Product Description

Product Description
It's more than a book. It's a way of life.

Alcoholics Anonymous-the Big Book-has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. First published in 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976, and now the fourth edition in 2001, the essential recovery text has remained unchanged while personal stories have been added to reflect the growing and diverse fellowship. The long-awaited fourth edition features 24 new personal stories of recovery.

Key features and benefits
· the most widely used resource for millions of individuals in recovery
· contains full, original text describing AA program
· updated with 24 new personal stories ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Bait and Switch
Alcoholics Anonymous does not guide one through a program of recovery from addiction. It guides one through a forumla that is supposed to inspire a spiritual awakening in real alcoholics (you know you're not a real alcoholic if it doesn't work for you -- either that, or you're just not honest enough to work the program). According to this book, sobriety is only a benefit of this spiritual awakening, and this spiritual awakening requires a complete abdication of your own self-will to a Higher Power of your own invention, that will somehow do the same things that every other AA Member's Higher Powers do (quite a co-incidence!), such as remove your defects of character (if it feels like it).

Alcoholics Anonymous is faith healing. There is no sound science that bears out its effectiveness in treating alcoholism (yeah, "It worked for me!" doesn't count. I know people who say that putting a bowl of milk out on their back porch convinced the brownies to stop stealing their keys. Neither is a more "serious" belief.) If you are inclined not to believe this garbage (and if you're not already to deeply invested in it to see straight), then do please do some research about the effectiveness of AA, and seek out alternatives. They are out there.

AA Big Book - Large Print
I am familiar with this book as I am in recovery.The seller - Addams Family - shipped the book so I got it about 10 days before it was due.As described by the seller, the book was brand new.It was packaged so that no real damage could occur.I rate this seller as high as possible.

10 years wasted following the directions of this book
When I began attending AA 13 years ago, I was told this book was the ONLY way to get and stay sober. So, because my life was a shambles and I was desperate, I followed the directions, to the letter, for ten years. I worked the steps a dozen times. Here's what I learned.

The only way to stay sober is under the watchful eye of a deity who will not remove the problem more than one day at a time, and if you make a mistake, you WILL be struck drunk. You must be vigilant, you are mentally and physically different from your fellows. You cannot trust your mind or yourself, and you will never be able to. You have no right to normal human emotions. You are always at fault, nothing has ever happened to you that you did not invite or cause. You are a liar, a cheat and a thief, and you always will be.

From the fellowship of AA I learned that I had to count on people that couldn't hold jobs, maintain relationships, or lead happy, sane lives to keep me in line and make decisions for me. My mind was out to get me and others would tell me when I was lying to myself (answer: always). I had to destroy my ego, yet somehow the people that said this had the biggest egos of all. I had to become Christian and Republican. I was not allowed to take medication for Major Depression with psychotic features because I would not be sober if I did. I was not to go to therapy for help with PTSD, I was to pray, and if I was, "close enough to God, He would remove the problem." I was responsible for sexual abuse I endured from ages five to nine. It was not my place to protect women from the numerous sexual predators in AA. It was just a "dry drunk" that was the result of a guy "not working the program" that made him come into a meeting in Cincinnati and blow away his estranged wife and himself in front of a room full of people. I could go on and on, but it makes me sick to think about the behavior that is considered normal in AA.

Here's my experience: I got clean because I was desperate not to live the way I had lived and because I took responsibility for my life, myself and my drinking. I did a lot of hard work and changed everything that stood in the way of my being happy. The result is that drinking and drugging is now a non-issue, whereas thirteen years ago I drank at least a fifth of bourbon a day and used heroin. I have learned to trust myself, and not rely upon thought-stopping slogans, denial of normal human emotions or crazy people to make decisions about MY life. I have an incredibly happy marriage with a wonderful man, and AA said I was not capable of that. I returned to school and graduated summa cum laude. I have gotten therapy for PTSD, and it is hard work, but incredibly helpful and necessary. I may have a drink every so often, but I don't get wasted, and I usually don't drink more than once a month. And, I don't have to "control" it. It is simply a non-issue. I am better. It is NOT a "disease".

If you think the AA approach will work for you, more power to you. If you are like the 95%! of people for whom it does not work, there are other ways. Try SMART (Self Management and Recovery Training), SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety), Life Ring, Women for Sobriety, Rational Recovery, Moderation Management or one of the many scientifically based approaches.

To all: I wish you the best. You CAN do it!!! You CAN quit all of it if you want; you can cut down if you want; no matter what your truth is, you can straighten out your life and be happy! You have the power within you, you had it all along, you've just been taught to doubt yourself!

Update: 8/17/10

Watch out for people who speak one way and act another!

Great deal for the purpose I purchased it..
I received my first Big book from someone in the program as a gift and I wanted to be able to do that for someone else. Considering with the shipping and book cost I only paid $4 I think it was well worth being able to provide a newcomer with they're first book :)

Indispensible and enduring.
In our Recovery center our guests each get a copy of the Big Book, and we have a Big Book study with "Charlie and Joe" every Sunday. The 12 steps, and the Big Book are an indispensable adjunct to our holistic therapy.This amazing book continues to come alive with each reading and re-reading. The story I was told is that Bill Wilson never stood if he could sit down, and he never sat if he lay down. Apparently Bill was laying on his bed while writing the manuscript for our Alcoholics Anonymous. The pencil picked up almost as if by itself, and Bill Wilson wrote the 12 Steps,in chapter five, in 20 minutes.

