Alcoholism Books

Every counselor and educator should own this clearly written, easy to read book about the prevalence of alcohol addiction and marketing in America. Covers specific groups as well as population in general. Comprehensive, up to date, superbly outlined and indexed, it hits hard at the problem. Excellent section on treatment. Invaluable also for family members of any age, as well as professionals. Factual, provocative, alarming, educational, helpful -- this book is first rate in every way.

This is a great, long awaited text! I may be biased, since I helped with some of it for my Graduate work!! This book should be purchased by anyone who is interested in knowing how we as Americans came to have such a problem with Alcohol. It should be purchased & read by all students in social work, counseling, psychology & other social studies fields if they plan to work with addicted clients. It reads relatively easy & has several references to help the lay person understand the terminology used when dealing with those who are addicted & their families.

Ray Nitschke is a symbol of a football era that has passed. He played the game for enjoyment not for money. Unlike current players, he was grateful to the fans and never passes up an autograph seeker. Truly, there will never be another Ray Nitschke.

Edward Gruver began putting this biography together before Nitschke's death. Much of the information was gained in interviews with Nitschke. Because many of the stories are in his own words, it lends authenticity to the story. Gruver interviewed teammates and opponents to get their perspective of Nitschke. The result is the best rounded biography of the man who is arguably the best middle linebacker in NFL history.

Aside from the stories of his playing days, the book also looks at Ray Nitschke the man. He lived through a rough childhood to become an unlikely recipient of a scholarship to Illinois. Although he dreamed of playing for the Bears, he made Green Bay his home only a few seasons after he was drafted. After getting married, Nitschke changed from a rough bar room brawler to a family man. His nasty on-field persona was left on the field. Nitschke was involved in numuerous charities. However, his family came first.

Nitschke is an easy read, that is historically accurate and well written. My one objection to the book is my feeling that some of the stories could have been expanded up further. Nevertheless, this is an excellent read for Packer fans.

Nitschke is the first biography of accomplished professional football player Ray Nitschke (1936-1998), who won the Green Bay Packers five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls. Constructed from thorough research and dozens of interviews by biographer Edward Gruver, Nischke is the impressive portrait of a courageous man who lost both his parents at age 13, played a legendary championship "Ice Bowl" game in sub-zero weather, was inducted into the Pro Football hall of fame in 1978, and earned lasting memorials and tributes after his unfortunate death from a heart attack. Nitschke provides the reader with an inspiring account of the life of a dedicated game player and is "must" reading for Packer fans in general, and those who remember Ray Nitschke's performances on the field in particular.

Taking place in Washington State, "No Place For Me" gives a realistic, first-person account of 12-year-old Copper Jones, the protagonist who is deserted by her stepfather while her mother is in an alcohol treatment center. He sends Copper to unwilling, mean relatives who in turn pass her on to other reluctant relatives. Eventually, Copper ends up with her odd Aunt Maggie Jones who practices witchcraft and teaches Copper how to be honest and take control of her life by first confronting her own nightmares.

This was a very enjoyable and fast-paced book. The ending was a little elusive, hanging with the question of what Copper would do in a certain situation, but overall it was terrific. Highly recommended to preteen girls who can relate to Copper's situation of being alone and unwanted by family, yet finding strength from them as well.

A poignant, realistic portrayal of a young girl's struggle to find herself and to seperate her own identity from that of her alcoholic mother through her relationship with a very unusual and caring aunt.

I first read this text in 1998, and cannot recommend it highly enough for someone working through their own issues in learning how to express anger and deal with it in effective ways. I recommend the text to clients with anger issues (either suppressing it, or expressing it inappropriately).

This is the best book on anger I've ever read. It applies to everyone, not
just those dealing with substance abuse. It is clear, well-developed and
debunks the common myth that exploding to "get things off your chest"
is healthy. It is not. It's discussion of the two types of anger styles, the
"violent" and the "nice person" is exactly on target. A close relative who
who has been emotionally unreachable, read this book, recognized himself and was deeply touched. The book reached him. I found that to
be almost miraculous. I've read the book twice and have bought it for
friends. It clearly explains how to express your anger without doing
more damage and retaining your own dignity. Bravo to the authors for
an elegant book. Thank you . I am so grateful that I found this book.

The book dates to a time when Alanon was still the ladies auxiliary to a male A.A.. Some days the message could be interpreted as stand by your man and other days as kick the bum out/get out yourself. A few moments daily in the course of a quiet half hour pondering how does this apply to me will be helpful.

