Abuse Books

Written by the founder of "Stop Smoking Recovery Programs" and former three-pack-a-day smoker David C. Jones, Yes! You Can Stop Smoking Even if You Don't Want To: Recover From Nicotine Addiction is now in an updated fourth edition. A groundbreaking guide, Yes! You Can Stop Smoking treats smoking as an addiction; dissects the self-talk and harmful false beliefs that prevent one from quitting; advice for avoiding self-sabotage; true-life stories of people who quit smoking; and much more. Affirmations for the first ninety days of quitting smoking, each with a blank half-page where the one quitting can write down his or her feelings, rounds out this invaluable, keen-minded and encouraging guide.

This book changed my life! I stopped smoking years ago using the principles and information in the third edition of this book and I was very happy to see that there is a new, fourth edition. In fact, this book has more information and support than any other book out there on the subject. The author, David C. Jones, holds your hand through each of the stages of quitting smoking and gives you the knowledge and skills to succeed. It was a great relief to finally read about smoking as a physical addiction - a medical condition - and not just a bad habit that can be overcome by willpower. I always felt like I was a bad person because I couldn't stop smoking. But this book made me look at myself, and at smoking, differently. The true-life success stories and the daily meditations included in this book also inspired me a great deal. This is the best book out there for stopping smoking. Do yourself a favor: buy this book!

This book is simple and to the point. Smoking is an addiction and thats what the book focuses on. After reading this book (in just a couple hours) I've quit smoking. It's a great feeling to have your eyes opened!

This has to be the best book out there for stopping smoking and staying stopped. David Jones addresses smoking as an addiction and treats the person, not the cigarette. He addresses the proper way to withdraw along with healthy coping skills to become and stay a non-smoker. I am thankful for this book.

I honestly had no plans to quit smoking when I found this book, I was looking for yoga books at the library... I thought the title was interesting and checked this out instead. I read the book and took action where it gave exercies and instructions, and by the time I got to the last page I stopped smoking! I also used an Anthony Robbins NLP technique with this book to aid in making smoking seem horribly disgusting (which it is.) I quit eleven months ago and have had ZERO cravings. One caveat, you will only get out of this book what you put into it!!

This is another hit by author Melody Beattie. I am a huge fan of her work. This is an interesting book because each week you deal with a different topic.

I've been a fan of Melody Beattie's books for many years. Her uncomplicated, warm voice has often been a port in my stormy recovery from CoDa, ACA and substance abuse issues. This journal has been helpful as a weekly/daily study tool, or sometimes I just play roulette with it, randomly opening to a page to receive a message that I need that in that moment. In any event, I always receive a healing meditation.

The author gives real life examples for when the particular "Value" is applicable. Then she gives us Application, Challenges we may face, personal Inventory Focus, Action to take, Gratitude Focus for the value and finishes with a Prayer. These don't need to be done one week at a time. Use any that may apply at any time. In fact, I could hardly stop reading and learning. I not only get great personal insight and results from these meditations I also lead a meditation group weekly and occasionally bring these ideas to the floor with very good results for the members as well. Thank you Melody.

I love this book! As I've been going through a personal crisis, I have been reading various books and this one has hit home for me. Each chapter that I read seems to speak directly to me with concise but uplifting words. I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with their faith and is looking for support.

Josef Pieper is one of my favorite contemporary philosophers. He gives you all the commonsense, all the grandeur, all the Truth that has passed down through history, all the way back to Aquinas, to Augustine, to Paul, to Christ. What more dare we ask for?

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)once wrote, "It is better to live uncomfortably with the truth than contentedly with lies." Joseph Pieper would agree except, Joseph Pieper would argue that living with truth and honesty can make men live comfortably. Jospeh Pieper's small book titled ABUSE OF LANGUAGE:ABUSE OF POWER is a serious book which makes this very clear to readers.

Pieper begins this book with a serious treatment of Plato's (427-347 BC)serious dispute with the Ancient Athenian sophists who taught men to use clever words and communication to deceive men with total disregard for truth. Plato argued that the sophists were very dangerous men because of their intellectual prowess and supposed sophistication. The unleaned could be easily misled and become dangerous because of the respect given to the sophists which they did not deserve. Readers may ask what is the relevance of the dispute between Plato and the sophists to modern Western "Civilization." One answer may be studied in the Bolshevik (Communist)Revolution in Russia in 1917. Those who engineered this revolution were members of a declasse intelligensia who knew the use and abuse of language.