Divinely inspired? I don't know, but I do know that the miracles of transformations that we see are divine.

I see from the other reviews that people either love this book or hate it. Either way it elicits a powerful response.

... Read more

Product Description
Alcohol abuse is a major health problem in most parts of the world. This book focuses on the way in which alcohol affects the brain, with the aim of describing advances in the neuropsychology of alcoholism in a way that makes this work accessible to clinicians from a variety of backgrounds who treat people with alcohol-related problems.; The book is divided into four parts. Part One provides an introduction to the medical and neurological conditions that can result from alcoholism, and to the process of neuropsychological assessment. The problems involved in conducting research in this area are also considered. In Part Two, research that focuses directly on changes to the nervous system is surveyed. This includes studies of both the short-term and the chronic neurological changes in the brain caused by alcohol. In Part Three, studies of the neuropsychological effects of acute intoxication, social drinking and alcohol abuse are described. Finally, in Part Four, the implications of neuropsychological research for the assessment and management of patients with alcohol problems are considered.
The objective of this book is to collate the range of research work that is relevant to understanding how alcohol affects the brain. This includes both the acute and the chronic effects, at both the biological and physiological levels. ... Read more

Product Description
This book can be a godsend for many personsfor those who suffer from alcohol addiction, for their friends and loved ones, and for those in the relevant helping professions. Its central message is that alcoholism is primarily a metabolic disease that should be treated with due consideration of its physiological roots. The old moralistic approach and the more recent behavioral and psychological treatment approaches have a dismal record of failure, largely because they pay little or no attention to the crucial physiological and nutritional needs of alcoholics. ... Read more

Product Description

"I knew about drunk, but did not know anything about living sober. I hadn't really been sober for fifteen years. It wasn't enough that I stopped drinking. I had to learn how to live."

The journey from alcoholic insanity to sobriety -- and the pivotal role of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in navigating that transition -- is the focus of Last Call. Using powerful first-person narratives like the one above (composites of many anonymous speakers), psychotherapist Jack H. Hedblom provides compelling insights into the minds and hearts of addicted drinkers, from bizarre behavior and denial to the moment of "hitting bottom" and seeking change.

Hedblom covers the process of getting sober, from diagnosis to detox to sobriety. He focuses on the challenge of learning to live without drinking -- a long-term goal, Hedblom asserts, that is best achieved by regular participation in AA.

Hedblom's vivid descriptions reveal AA meetings as gatherings of fellowship, compassion, tears, and laughter. In relating the history of the organization, he describes the role of sponsors, elaborates on the Twelve Steps and the Promises, emphasizes the importance of spiritual development in recovery, and refutes the common misconceptions that equate spirituality with organized religion.

Through the stories of people who have escaped the tyranny of alcoholism with the help of AA, Hedblom shows that the road to recovery is a journey of self-discovery, change, and hope.

Customer Reviews (3)

Fantastic Insight!
This book provided an interesting and thorough history of AA as well as clearing up misconceptions about the group. It was fascinating.

A good read
"Last Call" was a good read.It's a testimonial to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its power to guide alcoholics from the "hell" of their addiction to sobriety and spiritual rebirth through working the twelve steps.The author first details the history of the AA organization and its evolution to its ubiquitous presence around the globe.He then makes a scholarly argument for the "disease concept" and a genetic vulnerability for alcoholism.And finally, he gets to the heart of the matter, using descriptive vignettes of AA meetings and the narratives of AA members to give readers a glimpse into the workings of AA and the lives of those who people its meetings.
With a therapist's insight and empathic world view, Dr. Hedblom deftly weaves their stories with colorful figures of speech, humor, and the grit of real life.Anyone who drinks or worries about someone who drinks would gain a better understanding of alcoholism, alcoholics, and how they may be helped through AA through reading "Last Call".
I found the stories compelling, instructive, and very human - alternately eloquent, sad, funny, and touching. Dr. Hedblom is a gifted story teller, and I look forward to enjoying his next book.

Last Call ..Alcoholism and Recovery by Jack H. Hedblom, MSW PhD
The "Last Call" was a book difficult to get into.I would not recommend this book as a first book towards recovery of Alcoholism.However, after attending several meetings of AA and understanding a great deal more about the process of the meetings and recovery using the 12 step program, I would strongly recommend this book.With easy language to read from chapter 2to the end, Mr. Hedblom explains the process of recovery involving all three:mind, body and spirit.By using stories from recovering alcoholics, the author has easily brought the reader to the understanding that recovery from this disease is more than the physical abstinence from alcohol.

The final chapter "The Road to a Life Well Lived: The Promises" is very well written.He writes "The Steps, in their inclusion in life, become more in 'Sum Total' than they are separately.""Each step is a part of a progression leading eventually to greater spiritual awareness.""It is...spirituality reflected in interaction with one's fellows based on honesty, kindness, and a sense of empathy.One has a sense of having made peace with one's self...." Further Mr. Jack Hedblom explores "The freedom that the Promises talk about... the freedom from the tyranny of alcohol and its attendant compulsions and miseries.It is happiness derived from a sense of self-worth...."

