Addictions Books

Let's say that you have studied early A.A. history as I have. Let's say you have learned that A.A.'s basic ideas came from the Bible, that Dr. Bob read and circulated books on the subject, that Anne Smith recorded the facts in her journal and shared with others, that Quiet Time and devotionals were important, and that there were a host of other historical influences like: (a) The Oxford Group. (b) United Christian Endeavor Society. (c)Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. (d) Professor William James. (e)Dr. Carl Gustav Jung. (f) William D. Silkworth, M.D. (g) Lay therapist Richard Peabody. (h) The YMCA. (i) The Gospel rescue missions. (j) New Thought writings, and more. How do you learn these things and condense them into communications that will help a drunk to get sober today. First you have to learn the facts. Second, you have to believe the facts. Third, you have to see that there are diverse and varied factors. Fourth, it would be a good idea to look at Dick B.'s 33 published titles on early A.A.'s history, roots, and successes. Fifth, it would be valuable to form a study group and study. Sixth, it would be valuable to contact Dick and others in his new, world-wide history fellowship of people who are enthusiastic about God, A.A., the Bible, the history, and helping drunks and addicts get well. I can't say this book will give you all the answers. I can say it will tell you what the job is and how you might approach it in love and service to God, those in the fellowship, and those new people who want and need deliverance and are hearing everything and anything someone thinks about what A.A. was, is, or ought to be. I needed an inspiration book that told me I could use my own believing, A.A.'s roots, and the tools of present-day A.A. and help someone get well. This book does it for me.

Theology Professor Emeritus, and expert in the field of pastoral counseling for those with alcohol, drug, and behavioral addictions, The Reverend Howard J. Clinebell, Ph.D., made one simple statement in endorsing this book by Dick B. Dr. Clinebell had himself long been involved in researching A.A., and he said of this title: "Carefully researched volume by the leading historian of A.A." And it takes one to know one. In fact, Clinebell had asked Dick to review and endorse his own recent updating of the famous pastoral counseling book; and he wanted to be sure the A.A. material in this new work was in tune with several decades of new research. And it was. It was for the reason that it marked the point where Dick had located, earmarked, and published on the several historical roots of A.A. and felt compelled to examine their applicability in the trenches. This book was published and used at the time of Bill's 1998 A.A. heritage lectures at The Wilson House in Vermont. Dick reviewed A.A.'s origins in Akron and origins in New York and then raised the plaguing question "Is A.A. spiritual, or religious?" The answer involves three different points: (1) It is both since the two words are synonymous when the Society is examined in terms of its cardinal objective--to help alcoholics find and establish a relationship with God. (2) It really doesn't matter since most AAs, if pressed, could not agree on the difference, if any. (3) The distinction really involves whether one is looking at the A.A. of yesteryear (Christian and religious) or the A.A. of today (universal in stated mission, yet recognizably religious in action. Early A.A. is examined for its Bible roots, primarily from the Book of James, Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. Then its Steps are examined for those verses which gave rise to the progression of life-change ideas designed to lead to a conversion. Then for the verses which were the foundation for the all-important morning Quiet Time and the subsequent Eleventh Step--a new birth, an evening review, a morning start with Bible/prayer/guidance/and devotionals. Then for the ideas and verses used in the Oxford Group and by Rev. Sam Shoemaker to buttress the life-changing actions. Then for such contributions from the teachings of Dr. Bob's wife and from the literature AAs read. Then followed Dick's introduction to the theme he has used to this day: You cannot dispel the nonsense gods and their absurd names, nor the half-baked prayers, nor the self-made religion, nor the obsession with the importance of "meetings" until and unless you learn from A.A.'s own history that none of these had a signficant part in early A.A. You can make sense of A.A. as it is today if you choose to learn its history and study it as you study the A.A. Big Book and Steps. I'm all for it!

Having just discovered the depths of denial in my own addiction, I was enormously grateful to find a book that I could relate to. As an RN finding that Im not the only one, and that recovery and continuing to work as a nurse was still a possibility. Patty, in sharing her story, made it easier for me to accept my own addiction and keep me on the road to recovery and a life of joy that I didn't know was possible! Thanks for sharing Patty!!

Thank you Patricia for writing this book. Your courage to write your painful experience is beyond words. Addiction is a powerful disease.

This is a very wonderful book. It talks about Reverse Peer Pressure, and this approach, I am sure, will work if given time. It is a small book, and that makes it all the better. Within a given amount of time you can read it, understand it, and hopefully put the plan (Reverse Peer Pressure) into action. Probably it is the wish of the Divine Intelligence from Above.