Pieper then makes a solid point that any communication (language) between an honest man and a liar is useless since the liar has nothing to offer leading to knowledge. Pieper states in effect that the honest man may just as well be talling to thin air, or hot air. The liar is trying to manipulate and gain power over the honest man which is destructive to the honest man if he unaware.

Pieper has an interesting explanation of the destruciveness of flattery. The flatterer is trying to intellectually disarm those whom he flatters to gain advantage. A knowledgeable man who is honest is immune to such flattery. However, flattery can be used to undermine the victim to the advantage dishonest person. A good example is in the Book of Genesis whereby the snake successfully flatters Eve to her destruction as well that of Adam.

Pieper uses Plato's DIALOGUES using Socrates' statements regarding an honest search for truth which could lead to bona fide knowledge, better thinking, wisdom, and ultimately Divine Wisdom which Plato thought should be the ultimate goal of civlized men. The religous implications of the concept of Divine wisdom are obvous. Sophistry (the sophists)has no regard for knowledge or Divine Wisdom and is only concerned with material advantage and corruption of language. This in turn means corrpution of thought and has nothing to with actual learning.

Pieper is not complaining about ignorance. This reviewer defines ignorance as not knowing. An honest ignorant man can learn from an honest learned man which benefits the former. A good example is the communication between student and teacher. Plato's DIALOGUES uses such example to let readers know that those who are not learned can indeed learn.

Pieper shows scorn for advertising and media. He comments that advertising appeals to the lowest human instincts in an attempt to promote materialism to the point of lack of respect of others and lack of self respect. Pieper argues that advertising and media appeal to sexual exploitation, disregard for any civilized values, uncontrolled violence, etc. The point has been reached in Western "Civilization" that the masses are taught to take sadistic pleasure at the tragic misfortunes of others.

With the emergence of mass media and advertising, tyrants and despots have enhanced their power. Tyrants are alert to the effectiveness of propaganda and advert6ising in deceiving the masses. Threats of physical violence are blurred by the abuse of language. Such words as purges, liquidation, etc. are substituted for actual concentration camp brutality and mass murder. The masses are complicit in such evil by their indifference and "a ruthless desire to conform." Tyrants and despots must have enemies, real or imagined, to promote a materialistic utopia which ignores wisdom and "ultimate values."

The second part of the book uses Aristotle's (384-322 BC) and St. Thomas Aquinas'(1225-1274 AD)thinking to futher illustrate authenic learning and honest reason to help men learn wisdom and ultimately "Divine Wisdom." Both men argued that through logic, learning, etc. men could approach God, The Prime Motor, The Unmoved Mover, etc. by serious study and honest truth. What Pieper implies that these men and many in the historical Catholic Church did was to enshrine reason next to Devine Revelation and to learn more of Divine Revelation. Reason and honesty were to be communicated to enhance learning and religious understanding as well as relgious convictions. HOnest communication meant so much to these men.

Another example from Ancient History can be gleaned from Thucydides'(c.460 BC-c.400 BC)book THE PELOPONESIAN WAR. Beginning on page 242 (Penguin Edition)Thucydides showed serious concern of how war and revolution corrupted language, honest character,etc. and enhanced corrupt political power. George Orwell's 1984 has disturbing comments on the abuse of language especially beginning on page 17.

Pieper's book should require careful reading even for its small size. Pieper's book is clear that those who are concerned with honest communication, truth, honest discourse, etc. are free from petty materialism and apprehensive concern for conformity. On page 54, Pieper cites a quote from Boethius (c. 480-520 AD)who wrote, "The human soul, in essence, enjoys its highest freedom when it remains in the comtemplation of God's mind." Boethius wrote this in his jail cell on the eve of his execution.

We drive down the freeway of life and are bombarded with little slogans and attempts to convince and smartly convert us to a way of thinking with marketing bill boards, or through the mail, on TV, in the paper - subtle attempts to steal our minds by over-loading them with a coorporate marketing agenda and sloganism. A bit abusive language on my part.

The question is worth pondering, and the questions raised in this book are of the sort that any educated man should ponder, even if there is no solution, it makes great "smartening-up" not "dumbing down" (sloganism) of the curriculum. Peiper persuasively argues that communication is not happening as much as might be thought, because communication must be void of ulterior motives. And his arguement that we must be able to express our view of the "truth of things" in freedom; why many do not is due to what he calls "the lingo of the revolution".

