When, in her forties, Liu's life once again began spiraling out of control, she stopped eating--the same forces that had caused her original eating disorder were still in play. She set out to learn who is susceptible and why, and what it takes to overcome them once and for all.

Connecting the dots: a genetic link -- Portrait of a hunger artist: the face of fear -- The laws of perfection: obsession and compulsion -- Wanting for nothing: avoidance -- Good bad girls: shame -- A certain self: identity and independence -- Terms of endearment: family dynamics -- Growing children: parenthood -- Love and other terrors: honor and intimacy -- Consuming passions: competing for health -- The wisdom of age: maturity in a youth culture -- Gaining power: becoming agents for change.