Rating: 
Summary: Tracey should stick to acting...
Review: I have read just about every eating disorder book that comes along, and I must say that Gold's personal narrative was truly a disappointment.
Ms.Gold is a decent actress, but I found her book to be quite dull and poorly written.
Fortunately there are many other books available on eating disorders - and I'd be hard-pressed to find one that was more boring than this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A reason to hope....
Review: I highly recommend this book for anyone who is struggling with eating disorders and for parents of adolescents with anorexia also. I applaud Tracey for her honesty, as I am sure that there are several other actresses in Hollywood who have anorexia and/or bulimia, and young girls see them on television and wish they could be so "thin and beautiful"....but these are the ones who don't admit that they have a problem. Tracey's story has been an inspiration to me in a highly personal way. I grew up watching "Growing Pains" and loved the show. Tracey and I look a lot alike....especially when she was (sadly) at her thinnest...we have a very similar facial/bone structure. So I always watched to see if she could overcome this disorder....because if she could, then certainly somehow I could too. I always felt some kind of closeness to her and the whole situation. Unfortunately I am still struggling after 15 years with the beast of anorexia....but Tracey and her story is truly an inspiration. And I hope that everyone who reads this book will see that they too can overcome....and that parents/loved ones can learn how to love the person through the disorder. Blessings Tracey ~ you are awesome and you're beautiful!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful, Brave, Inspiring
Review: I just finished reading Ms. Gold's book. It was great, great seems a little odd to write b/c of this books subject matter. However, it touched me personaly and I hope to walk away with the same courage.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Tale of Inner Strength
Review: I know for myself that talking about your stuggles with anorexia is a very hard thing to do. Ms. Gold describes her feelings very well and provides an inspiration for recovering anorexics and lets them know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I copied several passages in my journal for futher reference because they were so well written. Even if you've never had anorexia, there are many lessons that are taught in this book. This book does not glorify anorexia nor does it avoid the inevitable.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Tale of Inner Strength
Review: I know for myself that talking about your stuggles with anorexia is a very hard thing to do. Ms. Gold describes her feelings very well and provides an inspiration for recovering anorexics and lets them know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I copied several passages in my journal for futher reference because they were so well written. Even if you've never had anorexia, there are many lessons that are taught in this book. This book does not glorify anorexia nor does it avoid the inevitable.
Rating: 
Summary: When They Said Young Adult, They Weren't Kidding!
Review: I'm a long time fan of Tracey Gold and was very excited when I learned about this book. I am quite familiar with her battle with Anorexia and have followed her career before and since with interest. It pains me not to be able to rate this book higher, but in all fairness, I can't. Not only does it read like mediocre fan-fiction, it's not even as interesting. Perhaps it was deliberately written in this particular 'style' because it's aimed at juveniles, but when they said Young Adult, they weren't kidding. I think my 7 year old could get through this thing in one night. The book is loaded with family photos, which is fine, but how many Halloween pictures do we need to see? It's almost as if the publisher told Tracey to add a few more pics to stretch the book out to get to that 190-something pages. (Which I think is a strong possibility as the typeset is large, there are lots of spaces and much of the contents seems to be 'filler'.) Something else that bothered me were all of the ringing endorsements. "Diet Coke" and "California Pizza Kitchen" were mentioned over and over like a bad ad campaign. I also caught a big whiff of Public Relations here. Alot of "what will the magazines say?" stuff. True, Tracey is a star, but did we always need to be reminded of it? I think women battling eating disorders would relate to what Tracey has to say here much better if she had toned down the 'I'm an actress" thing. I don't mean to sound so harsh, it's just that Tracey has so much to say to women who suffer with eating disorders, I just think it's a pity she didn't say it a bit better here. The saying is 'less is more', but Tracey Gold has helped to prove that sometimes, less is less.
Rating:
Summary: A truly inspirational book for women of all ages!
Review: I've spent many hours watching Tracey grow up on television and I've read the many accounts of her battles with anorexia. Her memoir is truly inspirational. I highly recommend it to women of all ages...to moms, friends and young women. Her recovery was long and difficult but she's turned into a beautiful woman with a happy family and an ongoing career! This is a great book for fans of her work on television, but even if you haven't followed her career you'll be fascinated to learn of all she has been through on her road to good health. There are great pictures of Tracey and her family in the book, from when she was a baby until now as the mom of several young kids! Tracey can do alot to help people with eating disorders overcome their demons, and this book is certainly the means for her to do so. I applaud her honesty.