In this slender, but powerful work, the great (and often overlooked) Thomistic scholar Josef Pieper sends out a call to arms against "every partisan simplification, every ideological agitation, every blind emotionality . . . [and] well-turned yet empty slogans . . ." He pulls no punches in taking on those modern (and ancient) sophists who rape and pillage language in order to obtain political power and cultural currency. He also takes on modern advertising, noting that we live in an age and culture where "what is decisive is not what you say, but how you say it." In an era of politically-correct pap, vapid mantras and bumper-sticker philosophy, this book sends a clear, clean note of truth into the murky darkness of a deafened and confused populace.

The artful and clever pun can be the best possible joke. To appreciate it, you must understand the language and be able to think beyond the literal meaning of the words. Perverse is a good word to describe the puns in this collection and a cartoon that provides additional context to the phrase accompanies each pun. Some examples are:

*) Gourmet - phrase "I'm afraid the gourmet scare you" where the image it that of a poster for a horror movie.
*) Artifacts - phrase "These artifacts of life" where the image is that of an elderly teacher with images that depict simplistic sex education.
*) Meteor - phrase "Aren't you going to introduce meteor aunt?" where the image is of a boy, girl and an older woman identical to the girl

As you can see from these examples, this is a book of "groaner" type jokes. Funny and painful, yet in the tolerable and humorous sense

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Now I don't now if it's because I know it's my English teacher who wrote it or because it's just a good book. I think both.

I just have to say that Cosgrove is one fantastic writer! He has interesting insights on life and literature. For instance, his ideas on Puritan ideology are particularly thought-provoking. Not that any of these ideas are found in this book. I'm sure it's lovely. But the important thing is that Mr. Cosgrove is really cool and it would make him ever so happy if you would purchase his book. Take it from the other guy who wrote the other review. Mr. C also has a travel guide to Sacramento. I don't know why you would want to come to Sacramento, but if you do, please consult his fantastic guide.

This book is the funniest book I've ever read. It is the only book that I almost force people to read when they are in my home. It was a classic for humor in 1980 when I bought it, and it is still a classic for humor today. Cosgrove had to think hard about ways to abuse words, and he managed to succeed with flying colors. A "must" for anyone who has a sense of humor.

I had been sober and in recovery for two years ,when i hit a very rough spot in my life . A friend and fellow recoverer gave me this small but huge book of knowledge.It brought me such great comfort and peace that i would dearly love to share it with so many others .

This little booklet finally found me in 1990. A friend shoved it into my hand and said, "Read this. Then we'll talk." The short version of the story is that I have been sober ever since, and the little book has helped me through every crisis since then. I can't tell you how many copies of this book I have personally "worn out," bought and given to others, or just recommended to others in all walks of life, with all sorts of problems. This little book really has answers.

I have this book on tape. The voice takes a little getting use to but after that it is a great little tape. The author is simple and easy to understand. It tells how to deal with life good and bad and how to be closer with God. The tape helps us to remember that life only has to be lived one day at a time and tells us how to get the most of each day.

This is an excellent 24 page booklet on Acceptance. It is written in simple terms that everyone can relate to and find meaningful and very uplifting. I keep one in my purse and read it often when I'm having a rough day or need a common-sense explanation of life. This should be read by everyone who has ever had a hard time understanding and accepting tough life situations.

This book had everything that it promised. It is on my shelf at work now and will come in handy in my job.

The Addiction Counselor's Desk Reference is a comprehensive compendium of information about addictive disorders, their consequences, and treatment.

This "desk reference" includes detailed definitions and practical illustrations of addiction-related terminology, addictive disorders and behaviors, descriptions of treatment models and techniques, as well as lists of relevant websites, government resources, and treatment centers.

The addiction clinician will find this information-packed guide to be an invaluable practice resource. A cutting-edge resource which contains detailed definitions, practical illustrations, relevant websites, government resources, and information about treatment centers
Written by a leading authority on addiction research, prevention, and treatment.

Have this work on your desk; you'll use it often.

This is a must-have for every working counselor. I refer to this daily and recommend it to my colleagues.

This is an excellent book to have if you need a complete overview of the many aspects of addiction counseling. It is particularly good if you need a well organized study guide and refresher course for some type of addiction certification test. The information is very well organized and covers the entire counseling process, including theory, assessment, treatment, documentation, ethics, etc.