Thank goodness a book like this can be written in this day and age! It's absolutely hilarious, reminiscent of the more clueless anti-drug efforts of the past like "Reefer Madness." My friends and I have really enjoyed reading selected passages to each other and laughing -- it's guaranteed to break up any party. Although all aspects of this book are risible, the dialogue, the crackpot "science," the new age spirituality, my favorite moment is when the heroine sits down to play some "Shopen" at the piano. Self publishing has given us a inadvertent classic, sure to be a cult item and collectable of the future.

How often I have heard and read among AAs, from people emerging from treatment or from prison or from therapy that there is no cure for alcoholism. This is very very strange. I had become acquainted with Dick B. and learned from him that all the early AAs had been cured of alcoholism, that they all said so, that his historical research showed that Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob, and A.A. Number Three had joined other pioneers in rejoicing that God had cured them of their "terrible disease." Can He? Of course He can. And early AAs said so and believed so. Consequently I have relished each of Dick B.'s later books that have explored, documented, and demolished the fatalistic, secular view that persists today. Alcoholism can be, was, and has been cured by the power of God. I'm a Marine vet, and I'm not powerless over alcohol or drugs for the simple reason that I do not use them and rely on the Creator to guide me, strengthen me, and heal me and show me His way out of temptation. That's power! And God's kids have it. This book shows that early AAs believed the same thing, got well, and frequently recorded their cures. The book is a must read for those who want to overcome the perpetual sickness and perennial relapse theories that are killing recovery today.

I don't think anyone was more surprised than Dick B. and some of his colleagues who were researching with and for him and speaking at some of his history conferences. There had always been the curious "There is no cure for alcoholism." But where did this negative come from? It was so unusual that the A.A. book Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers wrote a footnote that explained that the original writers and founders had been mislead and had mistakenly used such terms as "cured" and "ex-alcoholic." And it let the matter go at that. And so for at least 25 years, today's AAs have naively swallowed this undocumented nonsense and wandered from awakenings to experiences to daily reprieves and to personality change to explain the object of A.A. and its Steps. But that's not A.A. history. It's belated revisionism. The facts and the conclusion are simple: Alcoholism can be cured. God can cure alcoholics. God has cured alcoholics. And God will cure those alcoholics who believe and seek help.
Three or four years ago, the truth burst on the scene--after years of darkness. Author Richard K. went to A.A. General Services and purchased the huge scrapbook that contains uncontradicted documented newspaper and magazine accounts of more than a decade of early A.A. publicity on cure. Then we all woke up. Dr. Bob had said he was cured, and he said it as he and Bill W. were hospitalizing A.A. Number Three. A.A. Number Three and Bill Wilson both said on what has become page 191 of the Big Book that the Lord had cured them of their terrible disease. Over and over the affirmations that God can heal were repeated. And that's the fact. Healings by religious means were so well known that Dr. Carl Jung, Professor William James, and Dr. William Silkworth all commented extensively on the cure of alcoholism by conversion and the work of the Great Physician. And Dick set to work revamping his research. He put his focus on what was said and done about healing. He first wrote Cured. Then he wrote Why Early A.A. Succeeded. Then he wrote this book. And a knowledge of all is essential if you want to know what God really did and still can do for the alcoholic who still suffers. You'll catch flak from the ignorant when you start talking about cure. Treatment centers won't welcome the assertion. Nor therapists. Nor insurance companies. Nor government grant seekers. Keep them sick. Keep them coming back. And keep up the search for drugs or therapy or some magic that will stop the alcoholic from drinking. That's the foundation. But the Bible foundation is far stronger. The verses, the accounts, and the testimonies are all stuffed into Dick's book. And you won't even have half your armor on for the verbal battle until you buckle up your chin straps and read the truth.

This book really hits home and keeps coming! From C. J. Camp's family history all the way through, it all sounds so painfully familiar. I was especially touched by his descriptions of always feeling "different" from other people; not being able to connect heart-to-heart very easily, if ever.

I was also deeply affected by the idea of a "mental picture" of God and the suggestion that the picture many people have is probably inaccurate. God's been given a bum rap!

Wonderful touches of humor throughout, yet always informative and to the point. Good for the family members of addicts also!

This book really touched a chord in my heart. C. J. Camp lays it out; the good, the bad, and the ugly. He tells his own hair-raising story (child abuse, neglect, etc.) and how he turned to sex, drugs, and alcohol. He talks plainly and unsparingly about his descent into the depths of misery and his near-death. He recounts the powerful "spiritual experience" that saved his life; an encounter with the Holy Spirit (John 6:44-45).
He then explains the 12-Step method of recovery from a Christian perspective in simple terms that everyone can understand. He really made me rethink a lot of my old ideas about cleaning up my past and getting right with God and others.
I also learned more about the true nature of God (as opposed to the unfortunate "mental picture" of God that I was given as a child). That has made a tremendous difference in my life and in my recovery. The first Christian recovery book that's real and true, not stuffy or too theological. A sense of honesty pervades the book.