Rating:
Summary: A naïve and shallow book
Review: If Tracey Gold wasn't an actress, this book would never have been published. Conversely, if Tracey Gold hadn't suffered from anorexia, she would not be in the public eye today, and she likely would have faded into obscurity like so many other actresses on sitcoms in the 1980s and early 90s. Instead, Gold has garnered a good deal of money and attention by proclaiming the details of her struggles with anorexia. I appreciate that she is trying to send a positive message of hope with this book. However, I cannot recommend it for several reasons. First of all, Gold's wealth and privilege make her details of recovery quite inaccessible to the average person. She was able to afford to go for psychotherapy numerous times a week, and eat all (and I mean all) her food out of expensive restaurants. She arrogantly dismisses residential treatment centres and group therapy, claiming that they only make the problems worse. This is a very negative message to be sending to young girls with eating disorders. Treatment centres can be lifesaving. As a previous reviewer noted, she makes statements like, "Ensure is a supplement with a million calories." This is a libelous remark, and Ensure could certainly sue her for defaming what is a useful and nutritious product that helps many desperately underweight girls. Gold also informs us all that she doesn't believe in anorexic girls meeting with dietitians or nutritionists. She apparently has done no research on the subject, since outcome studies have consistently found that dietitians can have a positive influence on the recovery of anorexic patients. Gold is very vague on the details of her recovery. She mentions going for therapy, but doesn't describe what she says in her sessions. She also doesn't explain how she manages to gain the twenty or thirty pounds she had lost in her illness. There are no helpful suggestions for others struggling with an eating disorder. It seems to me that Gold is clinging to her anorexia story in an unhealthy manner. Her book could have easily been reduced to a magazine article. When is that last time she has appeared in the media as an actress? Besides appearing in that movie about an anorexic lady (which hardly counts, in my opinion). She has become attached to her eating disorder, and is using it to hang onto fame, instead of moving past it and getting on with the business of acting. There are many books about this difficult and baffling condition which are written by writers, who have the skill to bring such a story to life. For those needing help with recovery, I recommend "Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery" by Lindsey Hall and Monika Ostroff.
Rating:
Summary: A naïve and shallow book
Review: If Tracey Gold wasn't an actress, this book would never have been published. Conversely, if Tracey Gold hadn't suffered from anorexia, she would not be in the public eye today, and she likely would have faded into obscurity like so many other actresses on sitcoms in the 1980s and early 90s. Instead, Gold has garnered a good deal of money and attention by proclaiming the details of her struggles with anorexia. I appreciate that she is trying to send a positive message of hope with this book. However, I cannot recommend it for several reasons. First of all, Gold's wealth and privilege make her details of recovery quite inaccessible to the average person. She was able to afford to go for psychotherapy numerous times a week, and eat all (and I mean all) her food out of expensive restaurants. She arrogantly dismisses residential treatment centres and group therapy, claiming that they only make the problems worse. This is a very negative message to be sending to young girls with eating disorders. Treatment centres can be lifesaving. As a previous reviewer noted, she makes statements like, "Ensure is a supplement with a million calories." This is a libelous remark, and Ensure could certainly sue her for defaming what is a useful and nutritious product that helps many desperately underweight girls. Gold also informs us all that she doesn't believe in anorexic girls meeting with dietitians or nutritionists. She apparently has done no research on the subject, since outcome studies have consistently found that dietitians can have a positive influence on the recovery of anorexic patients. Gold is very vague on the details of her recovery. She mentions going for therapy, but doesn't describe what she says in her sessions. She also doesn't explain how she manages to gain the twenty or thirty pounds she had lost in her illness. There are no helpful suggestions for others struggling with an eating disorder. It seems to me that Gold is clinging to her anorexia story in an unhealthy manner. Her book could have easily been reduced to a magazine article. When is that last time she has appeared in the media as an actress? Besides appearing in that movie about an anorexic lady (which hardly counts, in my opinion). She has become attached to her eating disorder, and is using it to hang onto fame, instead of moving past it and getting on with the business of acting. There are many books about this difficult and baffling condition which are written by writers, who have the skill to bring such a story to life. For those needing help with recovery, I recommend "Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery" by Lindsey Hall and Monika Ostroff.
Rating:
Summary: Make Some Room
Review: In her book, Room to Grow: An Appetite for Life, Tracey Gold talks about "not-eating days." She talks about "safe" restaurants. Tracey definitely knows anorexia. I know this, because I am in recovery for anorexia/bulimia. And I know exactly what she is talking about. But Tracey Gold knows a lot more than just anorexia. She also knows about self-esteem, self-discovery, and valuing yourself. In Room to Grow, Tracey is a source of comfort and encouragement for those suffering with an eating disorder. She is also a reassuring voice for those who love someone afflicted with the disease. Tracey is an inspiration to us all. Whether your life has been affected by an eating disorder or not, you will gain incredible insight by reading Tracey's story. You will learn about facing your fears and conquering challenges. You will learn about falling down and having the strength to get back up again. You will learn about accepting and even loving yourself. Aside from offering words of wisdom, Tracey's story is also intriguing and just fun to read. She writes with an honest voice and reveals her deepest secrets. She invites you into her life and lets you walk the difficult roads with her. You will cry; you will laugh. You will not want to put the book down. Yes, Tracey Gold knows anorexia. After you read her story, you will know it, too. And you will know so much more. So make some room on your shelf for Room to Grow, and you will grow. You will discover yourself all over again. Jenni Schaefer, author of Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too(McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books - Feb '04 release)
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