Alcoholism Books

I am a librarian in a public library. I first examined your book when a patron requested information on alcoholism and I was checking publication dates of materials in our collection. I found this book to be an excellent diagnostic tool, as I was dealing with the same problem at home. The book clearly defines the characteristics of an addiction. It provides a lens through which to see what is actually going on in a family where addiction affects everyone, not just the drinker. Armed with the knowledge that we can only change ourselves, it provides the reader with concrete approaches to the problem. It describes attitudes and actions that inadvertently feed the addiction as well as those that serve to intervene in the control addiction has over the whole family. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who suspects that alcohol may be a problem in their home. In this case, knowledge is power.

Since a friend sent me this book some ten years ago, I have considered myself very lucky to be in possession of such a fine book.
For those who are interested in understanding the wide and wild effects of the world's commonest drug, alcohol, this is the book. it helped me understand how the power of drunkenness affects the individual and those around, and how they in turn react. I could not find a line that Michael Elkin wasted in this 300 page book. It helped me understand the disease of alcoholism better.
Whatever your interest in the subject of alcohol, this book will take you further especially if you are interested in understanding how this clear substance called alcohol is capable of producing such extra-ordinary pleasure as well as such extra-ordinary pain.

I would like to read every paper Michael Elkin has written on the subject of alcohol if I could find it. Any help?

"Oh,my God! Why would you want to work there?"
This was the reaction of most of my friends and family when they learned I was working as an R.N. at an alcohol treatment center.

The short easily read chapters of my book will tell you why I fell in love with working with those who are alcoholic or chemically dependent. It also provides a clear picture of what dependency involves and how the treatment process works.

My readers tell me it is an enjoyable book...'like sitting down and having a conversation with you.'

I had the happy privilege of being 'in' on the birth of this book from the time it was only an idea to now, when it is really and truly a book. I found the whole experience fun and rewarding, including proof reading the book for Joyce. I am very glad there are people (like Joyce) in the world who are able to deal with some of the situations she describes. There but for the grace of God, go many of us. For those of you in the profession of helping others, particularly addicts, you will find this to be inspiring and thought provoking.

Gary Margolis's poems in Fire in the Orchard are haunting, many-surfaced, and disturbing. The light in them catches and turns; they are like hammered silver. There is much lyric beauty here, some humor, considerable pain. Masterfully crafted, complex, the poems insinuate themselves into your consciousness. In "Any Quiet That Was Left," the persona is burning branches below an elm and the whole poem is a question. The poem ends with a stunning image "...each bird a feather in that black wing/that, turning, turned the sky into smoke?"

In one of my favorite poems, the quiet horror at the memory of a father killing pigeons takes a turn to a deeper horror of family members being shipped in boxcars to the fate that is implicit in the imagery.

Another compelling poem is the powerful, energetic tribute to Michael Jordan. I've gone back to these poems again and again, trying to explain just what it is that holds me. I've concluded it's Margolis's craft, a masterful ability to explore the tension of liquidity and steel.

Gary Margolis is alive to the inner as well as the outer world. He doesn't write just as a father, or a teacher, or a husband, or a concerned member of his generation and rural community, but as all of these, and his subjects range from the intimacies of the bedroom and the dance floor to those of the garden, the gym, and the artist's notebook. The natural world, if not front and center, is never far from these poems; but I would not call Margolis a "nature poet" for the simple reason that there's too much humanity here. This is clearly the work of someone who has moved through the world with his eyes, ears, and arms open.

In the last few years, I have become well acquainted with Dick B. and Dick's son Ken. Ken was the minister who conducted the marriage services for me and my bride. And I was a member of the Marine Corps and stationed on Oahu for almost my entire tour of duty. Consequently, I went to the Bible fellowships conducted by Ken and attended by Dick. I helped Dick in his work with alcoholics. I helped him assemble and ship his history collections that were donated to the Wilson House and elsewhere, and I have seen his immense library, know of his extensive research, and read his books. I also knew that Dick began a series of nationwide history conferences where, with Dr. Bob's son, Ray G. (archivist at Dr. Bob's Home in Akron), Veronica R. from California, Dr. Karen Plavan from Pittsburgh, and Richard K. of Mass., he really laid out the history picture. The talks were well attended in Phoenix and in Delaware--and continued on two history cruises. The talks in Phoenix and Delaware were taped. And Dick wanted a readable account of the material presented. This so that others could benefit (and some of it has been posted free on the internet), so that others could read it and teach, and so that there would be widespread availability around the world. This is a first rate account of what was presented at the First Nationwide A.A. History Conference in Phoenix and presents a great deal of material on God and Alcoholism and early A.A. It's a good read--in fact a great read.