The author's departingwords of wisdom: "As the Big Book says: We have ceased fighting anything or anyone -- even alcohol.And, finally, We have entered the world of the Spirit.Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness."

As an alcoholic who became sober 26 years ago, I have found that the 12 step program has brought me to a greater awareness of the Spirit within and without and reflected in all of life that I have and will encounter.The Last Call...Alcoholism and Recovery reflects well the steps I took toward that healing of mind, body and Spirit ...and that I continue to do so, "One Day at a Time."

Kathleen ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides an historical survey of the evolution of psychodynamic understanding of alcoholism, ranging from the early formulations of Freud to current ego, object relational and self conceptualisations. These papers should be relevant for the present-day clinician, deepening empathy and understanding, guiding observation and suggesting treatment approaches to the men and women who suffer from their addictions to alcohol. ... Read more

Product Description
The former U.S. senator describes how, in 1994, his daughter was found dead in a parking lot after passing out drunk and freezing to death, offering an intensely personal account of one woman's addictions and a family's struggle to help her while not ruining themselves in the process. Reprint. NYT. "Amazon.com Review
George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic nominee for President, offers atragic family drama while confronting the choices of his own life in thisstory of a daughter's fatal fight with alcoholism. Told in direct prose, thetale is a harrowing one. Teresa Jane McGovern, the middle child of five,began drinking at age 13, was hospitalized for depression after her arrestfor smoking pot at age 19, cleaned up for a while in her 30s, but thenspiraled out of control until she froze to death in a parking lot after adrinking binge. Her father openly examines his role and the causes of hisdaughter's demise. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Very Short, Not Particularly Helpful
My sister is a hopeless alcoholic.In reading a synopsis of this short work, I had hoped to develop a better understanding of the disease, along with possible strategies on how to deal with it.While the book is moderately educational in this respect, the case study of Teresa McGovern differs so substantially from that of my sister as to defy meaningful comparison.

While McGovern is by all accounts a very good and nice person, who struggled mightily with depression as well as her addiction to drugs and alcohol, my sister is a bi-polar, paranoid schizophrenic who is brutally vicious and physically violent.Though they apparently share many of the same delusions of mistreatment and blame shifting, it is hard to relate the experiences of the two, and as a result, the usefulness of the book toward the purposes for which I purchased it are negligible.

Of course, the book tracks Teresa's life through the prism of George McGovern's political career, and as a conservative, some of the gratuitous political pronouncements and backhanded, snide asides rubbed me the wrong way.In addition, as might be expected, McGovern is less than unbiased in much of his analysis, in effect blaming Madison police for failing to save his drunkenly unconscious daughter as she froze in a snow bank in a deserted, empty lot.He also takes a swipe at the University of Virginia for failing to admit his daughter into their college, despite what can only be described as a laughably spotty and less than stellar academic record.As you might expect, the book is filled with pop psychology, much of which is a stretch, at best.

In any event, it is a sad case study of a remarkably damaged human being whose life was a virtual train wreck for most of the final thirty years of her life.I can't really say that it would be helpful for others faced with similar circumstances, since there are no effective solutions or resolutions.I'm sure that there are instances where such cases are effectively addressed and resolved, however this was certainly not one of them.

Shows how alcoholism is present on level of society
Shows that alcoholism can be present on any socioeconomic level. Even the privileged upper class are plagued by this disease.

Helpful and Sad
Anyone, parent or child who are dealing with Alcoholism in their life can relate to this amazing true story.It shows that no matter how much money you have to fight this addiction, you can not do anything about it.It is an inside job that only the person affected can do something about.Great to give to friends dealing with alcohol addictions within their family.Very sad but true!

too much george not enough terry
I enjoyed about the first half of the book.But once the politican author began using too much of the book for his own agenda (excuses for his wife not being able to find him at night, etc.) I quit reading it.At that point it felt like it was dishonest.I wanted an honest book about someones stuggles, not a book tainted with "plugs" about how wonderful their political life and family are.BUT if you can get past that you might enjoy it.

Everything you wanted to know about alcoholism
This book is a must-read for families struggling with the devastating consequences of alcoholism and addiction.Nothing says it better than personal experience.It should be read by alcoholics, addicts and those of us who made it into recovery, as a stark reminder of how life for us could have turned out.I read it several years ago and carry the message with me every day.I am going to give a copy to my daughter who struggles with alcohol. ... Read more

Product Description
Alcoholism: The Cause & The Cure is not only the most comprehensive book providing the techniques used to heal addictive biochemistry through addressing the root alcoholism cause with an aggressive alcoholism treatment, and the research and science which validates the supremacy of orthomolecular alcoholism treatment over all others, but is the most advanced holistic treatment you can find in a book, retreat, or rehab. Successful completion of The 101 Program not only detoxes you in a healing, nourishing way by correcting nutritional deficiencies known to those suffering the physical and mental effects of alcohol addiction but takes your quest for sobriety to the next level and guides you through the process of healing your addictive biochemistry, freeing you from the symptoms of alcoholism and the compulsive desire to drink through addressing the well- researched genetic influences that encourage addictive biochemistry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

poorly written, gimmicky-sounding, repetitive, daunting.
I hated this book --- *not* because of its basic premise, but because Petralli presents her proposed solution in such a convoluted, daunting way.Also, at least half of the book seemed like nothing but a long gimmicky-sounding advertisement for her expensive, complicated treatment program.