Several years ago, when I nearly died from the dangerous stupidity of AA, I was fortunate enough to find a wonderful Alternative Treatment clinic in St. Paul. And in that clinic, I read as much as I could and learned as much as I could. I, to this day, believe that ADDICTION, CHANGE, and CHOICE was the book that made the most impact upon me during the early stages of getting better. Several years later I still refer to it.
Vince Fox writes in a way that is easy to read, yet provokes a great deal of thought. For anyone trying to make a change in their chemical health life and is struggling, for those trying to learn more about chemical health truth in general, and for those who wish to break the bonds and bondage of 12Step terror, I highly recommend this book. It can add much to your life if you wish to change and to know the Alternatives that are available to all of us.

Of course, I am a little biased due to the fact that I am Vince Fox's daughter. It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that my father died on March 29th after an approximate 6 month illness. He is sorely missed by his family as well as the many people that he has helped. Please respond if you have read his book and it has helped you.

Vince Fox, in plain and fair language evaluates the major players on the recovery scene. There are many choices out there, even if there may only be one in your town. Before following "the others" on the "Broad Highway" leading "you know where", it would be wise to educate oneself on the principles of the lesser knonw recovery programs. What do they represent, what ideas to they promote, why did they come to be? I love the part where significant word clusters found in the Big Book are itemized for the reader. Over 200 instances of God and related words??? hmmmmmm... Spiritual, not religous... hmmmm.....

By far, one of the best books I have read regarding alcoholism, and more specifically where we are and where need to go in upscaling our current treatment efforts of this insidious problem. I have read quite a few books on alcoholism and 90% endorse only one mode of treatment-AA. That is not only unfortunate, it is a sad state of affairs when we cling on to only one mode of treatment that is not necessarily the right one for everyone.

Mr. Fox had some of the deepest knowledge in regards to alcoholism and more importantly where we need to move forward to in achieving a better success rate in treating this problem.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who openly and objectively would like to know more about alcoholism and what other options are available to those who truly want to deal with their or a loved one's substance abuse problem and receive the appropriate treatment that they need.

This book was extremely validating and insightful. Although the book directly speaks to ACOA's, it is beneficial for any who grew up in dysfunctional family settings, especially with substance abuse involved. I think you would benefit from reading this book. I have also gained insight in to the next step of my personal healing. The authors have greatly encouraged me~ Thanks!

I read this book more than 5 years ago and have returned to it several times. It began my personal journey to healing and I am so grateful to the women who wrote it. I have also found, over the last 5 years, that what the book has to say about the way we have to reclaim our lives is accurate. I have given the book as a gift and will continue to do so as I feel it offers so much help and guidance in an extremely difficult struggle. As an ACOA, I highly recommend it!

This book was bought due to depression but, helped me understand that my depression was from my childhood. All ACOA should read this book. I wish it were in stock still as it would be a gift to many.

This is absolutely the best book I have read as an adult child of an alcoholic. I shared it with my counselor and he has recommended it to many of his colleagues. Anyone trying to make the journey out of an embattled childhood needs to read this book.

To attribute alcoholism to narcissistic regression is both commonplace and controversial. But there a less convoluted clinical "handle": Pathological narcissism is an addiction to narcissistic supply, the narcissist's drug of choice. It is, therefore, not surprising that other addictive and reckless behaviors - workaholism, alcoholism, drug abuse, pathological gambling, compulsory shopping, or reckless driving - piggyback on this primary dependence.

The narcissist - like other types of addicts - derives pleasure from these exploits. But they also sustain and enhance his grandiose fantasies as "unique", "superior", "entitled", and "chosen". They place him above the laws and pressures of the mundane and away from the humiliating and sobering demands of reality. They render him the center of attention - but also place him in "splendid isolation" from the madding and inferior crowd.

Such compulsory and wild pursuits provide a psychological exoskeleton. They are a substitute to quotidian existence. They afford the narcissist with an agenda, with timetables, goals, and faux achievements. The narcissist's addictive behaviors take his mind off his inherent limitations, inevitable failures, painful and much-feared rejections, and the grandiosity gap - the abyss between the image he projects (the False Self) and the injurious truth. They relieve his anxiety and resolve the tension between his unrealistic expectations and inflated self-image - and his incommensurate achievements, position, status, recognition, intelligence, wealth, and physique.