Dick has become an old hand at the A.A. subject he loves and reports best--the complete and almost lost history of the early A.A. fellowship and all its many contributing elements. Way back in early sobriety, in Marin County, California, where Dick got sober, his little Steps to the Solution Group put on two never-before A.A. history conferences with books, exhibits, and knowledgeable speakers. They were (in the first year) Bill Wilson and Bob theselves (on video), A.A. Archivist from New York Frank Mauser, and Dick on the Oxford Group. 800 attended. Nest year, about 800 attended again. And this time the speakers were Mel B., Oxford Group activist Willard Hunter, Dr. Bob's son Smitty, and Dick on the Bible. Quite a few years went by until Dick organized the first nationwide A.A. history conference which is the subject of this book. Ray G. was there in Phoenix with all the Dr. Bob's Home archives. Smitty was there--shortly before his death--to tell the wonderful story of his father's founding days. Dick spoke for several hours on the entire history picture. And there was a panel of Ray, Smitty, and Dick. This conference has continued with other fine speakers. Then Dick organized the second nationwide A.A. history conference in Delaware--this time with a new time of historians: Veronica R. of Woodland, Karen P. of Pittsburgh, Ray G. from Dr. Bob's Home, Richard K. from Mass., and Dick. And out of this venture came the history cruises now beginning their third year under the organization and sponsorship of Veronica and Val R. with Ray, Mel B., Dick, and the R. couple as speakers. The point of reading this First Nationwide account is that it deals with the history of healing, the real history of early A.A., and the nonsense gods that have peopled the A.A. scene in recent years--higher powers that are light bulbs, spirituality that is "not-god-ness," half-baked prayers that have no biblical foundation or soundness. If you want to see what AAs can still do to serve thousands and thousands of present-day newcomers and to bring before them the real history of A.A. and its Biblical roots, then this is the book to start with. I'm all for it.

The reactions of the characters to the situation presented make for reality and real-life drama. What would you do in Briana's shoes? Wendy Lawton guides the reader through a real life dilemma and shows that easy, pat answers do not always come. However, through it all, God is real, too, and He'll catch you when it looks as if the floor has fallen out. Since I love the Trading Spaces show, this makes for a great read.

Briana Harris is a typical teen who struggles to keep family secrets. Embarrassed by her alcoholic father, Bree does everything she can to keep her friends from discovering the truth. When her best friend Chickie Wells signs them up for Flip Flop, a reality tv show similar to Trading Spaces, Bree is scared. Will her dad be around and drunk? Will he make a scene? Will she be totally embarrassed by him?

Lawton captures the hopes and fears of teens dealing with alcoholic parents. The reader journeys with Bree as she struggles to deal with her father's problem and the impact it has on her entire family. Lawton masterfully captures the voice of teens today, writing a book they will surely connect to.

Wendy Lawton has written a winner that teens and adult alike will have a hard time putting down.

This is a Great book with alot of deep insight to freedom from addiction also to freedom in life.

I am free from addiction! This book explains in great detail how the POWER alluded to in the 12 steps ONLY comes from Jesus , and once you accept His most graceful redemption, there is NO need to call yourself addicted anymore! Please get out of the SIN (sitting in negativity) and rejoice in His holy name. I've studied and read, '2 Tracks One Goal', Dick B 'Akron Genesis of AA'., 'The Good Book and the Big Book'.... NO other book spells out how to get free FROM addiction! Not information ABOUT addiction, not a man-made 'design' for living, not a program to modify behavior... a TRANSLATION into a new being. (II Cor 5:17) and (1 Sam 10:6). This masterpiece shows all Bible references to the "program"... whence the essence. If you are serious about recovery, this is the best book (besides the Word of God) I've read! Thank you authors for your obedience to His Word. My fellow recoveries.... I pray you will pick this up and open your heart to God's Words. I understand why they now have a workbook based upon this book! It is a lifelong mission to fully apply the precepts explained in this book into one's life. Hallelujah! Praise and Glory to God!