Before ordering this book, I read reviews that said it was difficult to read.I wrongly assumed that "difficult" meant it would be very detailed, technical, and thorough. However, in my opinion, the "difficulty" of this book comes mainly from the poor writing, annoying repetitiveness, and a "solution" presented in such a way as to make it seem next to impossible.

A Misstep: Zero Stars
This is a potentially dangerous message to deliver to any serious alcoholic: Follow the nutritional method in this book and you will achieve a lasting sobriety.As with most dangerous methods, there are slivers of truth attached: chronic alcoholics frequently suffer from mal- or under-nutrition.But make no mistake about it: while this book may get you sober, you cannot stay sober following its message.

To begin, the author promotes a pseudo-scientific theory of alcoholism as a biochemical disease.Its manifestations may be biochemical, just like the manifestations of learning a language are biochemical (neural pathways are created inscribing the new language, the same way they are formed to reinforce addictions.) However, the disease of alcoholism IS NOT BIOCHEMICAL IN ITS ORIGINS.It is a disease of mind obsession.Just as you never forget a language entirely, you will never eradicate completely that obsession.If you are a true alcoholic, that obsession must be replaced by an entirely new way of thinking, of living. If the author's ideas were not so dangerous, they would be risible.

But to the point: every serious alcoholic has, underlying his drinking, a disease called alcoholism: an obsession to drink caused from living by, for, and through SELF.There are countless alcoholics who want to quit, but they cannot, OF THEMSELVES, overcome the obsession: it is inscribed on their very beings, their selves, their minds, their wills.Some will follow this course and succeed... FOR A TIME.Note the few positive reviews here.But the success will not last if you are a true alcoholic.Indeed, it cannot last, because it does not treat THE DISEASE OF ALCOHOLISM.It will only make the alcoholic feel better for a time.

The author is fond of quoting dubious statistics, her favorite being that only 3% of AA members reach sobriety.Actually, it is only 3% of AA members reach sobriety in their first year.But what was it that Twain said about statistics?Exactly.People come to AA for different reasons: thinking of quitting, wanting to quit, wanting to cut down, etc.The person who is truly desperate to quit will work the program completely and has a good shot at quitting.Here's a stat for you: fifty percent of those who succeed in staying sober for one year through AA will stay sober for five years.

The author is another pusher who is hoping to capitalize on desperate people, another slick academic who is too cool and too fashionably intelligent to think that God might be able to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, another posturing fool who falsely believe that AA is a cult, AA only works for some people, AA is too religious.Her entire position is against AA, period.Reminds me off all the people who are against Christ's message.I guess there must have been something there, no?

Read the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous to have all of these myths debunked.Your mind will be blown in the process.

If medical-nutritional approaches had worked, then why would doctors have been saying for hundreds of years that they have no solution for alcoholism?Why does every rehab program prepare its participants for 12-step work after rehab?Why do medical doctors recommend AA?

It's a spiritual disease; it requires a spiritual solution.If you buy this woman's book, the author makes money off your disease.If you buy the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, NOBODY profits from it.Can you guess, yet, who's doing the hustling?

Important for Recovery
This author does an excellent job of explaining the science behind addiction, which is actually scary when one learns that sugar ALSO follows similar paths and physiological affects. I now understand the missing element as to why American society is so violent by comparison to other countries (which was posed in "Bowling for Columbine"); it's heavy SUGAR in the diet whether the granulated kind sprinkled on cereals -or- alcohol. Read this book; you'll understand. The author doesn't make this claim, but any American will figure it out. Of course, the supplement/diet program in the book is an excellent cure, closely resembling the program in the "Seven Weeks to Recovery" book, which I followed and which assisted my recovery. Although I haven't tried this author's program, I'm sure it works just as well, given the orthomolecular approach. Read this book to learn the science and to begin your recovery.

biochemical facts of addiction
This is the best book written about addiction ever!Overcoming addiction is not just a psychological battle.Genita makes sense of the biochemical tug of war our bodies create on our willpower to recover.She makes observations based on scientific facts and lab work.It's a great relief to know that our anxiety is being caused by the artificial sweetener we're consuming not that our brain is dysfunctional or that our tolerance for alcohol could be linked to our glutathione levels.Everyone is different in their chemical make-up, and getting clean and sober with nourishment to our core chemistry and nutritional needs is key to feeling better and staying healthy ongoing.A great book for recovery from alcoholism and all addictions.

