What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWasted
Marya Hornbacher · Book · 2006
If you loved Wasted, start with To the Bone (Marti Noxon, 2017) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Wasted across media.
What hooked you in Wasted was the unflinching look at the fragile boundary between self-destruction and the desperate search for identity.
Films on the same thread
To the Bone
Marti Noxon · Film · 2017
Shares a thread with Wasted: Eating disorders.
Much like the raw reality documented in Wasted, this film captures the clinical and personal struggle of navigating anorexia, focusing on the difficult path toward recovery and self-discovery.
The Lost Weekend
Billy Wilder · Film · 1945
Shares a thread with Wasted: Self-Destruction.
If the harrowing descent into addiction in Wasted resonated with you, this classic portrayal of a man battling his internal demons offers a similarly intense look at self-destruction.
Girl, Interrupted
James Mangold · Film · 1999
Shares a thread with Wasted: Mental Illness.
This film mirrors the institutionalized experience found in Wasted, exploring the delicate line between sanity and mental illness through a young woman's journey toward understanding her own identity.
Gia
Michael Cristofer · Film · 1998
Shares a thread with Wasted: Self-Destruction.
The tragic cycle of fame and addiction in this biography echoes the painful themes of loneliness and self-harm that defined the narrative arc of Wasted.
Series on the same thread
Californication
Tom Kapinos · Series · 2007
Explores: Sex Addiction, Dysfunctional Family, Writer's Life.
The self-destructive patterns and internal turmoil of the protagonist in this series will feel familiar to anyone who studied the complex, addictive behaviors described in Wasted.
Desperate Housewives
Marc Cherry · Series · 2004
Explores: Secrets and Lies, Suburban Life, Female Friendship.
While different in tone, the underlying exploration of the dark, hidden secrets that unravel a person's life connects this suburban drama to the themes of concealment in Wasted.
My Mad Fat Diary
Rae Earl · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Wasted: Mental Illness.
This show captures the same intersection of mental health struggles and body image issues that Marya Hornbacher explores with such brutal honesty in her memoir Wasted.
13 Reasons Why
Brian Yorkey · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Wasted: Trauma.
The profound impact of trauma and the search for truth after a tragic event link this series to the heavy emotional weight found throughout the pages of Wasted.
Podcasts on the same thread
Maintenance Phase
Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes · Podcast · 2026
Explores: scientific literacy, consumer protection, critical thinking.
For those who appreciated the critical examination of health culture in Wasted, this podcast offers a sharp, analytical look at the wellness industry and its often harmful misconceptions.
Making Space with Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb, TODAY · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human resilience, Emotional healing, Self-discovery.
If you are looking for the next step after the recovery process detailed in Wasted, these stories of resilience and emotional healing provide a hopeful, grounding perspective.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Wasted a memoir about the author's personal experience with eating disorders?
Yes, Wasted is a 2006 book by Marya Hornbacher that details her personal struggle with anorexia and bulimia. The narrative chronicles her life through five hospitalizations, therapy, and the loss of her relationships and career as she battled these diseases.
Does Wasted cover the author's struggle with substances beyond eating disorders?
Yes, the book Wasted explores a period of the author's life defined by a torrid affair with hunger, drugs, sex, and death. It documents how these various struggles contributed to her losing all sense of what it meant to be normal before she reached a turning point.
What is the primary turning point described in Wasted?
The primary turning point in Wasted occurs during the author's time in college. After years of struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and other destructive behaviors, she experiences a particularly horrifying bout with the disease that forces her to confront the reality of her situation.
How many hospital stays are mentioned in Wasted?
In the book Wasted, the author describes her journey through five lengthy hospital stays. These medical interventions, along with endless therapy sessions, serve as a significant part of the narrative as she attempts to navigate her recovery from anorexia and bulimia.