I buy this book in bulk and give it to newcomers at meetings. It is a terrific comprehensive intro to AA, the customs and slogans of which can seem overwhelming to people also struggling to decide if they need to stop drinking. This book will never go out of date, for much of AA has stayed unchanged for the last 20-30 years (if not for the last 70 years, since it began). To your health!

I had attended 6 AA meetings and still had many questions; How did AA begin? Is AA right for me? Are all meetings the same? What is a sponsor and how do I get one? What is the Big Book? and what do some of the slogans they use mean? Getting started in AA answered all of these questions and more. The book is designed in a way to allow readers to read it straight through or as a referance tool. It is divided into several parts so that you can easily skip around to the subjects that interest you the most. The content of the book is complete and written so that it can be read with ease. Although I skipped around a little, I read most of the book in one night. It answered all of my questions and gave me some guidence as to what to expect and what step to take next. I highly recomend this book to anyone who is new to AA or maybe has been in the program for a while, but still has questions about AA. This is also a good book for anyone who has never been to AA, but wants to stop drinking and is not sure if AA is right for them.

I like this book because it kind of follows a line Bill Wilson used to take. If Bill didn't like something like the Oxford Group or the Washingtonians, Bill would often say they taught us a little about what to do and a lot more about what not to do. Unfortunately the facts rarely squared with Bill's own life and actions and beliefs, but they served to mollify the critics. In this book, Dick B. has done a terrific job about contrasting the one, true, living God, Yahweh the Creator, with the "other" deities that we hear of more and more in A.A. Yes, absurd names for God, half-baked prayers, and self-made religion have crept into A.A. and into recovery chatter. That's dangerous. That's confusing. That's unfortunate because there are many like myself who are Christians, believers in God, and Bible students; and we are not keen about listening to people talk about their "higher power" who is a rock, a light bulb, the A.A. group, the Big Dipper, Ralph, Something, Somebody, or not-god.
I heard a number of people ask Dick B. to write about the nature and origin and roots of the "higher power" and "Power Greater than ourselves," and "God as we understand Him" stuff. And that is exactly what he does in this book; and he puts it in terms of his own admiration for, and experience in, A.A. It kind of reminds me of the old song: "Trusting in the saviour, I shall not be moved." Dick is not to be moved toward the silly gods or silly names. And he is not to be moved away from the Creator and His son Jesus Christ. From what I see in this book, neither was Dr. Bob. Especially when he wrote: "Your Heavenly Father will never let you down" (Big Book, p. 181). Here's one that helped me answer the "rock," "Somebody," "Great Pumpkin," and not-god stuff with A.A.'s own history and how revisionists have corrupted it. This book is for the sturdy who don't want to be moved from reliance on Almighty God no matter what some therapist, treatment center, or A.A. speaker may invent as a "higher power" to whom you can supposedly pray and from whom you can supposedly expect to receive healing. I think Psalm 115 said it all centuries and centuries ago.