101 reasons to get this book.
Wow.Very, very detailed.All the biological proccesses that contribute to alcoholism are explained here.There is not a stone left unturned in this book.It is a total program, complete with a support team ready to help you and advise you over the phone/ correspondance, whatever. No one should ever have to be sober and miserable again. ... Read more

Product Description
Written at the end of 1999, when Chris McCully was hospitalised and treated for alcoholism for the third time, and during 2003, when he left England to begin a new career as a writer in the Netherlands, this is an honest, and at times painful, account of his ongoing recovery. Alcoholism is a lifelong condition from which there is no cure. Chris McCully does not offer warnings or exhortations, but gives witness to the banal, terrifying and commonplace nature of addiction, and to the slow process of recovery. Written from a position of unusual self-awareness and understanding, this book is an important and, hopeful, resource for mental health professionals. A personal account of debilitating mental and physical illness, this book should be read by all professionals working in the mental health field, and by anyone with an interest in alcoholism and recovery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Honest struggle of an eloquent man
This book describes all aspects of a sensitive and intelligent man's struggle against alcoholism. Despite all the relapses in the past and possibly the future, the only sensible thing to do is to keep searching for a way to release the self of this constant preoccupation. This man is always questioning and evaluating, choosing his words carefully and always aware of the consequences his addiction has on the people around him and of course on his own life.
Very useful account for people struggling with addiction and everyone interested in them, out of professional or personal interest. ... Read more

Product Description
Guidelines For Getting Sober. ... Read more

Product Description
A ground-breaking and crucial guide to healthy eating after alcoholism--broadening the goals of sobriety to include the repair of physical damage.

Many health concerns are specific to alcoholics. Common side effects of alcohol abuse include poor digestive and liver function; weakened circulatory, immune, and nervous systems; impaired thinking and changes in mood-regulating hormones; and problems with managing blood sugar. While the primary focus of recovering alcoholics is staying sober, they often neglect to improve their diet to recover physically from the damage of excessive alcohol consumption. Registered Dietitian Molly Siple offers an innovative program to help everyone in recovery improve their wellness, detoxify, and reduce the risk of degenerative diseases linked to alcoholism. Eating for Recovery provides guidelines, practical tips, easy-to-follow recipes, and a variety of meal plans, making it the essential resource for those seeking to restore their health and vitality after alcohol abuse. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Jolted into a major change in lifestyle
This book provides succinct and graphic descriptions of the physical consequences of alcohol abuse. The book also offers the hopeful prospect that the alcohol-afflicted individual may not be too late to take remedial action.

In my own case, I was already experiencing worrisome physical symptoms. As soon as I began browsing through the book, I could see what lay ahead for me.I immediately stopped my alcohol use and have adopted a firm resolve to remain abstinent for the remainder of my life.

I am continuing to read small segments of the book daily and making changes in my diet that will assist my body's recovery.

A must for anyone who is trying to overcome their past demons.
Alcohol destroys families, destroys relationships, it also destroys bodies. "Eating for Recovery: The Essential Nutritional Plan to Reverse the Physical Damage of Alcoholism" is a guide to reversing the long term physical damage than heavy drinking does to the body. First covering what alcohol does to the body, it outlines what to consume to speed recovery and other activities one can do to help the process along. With recipes and day by day diet planners, it's a complete and comprehensive guide to getting your body the resources it needs to help one in a fight against alcohol addiction. "Eating for Recovery" is a must for anyone who is trying to overcome their past demons.

Eating for Recovery; supportive ways to begin the healing process
This is a well written, informative and engaging book.While reading it, one has a growing sense of relief; the quiet feeling that this book will help many people change their lives in positive ways.Ms. Siple, a registered dietitian, provides a science-based, very understandable overview of the components of the chemistry of eating.She describes what the body needs, what chemicals and vitamins are depleted as a result of addiction, and simple, concrete ways to begin and maintain the healing process. Molly Siple writes in a very readable style that supports taking action. I've tried some of her recipes and find themthem to be easy and delicious!Thank you, Ms. Siple for sharing your wisdom and nutritional knowledge! ... Read more

Product Description

"New, scientifically-based approaches that recognize the biological basis of addiction have brought major advances in the treatment of addiction. Dr. Urschel is at the forefront of this treatment paradigm."
Dr. Larry Hanselka, Psychologist

Customer Reviews (19)

Bald and biased claims mixed with way too much marketing and self-promotion
Urschel's book is quite simply intellectually dishonest.He obviously knows his stuff, but the book reads like a multi-level marketing scheme filled with a bunch of simply wrong-headed claims with no references to speak of to back them up.

"Talking therapy can help correct problems in the cortex, but it cannot influence the limbic system or other structures found deeper in the brain."

This is bogus, just bogus, and he provides no reference. Where is he coming up with this??? As a therapist who studies neuroscience, he's just flat wrong.There's not a neuroscience lab in the world that would agree with this statement.Look at the work of Richie Davidson at U of Wisconsin, Jim Coan at U of Virginia, Daniel Siegel at UCLA, Dacher Keltner at UCLA, Jon Kabat-Zinn at U of Mass., and the list goes on and on.

His constant use of "talking therapy" to refer to psychotherapy and counseling, and the contexts in which he used it felt a little bit denigrating after a while, again from a guy who obviously has a severe case of money-making agenda-itis.

Reading the book felt like he was just trying to discredit everything except his "wonder drug" and his highly expensive website services.

Apart from that, if you're an addict or looking for help for an addict, just go to his website and see what it costs to sign up -- if you want to pay that, then get the book.But there are a lot better books out there and some great research (despite what Urschel says) that are showing excellent results...I would pass on this guy's magic pill.

