Warrior: A Memoir

by Theresa Larson, Alan Eisenstock Narrated by Gabra Zackman

Overview

In this inspiring memoir, a former female Marine platoon leader recalls the wars she has fought-on the playing field, the battlefield, and inside her own soul-revealing how overcoming the harrowing circumstances in her life helped her ultimately redefine what it means to be strong and what “perfect” really is.

Theresa Larson has lived multiple lives. At ten she was a caregiver to her dying mother. As an adolescent, an All-Star high school, college, and professional softball player. As a young adult, a fitness competition winner, beauty pageant contestant, and model. And as a grown woman, a high-achieving Lieutenant in the Marines, in charge of an entire platoon while deployed in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Theresa was battling bulimia nervosa, an internal struggle which ultimately cut short her military service when she was voluntarily evacuated from combat. Theresa's journey to wellness required the bravery to ask for help, to take care of herself first, and abandon the idea of “perfect.” In Warrior, she lays bare all of these lives in intimate and vivid detail, examining extremely personal and sometime painful moments and how, by finally accepting the help of others, she learned to make herself whole. From growing up in a log cabin outside Seattle to facing down the enemy in Iraq, Theresa's journey demonstrates that good health and happiness is a daily, intentional act that requires persistence and commitment.

Theresa hopes that through sharing her story, she will help inspire others to empower themselves, embrace their inner warrior and re-define strength. Startling and funny, terrifying and triumphant, heartbreaking and inspirational, Warrior is at heart a story of perseverance and success-of a determined woman who is model for everyone struggling to conquer their own demons. Theresa shows that asking for help can be an act of courage, and that we are stronger than we think when faced with seemingly impossible odds.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

01/04/2016
This uneven memoir ties a woman’s demons, manifested as bulimia, to her high achievement. Larson, writing with Eisenstock (Ten on Sunday: The Secret Life of Men), was a college softball champion, a fitness model, and a platoon leader in Iraq. The scenes set among her fellow Marines zing: she is hazed into putting a rabbit eyeball in her mouth, shocks a bunch of 19-year-old guys by beating them all in a foot race up Heart Attack Hill, and delivers an eloquently profane dressing-down to male soldiers who called her an ugly name. Unfortunately, Larson’s narrative gets gummed up with the vague reassurances of self-help: to manage her bulimia, she learns that some things are beyond her control, that she doesn’t have to be perfect, and that things will be better if she eliminates the toxic influences from her life. It’s the rare memoirist who can convey the experience of a psychological illness and its impact on a person’s everyday decisions in words that resonate with those who haven’t experienced that particular form of suffering. Larson never quite manages it. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

Theresa Larson’s memoir reveals the complex self-savagery of surviving bulimia in a war zone... This book is a rare glimpse into the secret world of a bulimic and exposes the multiple traumas that coalesced into this disease as a means of coping.” — Jill Miller, author of The Roll Model: A Step by Step Guide to Erase Pain, Improve Mobility and Live Better in Your Body

“By turns honest and heartbreaking, Larson’s book is a celebration of inner strength. It is also a poignant reminder that the mark of a true warrior is not just someone who fights wars but who also knows how to also “ask for help” in times of crisis.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Theresa Larson walks us through her journey to get to authenticity. She shows us what it means to be a warrior and anyone will identify with her struggles and learn from her, learn that they too can be resilient, healthy and a true warrior. Bravo Theresa Larson. A must read!” — Eva Selhub, MD, author of Your Health Destiny, stress and mind-body medicine specialist, and former instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate in Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital

“From the pain of losing a loved one to struggles with food and self-esteem, Larson dives deep and looks back to get at the ‘why’. Warrior is a story of hope and transformation, of calling on the strength that already lives inside.” — Steph Gaudreau, bestselling author of The Performance Paleo Cookbook and The Paleo Athlete

“The book is powerful, inspirational, and underscores how we can all be both strong and vulnerable at the same time. Theresa opens her heart and soul on every page and we closed the book feeling uplifted by her amazing spirit.” — Kelly and Juliet Starrett, CEOs, MobilityWOD & SanFrancisco Crossfit, co-founders of StandUPKids.org

“heresa shows that real strength happens when you summon the courage to conquer these addictive and doomed expectations. Theresa’s willingness to share her journey makes her a true hero and one of the bravest Marines I know.” — Mike Burgener, former Marine, Senior International Weightlifting Coach for the United States, Head Strength Coach for Crossfit