Dick B. dealt with this proliferating "goofy gods" recovery problem straight on. More and more therapists, counselors, rehabs, and even AAs are substituting absurd names for "god" in place on the one, true, living God who was the source of power relied on for recovery in A.A. Reverend Sam Shoemaker--dubbed a co-founder of A.A. by Bill W.--rejected such practices when he spoke to AAs at their International Convention. In this book, the author deals with the originating expressions--higher power, power greater than ourselves, and God as we understood Him--and shows how they were weak and compromising expressions that replaced the Heavenly Father, Creator, Maker, Father, God of our fathers, Father of Lights, and Spirit with plainly Biblical origins and meanings. In keeping with a belated deal made by three AAs--Bill W., Hank P., and Fitz M., the stage was set after the Big Book manuscript was readied for publication. Fitz protested that the change would obliterate the Christian and Biblical expressions which were part of the original program. Fitz lost. The Step language was changed. The original materials were simply tossed out and lost. And if all that merely involved a search for original meanings, the problem would be a tiny one. However, AAs, counselors, and those associated with recovery began calling their "higher power" a radiator, a light bulb, a tree, a table, a chair, Santa Claus, Ralph, Gertrude, a door knob, a rock, the goddess, and many many more idolatrous words and phrases. Such usage offends me because it deceives and misleads. It also clearly violates the Ten Commandments, which were revered in early A.A. And it is best answered, perhaps, by the explanation of such nonsense in Psalm 115. I am delighted that Dick looked at the Big Book titles, the Bible names and titles, and then documented all the places where the goofy god names replaced the Creator. I rejoice too in the careful studies by Stewart C., Dick B., and George T. over the years which showed that the word "God" and Biblical synonyms such as Creator, Maker, Father, as well as descriptive pronouns numbered over 400 in the Third Edition of the Big Book. By contrast, "higher power" is used twice--both times in the context of the word "God." I doubt that atheists and rim-runners will find much comfort in reading the facts as to how far the "God business" has gotten out of line; but I am sure that devout believers--Christians, Jews, Protestants, and Roman Catholics alike will welcome a book that tells it like it was instead of encouraging sick alcoholics to "find" and put other gods before Yahweh, the Creator. There's more to be read also in Dick's titles, Cured; When Early AAs Were Cured and Why; The Good Book and The Big Book; and The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook.

This revealing true story deserves to be read widely, especially by young people tempted to join gangs and turn to crime. Author Jose Cardona gives a first-hand account of the horrific violence of the prison system. As I read this book I was reminded of the futility of punishing more and more people, more and more harshly. The author does not spare any details when describing the hell he witnessed and experienced in prison. I applaud this author for so honestly sharing his Life Story and his faith in God. I highly recommend God's Awesome Redeeming Grace, and hope that this book will find it's way into the hands of those who need to read it, and that they will take it to heart.

--Suza Francina, writer, teacher and activist.

This book is great for parents or anyone that has loved ones (young or adult,male or female) at risk of drinking,doing drugs and/or joining gangs! God's Awesome Redeeming Grace is easy to read and a hard to put down book!! It is also a "TRUE" life story about what real prison life is all about and the harsh negative consequences of drinking,doing drugs and/or joining gangs! Hopefully after reading this book it will scare you straight and discourage you or any loved one from drinking,doing drugs and/or joining gangs!! P.S. If you'd like to see Jose Cardona's personal WEBPAGE,profile and picture please "click" Jose Cardona's name at the top of this review..Thanks!!

I know Dick B. quite well. I am an ambassador for Christ. I am a son of God. I am a Bible student. And I'm a former soldier--I know about the spiritual battle too. More than any seem to realize today, Dick has highlighted the same believing in the early A.A. Christian Fellowship. Not much more needs to be said: You need to find the details in this little gem of a book. In a few words, it shows you how Bill Wilson and A.A. Number Three confirmed that the Lord had cured them of alcoholism. It also confirms the later conversions of the A.A. pioneers--they were required to believe in God, come to Him through Jesus Christ, study the Bible, pray, ask His wisdom, obey His will, grow in fellowship, and then experience cure. Whereupon, they were to help others with the same information. They were ambassadors. They were soldiers on the spiritual battlefield. And they knew how to achieve victory. This book is an inspiration for those who want to get well, and who want to say, along with A.A. founders: The Lord has cured me of this terrible disease; and I just want to keep talking about it and telling people. That's the Golden Text of A.A. You can still find it on page 191 of the 4th edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 191.

"The Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease that I just want to keep telling people about it." How many AAs and recovery programs today know that Bill Wilson and A.A. Number Three both used this expression. A.A. Number Three called it The Golden Text of A.A. And you can find the details on page 191 of Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed. Yep. It's alive and well today. And if you thumb back a few pages to Dr. Bob's story, you'll see that Bob also twice commented on the cure the pioneers had found. There's lots more in this priceless little book. But it captured the attention of the managers of the Wilson House. It became the subject of one of Dick B.'s Heritage Seminars there. And its words and theme need to be hammered home to those wandering souls that are teaching newcomers more and more often that you can believe in anything you want in A.A., or in nothing at all. Baloney! Not unless you prefer to drink.