This author is fantastic. He not only writes well, but he knows his subjects well, and really helps people through his fantastic books. Highly recommend it for the people it may relate too.

He was on the money with this one. The innate need to be and feel loved can be very addictive. However, it should be saved for one good relationship not several romantic ones. It is so easy to be high on love and want to be in a relationship without doing the hard parts. It is the perpetual dating and interviewing that gives us this high. The true pearls of the relationships that last are discovered throughout the course of the relationship. Which should by most accounts be a lifelong covenant.

This is a straightforward book. The authors cover a lot of ground clearly and easily. This is not a dry book, rather it is engaging enough that it would qualify as an interesting read for both aspiring practitioners as well as someone not involved in, or familiar with, the Substance Abuse treatment field.

This book is quite complete; it covers a complex subject well and allows the reader to get a gestaltic understanding yet also provides for some depth of clinical/granular information.

The book is probably worth the price simply for the references at the back of each chapter (a who's who of contributors to the science of abuse and dependence)..this is well grounded information presented concisely by geniune experts so the reader can come up the learning curve quickly.

Nicholas Lessa (LCSW) and Walter Scanlon, Ph.D. have joined forces to put together an extremely pragmatic and useful reference guide to substance use disorders in clinical practice. Important topics include: 1) understanding mood-altering substances, 2) assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning, 3) determining the level of care needed, 4) coexisting mental disorders, and 5) the basics of recovery. My favorite chapter was the one on spirituality as an important factor in recovery. Written in clear understandable language with a personal yet objective tone, Lessa & Scanlon cover the "how to" of providing recovery options, and the elements of an effective counseling environment in real life situations. Levels of Care (LOC) are covered in detail, although how to determine the level of care is not always clear. Theories such as Prochaska & DiClemente's Stages of Change Model, and Gorski's Model of Addiction, as well as terms used in diagnosis from the DSM-IV, and a description of personality disorders are covered, including excellent case studies. I enjoyed this book tremendously and found it very useful as an intern in the substance abuse field. Doug Uhlig, CASAC Intern, Ph.D. Student, New York City.

Sheila Kitzinger, has done it again! This book contains all of the messages that women need to hear about thier sexuality. With chapters that cover the basics, to indepth coverage of intimacy, sexual abuse, menstruation, and many other topics. If only this book was around the house when I was growing up!!

An excellent book for anyone who is a woman or loves awoman. Women, give this book to your partner! This book describes howwomen experience sex and what role sex plays in a woman's life. It also describes how women have successfully obtained meaning, substance, and fulfillment and satisfaction. It is a book that will give young girls confidence, knowledge about their body, and awareness about what society is trying to tell them to do and how they can assert themselves to be who they want instead of what others tell themto be. Partners gain understanding about how sex is a whole body and mind experience for a woman. Women feel fellowship with the stories shared and gain advice on dealing with problems. This book doesn't generalize and is always open-minded. If I ever have a daughter, I would give her this book.

I admit that I chose this book of meditations in the Hazelden series based on the cover art. I wasn't let down. The quotes and meditations always speak to me. It's gentle and can be used by those not following 12 step based prgrams (it's not papered with excessive slogans). Wonderfully down to earth for any woman's spirit.

So many of us women were expected to be super-moms and we tried only to feel we had failed at something. This book spoke to my sorry soul and many pages helped me to come to peace with myself. The anonymous author uses the 12 Step Program made famous by AA but applied particularly to women and the problems they face in today's world. I have worn out my copy and gotten another one and also purchased at least 8 more as gifts for some of my favorite women who are struggling with many things in their lives such as a chronic health condition. Everyone one of these recipients has thanked me more than once for the gift of "A Woman's Spirit" and one told me that even the cover was a work of art.

Pine's "Working Hard, Drinking Hard" left me feeling impressed with her grasp and relay of the often confusing social and economic landscape in Honduran life. Her willingness to grapple with modern issues of inequality, globalization, and violence were an eye-opening and shocking view into modern Honduras. Similarly, the sensitivity and commitment to both macro and micro level issues was refreshing and thought provoking. Pine has a real knack for making often overwhelming issues very digestible to academicians and non-academicians alike. This is a satisfying read that imparts important and valuable knowledge. It deserves a place on the shelves of all persons concerned about and interested in social, political, and economic change.

Working Hard and Drinking Hard is required reading for people who are concerned about the real-life consequences of globalization and misguided US policy in Latin America. It connects imperical (often times gut wrenching) evidence of the affect of gang violence, and substance abuse in Honduras, without being maudlin. The book is a a triumph and a challenge to those "whose compassion may wither" if not put into action. Readers of Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein will enjoy Working Hard and the real life details Pine weaves through the book.