Awesome
Very important subject; tools to assist in the recovery of substances are extremely valuable. New information is necessary to keep us all up to date.A Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC Author

Not for reasonably intelligent people
Before you buy this book, click on the "Look inside!" link and choose First pages, and if you are aren't offended by the writing style then go ahead and buy the book. I am looking for concrete science-based explanations, not condescending blather addressing me as if I were a not-very-bright adolescent, with expressions like "talking cells" and "listening cells".Really?What ARE these cells? What precisely does he mean by "talking" and "listening"?I was so offended I didn't buy the book, especially after looking in index as well and finding that dopamine, a key player in addiction, is mentioned on only three pages in the book.

A thoroughly modern take on substance abuse.
Years of dealing with individuals attempting to walk the straight and narrow path of sobriety have led to many insights into addiction and recovery.Yet, as I have introduced clients to the recovery process, I have not had a sound source of scientific evidence to explain the changes in their brains and the basis for their anxiety and cravings. In clear and understandable terms the author of Healing the Addicted Brain reveals the scientific underpinnings of addiction, withdrawal, and recovery. Now I know why high anxiety marks every waking hour of the addict in recovery and how cravings lead to relapse. Being able to explain the process in lay terms to a hard core addict is one of the most difficult parts of my job.This book is a fantastic resource to assist in the education of clients and to use as a guide through the difficult days of early recovery.

Addicts and Loved One's as Cash-Generating Machines?
I expected more from a doctor that has made it his career to "help" alcoholics and addicts.

Throughout the book, the author repetitively tells the reader to access more information and resources at the EnterHealth's (the rehab facility the author is affiliated with) website... of course the author never once mentioned that to access that information and those resources would cost $95 and rapidly escalate up for telephone support (and given the track record, that access will probably point the reader to residential rehab at EnterHealth's facility).Most sales brochures are free, but this one puts the addict and family backabout $11.

Also, the climax of this book seems to be the author's fascination with Vivitrol (injectible naltrexone).Author (page 73): "Vivitrol is the breakthrough medicine that will revolutionize the treatment of alcoholism."Really? In its page-after-page of glowing review the author fails to mention any real downside.Such as throughout a randomized trial of Vivitrol craving persisted (leaving patients to struggle over obsessive thoughts and addictive craving that carry the risk of relapse and death) and there was no progressive decrease in heavy drinking days after the end of the trial. [Source: "Naltrexone treatment for alcohol dependency," Journal of the American Medical Association 294(8) (August 24/31, 2005): 899-900]And, those with liver issues should not take Vivitrol, ... a problem for a certain percentage of people that are alcoholic.That the author doesn't even mention some fascinating research into other medications, such as Baclofen -- a generic no less, shows either bias or ignorance of current trends in research and thought.

I was trying to look for some positive information from the book to make this review seem more balanced, but all such information can be retrieved elsewhere (other contemporary addiction recovery books or online).

Unnecessarily taking money from people struggling with alcoholism or addiction should be considered unethical.

... Read more

Product Description
Explore the causes and effects of the shame/guilt/addiction cycle!

Since the original edition in 1989, great strides have been made in understanding the overlapping functions of shame and guilt and the ways these painful emotions are linked with addictions. Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism: Treatment Issues in Clinical Practice, Second Edition, integrates up-to-date psychological research with penetrating insight into the emotional realities of substance abuse. It provides a clear and practical model for understanding the shame/guilt/addiction cycle.

Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism provides constructive suggestions to therapists for treating substance-abusing clients and their affected family members. By treating destructive, inappropriate, or excessive shame and guilt, therapists can help their clients free themselves from the downward spiral of addiction and begin to build on their genuine strengths. It explores the positive functions of shame and guilt, describes the conscious and subconscious defense mechanisms against them, and highlights the crucial family behaviors that initiate and encourage shame and guilt.

Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism thoroughly explains the significant differences between shame and guilt, including:

• clients’experiences of failure
• primary responses and feelings
• precipitating events and involvement of self
• origins and central fears
  
  Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism adds immeasurably to our understanding of the total recovery process. It is an essential resource for therapists, social workers, psychologists, substance-abuse counselors, and educators in the field.

Customer Reviews (1)

an absolute must
this book is an excellant guide for anyone who is in the counseling position.this book gives the basis and guidelines of the addictive personality in all aspects.it puts truth to the matter.i highly recommend it to anyone who is recovering or who works in a clinical setting.a reference book i will always go back to. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Life-saving, Vital Information from an Alcoholism/Addiction Expert
Doug Thorburn has made it his life's work to study and learn about alcoholism, our society's most destructive disease.

This book address the myths that still exist, (p.7) such as:

Myth#1, "brain damage occurs only in obvious alcoholics."
In truth, most recovering alcoholics admit their disease was triggered during their first drinking episode, usually at age 12 or 13.

They often say (p.9) "I felt powerful." This feeling of power results in the inflated ego that accompanies alcoholism. Thorburn states that the buildup of poison on the brain results in brain damage that causes distortions of perception and memory.

Thorburn debunks Myth#2, "the average age at which one becomes an alcoholic is 40." Many addicts began drinking alcoholically in their teens.

Myth #3- Alcoholism is a spiritual disease:
Recovering alcoholics (p.10) often confuse cause and effect, believing that loss of spirituality precipitated their alcoholism, when in actuality, the loss of spirituality is an effect of alcoholism. (I feel powerful, I feel like God).

Myth #4- You can choose not to be an alcoholic:
You can no more choose (p.11) not to have alcoholism than to have or not have, early-onset diabetes. All the alcoholic can choose not to do is drink.

