Addictions Books

It's funny. It's smart. It's hard to grasp at the start but the plot tightens up after the first 50 pages. It's got a senile bent making it's characters operatic. I've learned to appreciate this kind of thing. It drops the right phrase in their mouths with comic timing. It lampoons the Reagan administration by someone with the age and credits to do a proper job of it. Fifty pages left; see you.

"Finally Broken made me look back on my own past and recognize all the stupid, crazy things I did and to question the cause. It made me face things that were done to me, and realize that I can finally face my hurts and learn from them. I can come out of my dark places a better and stronger person. Finally Broken will help others to face their previous mistakes and move on to the next part of their lives; recognizing that, through God's grace, you are not your past, you are your future."
Doris "Penny" Nichols Nelson
Boaz, AL

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"Truly inspirational! Finally Broken reminds us all that the first step to solving our problems is turning our life over to God. Rena's life is an excellent example of how God's grace can turn years of shame and sadness into a life of hope and renewal. Through this book, anyone dealing with addictions and other personal problems will find common ground with Rena and, hopefully, follow the same path to salvation and renewal."

Robert W. Skinner
San Antonio, TX

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"If you grew up like me, in the 1960's and 1970's, this book will have a big time connection for many from our period. Parental attitudes and the new freedom kids were exploring made for explosive family dynamics. Finally Broken is a true snapshot of those times and the stresses that tore at the fabric of our families and our nation as a whole. Rena Montford found the ultimate relationship with a Father who truly has all the answers, knows our every need and loves us unconditionally. Just read it!"

Pastor David Gillian
San Antonio, TX

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Finally Broken is a truly inspirational story of how one woman overcame much adversity in her life through her faith and salvation. The recounting of her successful escape from this lifestyle gives you courage that through Christ all things are possible.

Shay Skinner
San Antonio, TX

If you have even been in a less-than-satisfying relationship, and particularly if you have ever had difficulty separating from such a relationship, this may be the book for you! Of the 9-10 highly recommended self-help books I read during a very difficult time, this one was the most insightful and most helpful to me. In fact, looking back at it after a year in a very satisfying and fullfilling relationship, I think the first 9 chapters almost "saved my life....or at least, my sanity!"This is an extention to Halpern's highly successful "How to Break Your Addition to a Person." I found the present book first and never felt the need to read the first book, although I later glanced at it. I think the first few chapters in the present book probably capture the essence of the first book. The book in HIGHLY readable. I think if this book were more widely read, there would be MANY more people in happier relationships.

The 8 chapters of "Food as a Drug" - chock full of research summaries - work in powerful unisson to mount a formidable argument against the Addiction Model of Obesity (that serves as the foundation for Overeaters' Anonymous).

In addition to reviewing the conceptual and empirical evidence against the Addiction Model of Obesity/Overeating, the book does a methodical analysis of various public-domain "myts" about the interplay of food and mood. As such, the book presents an authoritative analysis of the range of psychoactive properties of food that have been presumed to underlie the food-specific cravings and food-specific dependence/withdrawal models.

The book offers a wealth of clinical facts that are likely to be of interest to an eating disorder specialist. Here are just a few lines that jump out as you browse the book:

"There is no evidence that bulimia nervosa patients preferentially consume sugar and other carbohydrates druing binge eating" (p. 89).

"A particularly damaging problem with the carbohydrate craving model comes from studies that fail to demonstrate that carbohydrate craving participants actually improve their mood following a carbohydrate-rich meal" (p. 41).

"As an amino acid, the body's entire supply of tryptophan is dependent on dietary protein. One might reasonably conclude, therefore, that increases in protein consumption would also increase 5-HT production <...> In reality, studies have demonstrated that brain tryptophan and 5-HT actually decrease following a protein rich meal." (P. 37).

"Food cravings are experienced by approximately 68% of men and 97% of women. The most frequently reported food craving among college aged women is for chocolate. <...> Chocolate does contain a number of bioactive substances...<...> However, when subjects were fed substances which contained components of chocolate without its flavor, sweetness, or recognizable form, the craving for chocolate remained unsatisfied. These findings would seem to suggest that the craving for chocolate is due to its sensory or psychologic attributes rather than to its pharmacologic effects" (p. 11).

If the reviewer of this review happens to be a non-academician or a non-clinician, you might have found these few lines of interest - and they certainly are of interest. But be warned: the book - as accessible as it is for a clinician or a researcher - is likely to parch your mind with its academic dryness. If, however, you are willing to brave your way through it, you, the general reader, are likely to be usefully informed.

On a closing note, an observation: the book's title "Food as a Drug" reminded of Weil's and Rosen's "Chocolate to Morphine" book. Having read both, I found the current volume to be a useful hard-fact reference companion for the Weil/Rosen project.


Pavel Somov, Ph.D.
Author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008)

I have this book on tape and love the quiet, gentle voices that remind me of the 12-steps and why they work for us compulsive overeaters. A wonderful book and worth its weight in gold.

I am a third year law student at Arizona State University and I checked this book out of the library for a paper I was writing. I found that this book was well written and a good book for a person with little or no experience with drugs. I am planning on going into criminal law and have been looking for more information on drugs and drug use. This is a good book for the inexperienced parent, criminal lawyer, or anyone else looking for information on drugs, their effects, and how they are used. The book also contains interesting historical information about drug use. It is not too technical and is pleasant to read.

Absolutely superb. A very well-researched and engaging account of the advances and short-comings in forensic science. The chapters on what truly occurs in many county coroner's offices by medical examiners is a must read. A very disturbing account of how "science" has been misused by corrupt medical examiner's (for example, to protect guilty police officers or to prosecute innocent individuals). Specific, high-profile published cases are described and the wrong-doing clearly demonstrated as revealed in subsequent court proceedings, medical examiner retraction of statements, bodies exhumed to fing autopsies not performed at all, etc. A true thriller to read and a shocking inside view of the intersection of medical, legal, and law enforcement worlds to produce the current state of disaster, unkown to all except a few inside experts.

This is the story of the path that my family and I have been following for the past 28 years. It begins with the loss of a special man and continues to the happiness we have been able to find in the face of tragedy. It shows that the spirit is indomitable and cannot be destroyed if we refuse to allow it. It may bring tears, but the overriding message is one of hope.

This book gives a greatly accurate description of America, Christianity,
and personal struggle. I highly recommend it for anyone who just wants to understand humanity, and the world we live in. Also, it is the only book I've ever read that describes the connection between body and soul, and what drives our inner thoughts and consequently, our actions.
Thanks Ron and Stacy for sharing this information. It was a Godsend at a critical time in my life.
Scottie Eades

This is one of my favorite books. Written like really good fiction, Mr. Conrad (a writer and artist by trade) takes us through his addiction and recovery at BFC. It is not only extremely helpful and insightful, but also a "can't-put-down" tell-all bio. A book I have bought for others. Well worth it!!!!