This book is a standard, maybe even a classic, and is probably one of the first "daily meditation" type books ever published. I read it looking for ideas that can help me and disregarding those that don't. No direct advice is ever given as to what to do about a particular situation. Instead, the reader is directed to turn to a "higher power" for help when confusion, depression, rage or other problems set in. This higher power is self-defined. In conjunction with the Al-Anon meetings, this book helps me change my life for the better, one day at a time, primarily by improving my own attitudes and behavior. I would recommend this book to everyone.

I purchased this book for myself as I have met the author. It was fantastic so I purchased a copy for my sister who is going through her own recovery. Although my sister doesn't have children as this author does, there is so much in this book that hits home and is real that I believe it to be a great support system for recovering addicts and their family and friends.

This book makes you want to dig deep and find out who you really are.
It's a good read for anyone doing a little sole searching or great for recovery.

Very user friendly. A comprehensive, concise reference that is easy to read and understand. An essential part of the OSV reference series.

As a history Student at a secular University, this is a decent book to begin to get direction for research. It is well written and easy to read.

If you're looking for a good reference book for Catholic history, this is it! But beware this isn't a substitute for the Catholic Encyclopedia by a long shot. Bunson pacts in an fantastic amount of info into the 900 pages, and it's a great addition to any person library or Catechism class.

This very impressive book has a message that all Latter-Day-Saint (LDS) chruch members should read. In fact, since almost everyone has an addict family member or friend, everyone should read it. I was impressed how Phil S. could fall so far, from a chruch leder and seminary teacher to an alcoholic who lost everything. Phil S. tells a day by day account of his struggle to overcome his addiction, and how LDS chruch members treated him. It gave me a new perspective on my alcoholic family members.The book explains the best way to help an addicted family member or friend. This book is a great resource for LDS leaders, pastors, and priests to help their members over come addiction. I give the book five stars.

As a person raised in the LDS church and one suffering from addictions I read this book cover to cover in a very short time. It is awe-inspiring to find that the author fell so far so fast. He was raised in the church in southern Utah, called to war in Viet Nam, graduated from BYU, became an LDS seminary teacher, a husband and a father. During much of this time, as well as after--he used alcohol heavily. His first marriage fell apart, he was drawn into such depravity as theft, adultery, and homelessness. Unless seen through the eyes of an addict/alcoholic, this may be hard to visualize. The remarkable thing about this book--he did recover. And anyone with similar demons haunting their life can as well. This book is well written, and from the heart. I highly recommend it.

This book fits right in my pocket and when I feel a little shaky about keeping clean and sober I just take it out and read the meditation for that day and hour. I'm always surprised about how many times it hits the nail on the head and I go on with my day clean and sober!!!

From John Howard Prin, author of STOLEN HOURS: Breaking Free From Secret Addictions, Syren Books, 2004

This dandy tool belongs in every recovering addict's pocket. I consider it a tool because for anyone who was once captive to addictive urges its small size contains huge pay-offs -- it serves the person seeking sobriety as a combination daily devotional/day planner. Regardless of what time of day or night (or week or month), the POCKET SPONSOR provides pithy advice.

It is divided into 24 brief paragraphs-with-sayings for every hour of each day, Day 1 through Day 31. Like one's sponsor in an AA or other 12-Step group, it provides the guidance and encouragement in writing that the sponsor would usually provide in conversation. Designed as a basic 24/7 form of support, it allows the beginner, or those beginning again, to carry a little bit of the fellowship from their 12-step meetings with them wherever they go.

As a professional counselor and recovering individual myself, I agree with the author when she says, "Anytime during the day that you feel uneasy, find the day and hour and read your message...Again and again, you will discover new passages that are exactly what you need at that moment."

If you have lived your life in the adult world for any period of time, it's time you read this book. Take a look at your emotions and relationships from a new perspective! This book gives us insight into why we behave the way we do, and then suggests ways to integrate ourselves into a broader perspective that allows us to change those things that are making us unhappy.

I sent this book to relatives in the US and abroad, and I know that it is providing us all with great information to help us heal our lives and move beyond real unhappiness and discontent.

It's a psychology book, and is not a quick read. But it makes a lot of sense and pushes you along. The references to other work are helpful and useful as well.

Good reading!

Jonh Firman's "The Primal Wound" (with help from partner Ann Gila), is definitely not just another self-help book. It is the book to read if you want to understand the deep dynamics of growing up and the wounds or the primal wound that you carry.Using the wonderfully post-Jungian model of Psychosynthesis, Firman details in clear and simple language the development of wounds and how they create a survival personality that is different from one's authentic personality. The book is a gem, full of ideas from amny sources. The integration of them will cause transpersonal theorists to take a closer look at what psychosythesis theory has to offer.This book shows that it has a lot to offer because it is integrative and synthesizing in nature. This dynamic is part of the structure of Psychosynthesis and Firman's book proves that we haven't heard the last of him. There is a wealth of material here and wisdom as powerful as it gets.