Myth# 5- The addict is in denial:
"Denial" implies (p.13) a willful refusal not to admit to something. Since alcoholism causes self-favoring distortion of perception, and often no memory at all, there is nothing to admit. One cannot be in denial about something that he is incapable of seeing.

These are just a few of the 118 Myths that Thorburn addresses. The information that he provides can make a huge difference to all of us. With a greater understanding of this devastating illness, we can save ourselves years of grief, befuddlement, and confusion.

As with any illness, knowledge is power. This is especially true with alcoholism, due to the fact that the disease affects body, mind, and spirit, and causes such illogical, dangerous, destructive behavior.

Just as an early diagnosis of cancer increases the chances for successful treatment, so too does the early diagnosis of alcoholism increase the chance for a successful recovery.

This is Thorburn's mantra:
Learn to spot alcoholism in its early stages, before it has the time and power to upend lives, break hearts, and destroy families. Thorburn covers every aspect of the disease. He is a proponent of using "tough love" with the alcoholic; letting the painful consequences of the disease finally bring the addict to the realization that he or she, needs help.

This is a necessary book for anyone living in our drinking culture. Chances are you know someone right now, or might be living with someone, who is drinking alcoholically. With this powerful information, you may save a life. That life may even be your own.

The book has an excellent index that makes it very easy to find pertinent subjects. This book is a great, updated addition to the many classics on the subject. It should become a classic too. Very heartily recommended. I'd like to give it more than 5 stars!

Understanding why you are alcoholic
What Doug Thorburn's book "Alcoholism Myths and Realities" does is give solid answers to many of the questions a newly diagnosed alcoholic is asking.When an individual is confronted with the reality that they have a fatal disease, if left untreated, the mind is overwhelmed with questions like,why me,what's the treatment?Can I ever be cured? Will I be able to drink like normal people? This is really no different than a newly diagnosed cancer patient would feel. Being confronted with ones own mortality is indeed a sobering experience.
Emotions come flooding out.Can I survive this?Why me?After all I am a well educated, prosperous business owner how could this happen to me. Your mind is spinning and clouded by emotions like guilt,shame and remorse just to name a few.After all aren't most drunks living in the gutter somewhere. That's certainly not my case, but here I am and the facts are overwhelming, I am an alcoholic.Most of all you have questions,questions,questions and very few answers.I literally thought about nothing else for months on end. Trying to make sense of what was happening to me. How could this possibly be? Sure, I enjoyed a cocktail as much as the next guy but doesn't everybody? Haven't I overcome every obstacle thrown my way my whole life?
Into this highly personal drama/trauma a miracle was thrown. A thin little book,only 192 pages grabbed my attention; titled,"Alcoholism Myths and Realities". Maybe I could get some answers from this book. I bought it and started reading (It's organized and numbered Myth #4 etc.)and quickly found it was like a reference book to the myriad questions I had. I thumbed through the index, found the questions I was interested in and read the answers. I quickly devoured the material I found relevant and, for the first time since I realized I had this horrible disease, I felt some understanding.
I came to understand my disease was inherited. That my brain reacts differently to alcohol than the average person. The only thing I could do was not drink. I found out lots of successful people had the disease. You find out about the alcoholic mind and get answers to many other questions. I CAN'T RECOMMEND THIS BOOK ENOUGH TO YOU IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE Buy it and it will open your eyes and answer your questions.

Inaccuracies and assumptions
While I applaud the author in tackling this subject, I found his book to be full of inaccuracies and assumptions.Alcoholism is a complex disease.Some explanations for myths were somewhat accurate.However, there were many that were not.For instance, Myth #66 "He's probably just a harmless big talker," illustrates his overuse of assumptions and inaccuracies.He states about Hugo Chavez (the Venezuelan President, which the author calls,"the megalomaniac de facto dictator"), "While there is no definite confirmation yet of alcoholism, he is known to drink ten espresso coffees per day.Unpublished studies seem to suggest a very high correlation between alcoholism and an ability to sleep despite drinking large quanities of caffeine at or near bedtime.There's a possibility that like Adolf Hitler, he uses stimulants to get up and barbituates, alcohol in pill form for the alcoholic, to come down."I'm not a supporter of Chavez, but I will not condone assumptions and inaccuracies made by the author.He does a similar dissecting of Bill Clinton in Myths #49 and 59, by basically saying "Bill Clinton's adolescent-like misbehaviors are strongly suggestive of alcoholism."He has no evidence to support his claim and is making assumptions based on limited exposure to Clinton's life.I do not recommend this book.There are other books on this subject that prove to be more helpful in understanding alcoholism.

This book is like a dictionary for alcoholism
Reading one myth after another, I find them quite interesting.
I especially like the chart of myth #7.While I already have a general idea about it, the chart makes it quite clear and easy to follow.The most educational part is about maintaining and increasing the BAL.
At page 40, I started to get bored.Things started to be repetitive in a way.I flipped through the rest of the book, and was surprised to find that it is all myths!(not happily surprised at this point)
As I flip through the rest of the book, while it appears that most of the myth headlines do not relate to people I know, but some do!Then I decided to just read the headlines, slowly this time.What I found out is by reading just the headlines; it started me thinking about things that I did not notice before.Headlines I did not think concerns me started to look very different.
This book is like a dictionary for alcoholism.It helps one to look for clues of alcoholism when you don't even know what you are looking for.Then it helps you to understand and deal with it properly.

