Rating: 
Summary: Lacking some important aspects, but overall good book
Review: After reading hundreds of books and searching desperately for help this was the only book that offered any hope for my 11 year old daughter. We followed the other recommendations, found a nutritionalist, went to our medical doctor every two weeks to have them tell my daugther how bad this disorder was for her, but it wasn't until we followed Peggy's advice for "taking the responsibility of food out of her hands" that she stopped losing weight. She has been at a constant weight now for 2 years and we are hopeful that she will be able to move on past this disorder. Many of the other books tell you that the anorexic will always be anorexic, only this one gives you hope and helps you fulfull that dream.
Don't buy any other books until you have read this one. I'm a scientist too and have read the reviews about how Peggy's methods aren't scientific...get real her methods work!!! The other don't.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank you, Peggy Claude-Pierre!
Review: As the mother of a child who nearly lost her life to anorexia nervosa, I can without a doubt report that this is the most well written, informative, accurate, and hopeful account of eating disorders available! Peggy clearly articulates the core cause of eating disorders and how to successfully treat them. The warmth, love, confidence, understanding, and determination of this "angel" of a woman reaches from her pages and envelops the reader. She offers magnificent comfort and support to sufferers and loved ones. I highly recommend this book to everyone...but, it is a MUST to those suffering from an eating disorder, know someone who is, or is a health care professional who treats or interacts with people who have eating disorders!
Rating:
Summary: Lacking some important aspects, but overall good book
Review: First and foremost, I want to say that Peggy proves with her book, "The Secret Language of Eating Disorders...," that she has a deep and unprecedented understanding of the makings of anorexia---for someone who has only witnessed the disease. I only wish that my parent would show the same kind of empathy and determination towards my current plight. Of course, Peggy did have the qualifications and obviously the time to delve into our horrible world enough to contrive and write such accurate interpretations/solutions to the disease...I don't think my parent could do such things even if the drive was there. When I first starting reading the book, I was pretty amazed at her observations of the anorexia mindset and her theories of how it is a "symptom" of a much more powerful disorder called CNC, rather than a primal cause of itself and/or many other self-deprecating disorders. They had me enthralled, to say the least. But...as I read on I couldn't help but notice that despite being in the title, bulimia somehow seemed barely addressed (except by a few textbook or case study descriptions). Having suffered both (as MANY people often do), I couldn't help but feel a void where bulimia was concerned. It still seems that no one can offer up an entire book of interesting AND valid solutions for the elusive one---bulimia. Personally, I think the perils of bulimia are just as (if not more) horrific than those of anorexia. But yet...Peggy doesn't seem to have an answer. I have to ask when reading this, what if conquering eating is no longer a triumph, but a new and devastating penance to bear? What happens when your body is no longer feeding on itself physically, but the disease is all the more voracious with your mind? Where is the cure for the addiction? Maybe it's just me, but I feel that bulimia continues to be overshadowed by or maybe not seen as dire as anorexia. It is the more shameful of the two, yes, and it is often passed off as a phase during college that has no emotional attachment whatsoever. There are always exceptions to the rule, but when you are trapped in the hopelessness of something that seems impossible to beat, it is hurtful to hear people around you toss the word 'bulimia' around to every girl who goes to the bathroom. In her book, Peggy describes anorexia as a very slow attempted suicide, a descent toward nothingness---I agree. Anorexia is not a diet, it is not a shallow attempt to be "model thin", and it is definitely not just about food. Many anorexics, including myself, do not wish to see any number except 0 on our bodies and souls. Peggy does a good job in clearing up such perceived notions. But again, she doesn't realize that bulimia is not necessarily the same slow suicide. It is suicide of the mind far before anything else. Bulimia makes you want to finish the job...and quickly. The fear that it is all your life will ever be is torturous. See, this is what she leaves out. Also, I found her to come off very pompous and a bit condescending at times, despite her claims to not be that way. It just seems that she envisions herself to be the Godsend, the Cure-all, the Miracle Worker...and I just don't buy it. It is forgivable, though, because I have read many books on the subject, and they all seem to be that way. I guess it's unavoidable in such a situation. Or, maybe I'm just still disappointed and bitter that I cannot find anyone who is adamant like she seems to be about the situation. I guess confidence like she has can be misconstrued with self-righteousness when you think the way I have to.
Rating:
Summary: The Secret Language Diciphered
Review: I am not anorexic, though I did have a relatively brief problem with bulimia. I bought this book because I am hoping to become a psychologist when I finish college. However, it rang on a deeper level. What I found most useful was the excerpts from the girl's stories. What they wrote, I could identify with: feeling like you are a bad person, but not knowing why; wanting to sacrifice yourself for others; hating yourself. I believe this is a valuable book to understand any teen who suffers from self negation. I found myself highlighting passages and crying because these voices so nearly echoed my own. A definate must-buy.