“So many times, we have said and heard ‘Suck it up Marine.’ This story reminds me to look through strength and beauty, realize a person’s struggles, and dedicate time to take care of them.” — Alyce Fernebok, former Marine Captain

“Larson’s tale will inspire readers to think more deeply about gender and mental-health issues in civilian and military life.” — Booklist

“Few women are raised in a man’s world and serve in war not just as physical equals but superiors in prowess and rank. While Theresa “gets” men, a strength of this compelling memoir is how clearly she understands what women uniquely bring to both the armed services and the planet.” — Susan Weinsten, author of The Anarchist's Girlfriend and Paradise Gardens

“Warrior is an interesting and enjoyable read, and the journey Theresa takes us on has elements many can relate to: dealing with loss, the struggle to be perfect, and the pressure to look and act a certain way as a female. I highly recommend Warrior.” — Mayim Bialik, actress

Susan Weinsten

Few women are raised in a man’s world and serve in war not just as physical equals but superiors in prowess and rank. While Theresa “gets” men, a strength of this compelling memoir is how clearly she understands what women uniquely bring to both the armed services and the planet.

Steph Gaudreau

From the pain of losing a loved one to struggles with food and self-esteem, Larson dives deep and looks back to get at the ‘why’. Warrior is a story of hope and transformation, of calling on the strength that already lives inside.

Mike Burgener

heresa shows that real strength happens when you summon the courage to conquer these addictive and doomed expectations. Theresa’s willingness to share her journey makes her a true hero and one of the bravest Marines I know.

Kelly and Juliet Starrett

The book is powerful, inspirational, and underscores how we can all be both strong and vulnerable at the same time. Theresa opens her heart and soul on every page and we closed the book feeling uplifted by her amazing spirit.

Alyce Fernebok

So many times, we have said and heard ‘Suck it up Marine.’ This story reminds me to look through strength and beauty, realize a person’s struggles, and dedicate time to take care of them.

Eva Selhub

Theresa Larson walks us through her journey to get to authenticity. She shows us what it means to be a warrior and anyone will identify with her struggles and learn from her, learn that they too can be resilient, healthy and a true warrior. Bravo Theresa Larson. A must read!

Booklist

Larson’s tale will inspire readers to think more deeply about gender and mental-health issues in civilian and military life.

Jill Miller

Theresa Larson’s memoir reveals the complex self-savagery of surviving bulimia in a war zone... This book is a rare glimpse into the secret world of a bulimic and exposes the multiple traumas that coalesced into this disease as a means of coping.

Mayim Bialik

Warrior is an interesting and enjoyable read, and the journey Theresa takes us on has elements many can relate to: dealing with loss, the struggle to be perfect, and the pressure to look and act a certain way as a female. I highly recommend Warrior.

Booklist

Larson’s tale will inspire readers to think more deeply about gender and mental-health issues in civilian and military life.

Kirkus Reviews

2015-12-17
A doctor of physical therapy and former Marine lieutenant tells the story of her painful struggle with bulimia. Born the only girl in a family of boys, Larson drew close to her mother, Mary Ann. But when Mary Ann died of cancer, a 10-year-old Larson was suddenly left without her main confidante. She disassociated herself from "girly" behaviors, friends, and activities and immersed herself in sports. She became a star softball pitcher who earned a full scholarship to Villanova, where she also became involved in the Marine Corps ROTC program. A high achiever, Larson also became involved in a program called Fit Forever to help her stop a pattern of "yo-yoing between salads, fruits, and healthy snacks and burgers, pizzas, and desserts, often late at night." While the program earned the author a second-place finish in a Fit Forever competition and a reputation as the "campus fitness queen," it also—inadvertently—reinforced the yo-yoing habits she had been trying to eliminate. Once she graduated from Villanova, she continued her military career with the Marines by going through basic training and, later, military engineering school. Though one of the top trainees, Larson still faced a sexual double standard that made her push herself even harder. The demands of her work and of the fitness competitions she entered drove her to regurgitate the unhealthy food she often ate. In Iraq, she became a highly respected Marine platoon leader, but the stress worsened the cycle of bingeing and purging. She eventually resigned and sought treatment for bulimia and became a physical therapist for other "wounded warriors." By turns honest and heartbreaking, Larson's book is a celebration of inner strength. It is also a poignant reminder that the mark of a true warrior is not just someone who fights wars, but who also knows how to "ask for help" in times of crisis. A courageous and inspiring memoir.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173787064
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/05/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

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