "cry" for the first time - during the Easter Story episode.

* What it was like to kiss Ashley Longworth and how they had to put ice in their mouths to avoid fogging up the air during the cold months.

There were also some sad behind-the-scenes stories - like when a crew member made a pass at Mary while she was still a child. Luckily, all the "Waltons" were great to her.

The book goes on to talk about Mary's life after the Waltons - going into debt, not being able to find work, and the illness caused by implants.

What was "odd" about the book was her analogy of the mountain. I think it tried to make a literary analogy, but somehow, it sounded awkward.

Nevertheless, it was a great read - I wish all the "Waltons" would write about their experiences!

[Summer Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess being a Walton doesn't make life perfect. This is a sweet, interesting look into the life of Mary McDonough, the girl/lady who played Erin Walton on 'The Waltons.' I've been watching this show since I was a little girl, so naturally when my mom read the book I had to read it, too. I was expecting maybe a little bit more information on the actual filming experience of being on the television show, but that's just me.

Mary spends a huge portion of the book talking about how damaging her breast implants were, how sick she was, and how she campaigned to raise awareness for the dangers of implants for years. You've got to give the lady props for fighting it out, and she had help from a lot of really cool ladies. Mary is a life coach now, helping women embrace themselves and learn to have self-confidence. I think it's awesome, and I really love that Mary has taken lemons and made lemonade. We could all learn from her example!!

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting that many people were disappointed that the book wasn't a tell all about Walton's Mountain. While I've always been a big Waltons fan and enjoyed reading about McDonough's recollections, I found the book to be so much more. In fact, I recognized many "mountains" that are relevant to lots of people. Maybe you don't have an eating disorder, but you can gleam some insights into that problem and how one person dealt with it. Same is true of health issues and self-esteem issues. I had a mastectomy 10 years ago and chose not to have reconstruction for many reasons. One was that in the back of my mind during that time was the remembrance of her experiences. More than "enjoying" the book, I "appreciated" the book.