Rating: 
Summary: Misleading
Review: I am the coordinator of a community service which provides information, support and referrals for people affected by eating disorders, so I have talked to many many people with a disorder and also to members of their families. It concerns me that I have been contacted by several people recently who have read this book and have gotten the impression that the author is the only person in the world who can help them. I have also read the book and found that the stated impression is given very strongly by the contents, whether purposely or not. Fortunately it is not true, and the methods and theories described by the author are similar to those described and used by countless other practitioners. The book is written with great compassion and is based on valuable experience, but it needs to be seen in perspective. Read the book for a very good description of the state of mind and subsequent behaviours of a person with an eating disorder, and it will definately contribute to achieving an insight into these extremely complex and devastating conditions. However, read other books also, to get a rounded perspective. "The Golden Cage", written by Hilde Bruche 30 years ago would be a good start if you can find a copy. Many of Claude Pierre's "Revolutionary" approaches and understandings are pale echoes of Bruche's classic work.
Rating: 
Summary: I have mixed feelings about this book.
Review: I believe that the medical community has a lot to learn from Peggy Claude-Pierre's compassionate and humanitarian approach to Anorexia Nervosa. On the other hand, Claude-Pierre has a lot to learn about research and scientific reasoning as well. As I read through her book, I discovered that she tends to lump the various eating disorders and its symptoms into one generic category. Am I to assume then that the "Confirmed Negativity Condition" as well as the dichotomy of the "Actual" and "Negative" mind applies to ALL eating disorders? I understand that she primarily works with acute anorexics--some of whom display bulimic behaviours--and thus her view may be skewed in this direction. However, there are fundamental differences between Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-eating disorder, and Anorexia! Claude-Pierre does not explain her opinions on these differences even though she includes "Bulimia" and "eating disorderS" in the t! itle. (If she believes these differences do not interfere with the CNC, etc. she should state this explicitly.) I also did not find this a "well-written" book: her reasoning is full of logical fallacies and she sometimes contradicts herself. (If you don't know what I am talking about, read the section on "Myths and Misconceptions" carefully.) In addition, this book could have been written in less than half of its length--she constantly re-states the same principles over and over again. However, despite its flaws, I would tell people who are interested in eating disorders (particularly those who are suffering from Anorexia or Bulimianorexia) to read this book because of her unique insights and the alternative view that Claude-Pierre presents--these are of value. However, readers should be wary of its shortfalls.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty interesting
Review: I found this book to be interesting but very bazarre. I agree with her that anorectics tend to have a "negative mind." I think she went to extremes, though, and portrays anorexia to be this weird psychological problem involving trances and voices, and I don't agree with that. As a sufferer, I can say that I have never gone into some sort of "trance." One thing I really liked was the section of art she had the patients draw. Some of those pictures showed everything I felt.
It's a good book and worth your time if you decide to read it. Just remember that some things in here tend to be kind of "freaky" and don't describe what all anorectics go through.
Rating:
Summary: This book led to my recovery!
Review: I have never been so touched by a book or a person in my life. I had suffered from anorexia (and CNC) for over 10 years of my life and thought no one in this world understood me. I wanted to die because I felt I deserved to and thought I was a burden to everyone in my life.
Somehow this book came into my hands and I couldn't believe how much of my life this lady who had never met me knew! And how much of an inspiration she would later become.
Every professional I had ever talked to (or read something by) told me I could never be completely well, that I would always have "issues" I would have to deal with for the rest of my life. This led me to believe "Why fight if I had to live this way forever anyways?"
After reading this book cover to cover several times my therapist and I had a big meeting and discussed how to proceed with my care.
Peggy brought a hope into my life I had never had before. She made me believe in myself and fight for that full recovery that I now know I could have always had.
I have been fully recovered for almost a year. And I know it is thanks to the words in this book. Weight is not a concern and will never be again. I learned how to get rid of the screaming voices in my head and how to not take things out on myself. Self negativity is something I will never be concerned with again.
...
Rating:
Summary: I thought this book kind of sucked
Review: I mean if you know nothing about eating disorders you might gleen some information. But on the overall I found nothing helpful for recovery.
Rating:
Summary: More Considerations
Review: I was so ecstatic about this book, I forgot to point out its uses in my last review. I believe this books is far more useful to understand the mindset... a (falliable, of course), human viewpoint, not a scientific one. It is not the educational of this book I adored, but how true the sufferers of SNC are depicted. This book is a must buy, i still insist, but more as supplemental reading than solely it.
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