Thus, there is no point in treating the dependence and recklessness of the narcissist without first treating the underlying personality disorder. The narcissist's addictions serve deeply ingrained emotional needs. They intermesh seamlessly with the pathological structure of his disorganized personality, with his character faults, and primitive defense mechanisms.

Hence the importance of this book: it unflinchingly exposes the roots of alcoholism and attributes it to an identity disturbance, paranoia, sadomasochism and obsessive- compulsive disorders. The author's rich experience is evident in each and every page. A documentary treasure trove - if not a theoretical masterpiece. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited".

Good news, bad news, first the bad news. Forrest: 1) subscribes to a now questioned if not discredited Freudian theory of infantile narcissim; 2) has very low standards of proof; apparently supposing that repeated repetition amounts to proof, when sometimes it isn't even adequate description; 3) has an editor who is asleep at the switch when it comes to reducing florid redundancy; and 4) still has an essentially pathological view of homosexuality and bisexuality, preventing him from discerning homophobia as a form of paranoia (the term 'homophobia' doesn't occur in discussions of 'deviant' sexuality). The good news is that he has a substantial wealth of experience, including quite a lot of military experience at which he obviously worked hard and for which he presumably wasn't paid much. He gives a convincing account of a combination of orality, narcissism, and anger/rage that lying at the foundation of alcoholism, and issues of identity, paranoia, sadomasochism and obsessive- compulsiveness as common superstructures. (I would have put the obsessive-compulsive issue closer to the foundation; but I don't have his experience.) It would be a mistake to discount Forrest's wealth of experience simply on the basis of his dogmatically Freudian outlook. Much of the substance of the work will survive translation into other frames of reference--as is the case with most good Freudian writing. I learned a lot from it and found it fascinating reading.-- Jonathan Ketchum, PhD (Philosophy)

At age fifty-two, I am absolutely in awe of this book which hit me like a sledge hammer; it is holographic in its presentation, and speaks to me very deeply, personally, and professionally.

Each chapter is a multi-faceted reflection of the whole, and it pretty much sums up my personal experiences in growing up in a constantly relocating military family within a global environment during the post-World War II and Cold War period. If I had to write a personal byline on this text I would catagorize it in this generational fashion: Paint Your Wagon; The Unforgiven; and, Apocalypse Now; i.e., The American Experience of Conquest!

This text made me realize that my own life-long personal quest as the young captain, the trained assassin sent upriver on a covert mission to terminate the colonel, was really a personal paradox to be reconsidered: the young questing captain, in my personal interpretation of a time paradox, was realistically and symbolically the son of the colonel he was seaching out to terminate. The captain was the son that the remote, alienated, and estranged colonel-father, who had become distraught by the deeper woundings of a continuing warfare and conquest, wanted his son to know and understand him personally at the rivers end! This text allowed me to do this personally.

In conclusion, it is necessary for one to understand that "The Destructive Narcissitic Pattern" (described by Nina W. Brown) of the generational circumstance, the handing down, does not reguire drinking at this level. One can be quite numbed by The Great Depression, World War II, and Vietnam and, by one's sense and mission of self-importance through...Narcissitic Need and Entitlement Deprivation.

I am not a mental health professional but a recovering alcoholic, and have been searching for some understanding into who I am for a long time now. This text describes me almost too accurately. It opened my eyes up to some of the deeper emotional and psychological problems that I have suffered with for my entire life. The things I gleaned here are painful revelations, but nevertheless necessary disclosures for my mental stability. Essentially this book gave me the language to articulate and understand my existence, and by doing this it has given me a sense of freedom and relief.

Wow, is really all I can say. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the continuation!!!. I've tried doing some research on the author and so far haven't been able to come up with anything, so if you (Melanie) are reading this, please, please write another book!

I love this new series. The characters each have their own unique identity and together they weave a great story. Finally theres an interesting new twist on vampires that I hadnt seen before. The romance is sexy not steamy. I cant wait to see how it develops in book 2.

I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH...I CANT FIND 1 THING ON LINE ABOUT THIS AUTHOR....PLEASE POST SOME INFO SOMEWERE ABOUT THE 4TH BOOK TO COME OUT...PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Reading the other reviews - I now see what you are talking about! WOW is totally appropriate! This book is awesome! I LOVE these characters! The dialogue is so fun - it reminds me of the banter in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But then you add this incredible insight from an educated, older man/vampire and it puts a whole new level on things! A good dose of supernatural vampire and zombie stuff are added in, making it a great read! This is not like anything else I've read! I LOVE IT!