My Opinion on "Alcoholism Myths and Realities"
I found the article on "Alcoholism Myths and Realities: Removing the Stigma of Society's most Destructive Disease" to be quite helpful. I truly believe that this book will also help anyone that has a family member or friend with any kind of addiction or personality problem. Just because a person has another kind of personality problem doesn't mean that it isn't as destructive as alcoholism. My daughter is a control freak. Her problem has caused many hurtful problems in our relationship. I've been told that I have to be firm when dealing with her, but her manipulation made it so hard. For years I have walked on eggshells around her. Since reading this article I now know that it isnot only okay for me to be firm with her, but it is also essential if I want things to improve. I now have more hope for good relationship in our future. ... Read more

Product Description
From Roy Porter's introduction: `Professor Sournia's history of alcoholism is particularly to be welcomed. It constitutes the first full-documented, cross-cultural account, published in English, of one major facet of the history of drinking: the story of alcohol abuse; and it examines that topic with all the skill one has come to expect from a leading French historian of medicine ...' `Professor Sournia's book expertly charts the interweaving of the history of drinking with the history of social reform and the history of medicine, to show the particular way in which the `problem of alcoholism' is a specifically modern formulation, though one showing few signs of resolving itself into a thing of the past.'From Jean Charles Sournia's conclusion, `An Acceptable Poison?': `Alcoholism, like smoking, has been greeted with varying degrees of disapproval. Countries in the West now recognize that prohibition is intolerable and impossible to enforce, but they also know that total licence threatens their very existence. Accordingly, they try to regulate alcohol, to tax and ration it, with varying degrees of provisional success.In this way, countries try to achieve a compromise between acceptable and dangerous levels of consumption. Unconsciously, the bias of ever-changing legislation ensures that a certain degree of tolerance prevails.'. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Little new to offer
This book offers little to the recovering person or professionals in the field.The auther spends the first 200 pages or so (is seems much longer) attempting to make a case for ananlysing alcoholism within the context of 20th century intellectual thought, such as the Cartesian world view and relativity theory, then comes to the surprise conclusion that alcoholics can best be served by embracing AA.Hardly a novel conclusion.

Premise falls flat
There is little to recommend this book to either a recovering person or professionals working in the field of recovery.The author spends the first 200 pages or so (it seems much longer) with a disjoined and poorly flowing discussion of 20th century intellectual trends, particulatly Cartesian world view and relativity theory.He attempts to relate this to approaches, thoughts, and trends in recovery, but manages only a tenuous connection at best.His conclusion after all this is alcoholics make a decision to drink, and that their best hope for recovery is to join Alcoholics Anonymous.Not exacly new concepts.

A MUST BOOK FOR ALL WHO DEAL WITH BEHAVIORAL CHANGE OF ANY K
WHILE A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE BOOK IS ALCOHOLIC ADDICTION, IT'S LESSONS WILL APPLY TO ANY AND ALL BEHAVIOR THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CHOOSES THAT IS SELF DESTRUCTIVE OR AT CROSS PURPOSES WITH AIMS AND GOALS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ORTHE ORGANIZATION OR COMMUNITY OF WHICH HE IS A PART.IT WILL HELP TEACHERSUNDERSTAND THE ACTIONS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS.IT WILL HELP MANAGERS TOMANAGE EMPLOYEES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH CO-WORKERS.IT WILL HELP PARENTSTO BECOME BETTER AT PARENTING AND LOVERS AT LOVING.THIS IS A BOOK ABOUTLIVING IN THE HERE AND NOW OF A WORLD WE DIDN'T KNOW EVEN TWENTY YEARS AGO.IT IS A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF HOW WE BEHAVE WHEN WE ARE NOT BEHAVINGWITHIN OUR OWN BEST REASONING AND IN OUR OWN BEST INTEREST.ANYONE WHO FAILSTO READ THIS BOOK SHOULD BE BARRED FROM TEACHING OR SUPERVISING PEOPLE INANY ENVIRONMENT, IN ANY KIND OF ORGANIZATION OR INSTITUTION OR COMMUNITY.

The nature of choice in alcoholism
From the Publisher: In the flood of books and papers about alcoholism since the 1960's, no one has successfully explained the origins of addictive behavior. These efforts continue to fail because they do notdefine the subject first - the human organism in its environment.Alcoholism is the affliction of an organism choosing at every momentbetween life and death equivalents. The nature of this choice isilluminated as the author builds on a background of Western thought. Hewittexamines the implications of the new physics on our understanding of humanorganization, and then applies shame based theories and principles of AA tothe dynamics of human negotiations with life and death in our personalenvironment. Hewitt's thesis may be the most important proposition evermade about the etiology of alcoholism.

Hewitt's work: a base for new addiction education
Hewitt establishes a radically new foundation for serious study of addiction. When I edited DRUG EDUCATION FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS over 20 years ago there was no such scholarship on which to base our syllabus. That work and probably all others are now obsolete. The book is not easy reading, but worth the effort and should be required for all academics who teach about human behavior in any way. ... Read more