Marya Hornbacher
Author of memoir 'Wasted' about eating disorders and mental health
Marya Hornbacher is an American author and journalist whose unflinching memoir 'Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia' (1998) became a seminal work in the literature of eating disorders and mental illness. Published when she was in her mid-twenties, the memoir provided a raw, honest account of her battle with anorexia nervosa and bulimia from childhood through her struggle toward recovery. Hornbacher's writing is notable for its refusal to romanticize her illness or provide easy resolutions, instead offering readers a complex, nuanced portrait of living with severe eating disorders. The book has been widely taught in schools and universities as an important text for understanding mental health issues, and it sparked important conversations about the psychological and physical toll of eating disorders. Beyond 'Wasted,' Hornbacher has continued her journalism and writing career, contributing to various publications and addressing mental health topics with the same honesty that characterized her memoir. Her work has influenced how eating disorders and mental illness are discussed in popular culture and educational contexts, helping to reduce stigma and increase awareness.
Arts & Literature
American
1974
Thinking about the name
Marya
Slavic origin
“A Slavic and Russian variant of Mary, carrying the same spiritual roots as the classical form while conveying a distinctly Eastern European character. Marya feels more intimate and lyrical than its English counterpart, with a softer, more poetic quality that's particularly cherished in Russian literature and culture.”