Alcoholism Books

The profound honesty and humility Dr. Herten expressed in his book, An Uncommon Drunk, has a power all of its own. Just to read it is an uplifting experience, for it takes great courage to reveal such information on a personal level. Each individual body has its own way of processing the physiological effects of any substance and what Dr. Herten knew was that he was not at his best when using alcohol. He did not achieve at the educational and professional level without effort. An Uncommon Drunk is one more example of Dr. Herten's desire to do his best. Bravo!

I thought this book had a lot of good information on the health consequences of drinking alcohol. However, I would hardly call the Doctor an alcoholic - 2-4 beers a day, 6 days a week?? I would consider this a habit, not so different than eating dessert 6 times a week. Anyone who can eliminate withdrawal symptoms by eating a few carrots or drinking a glass of milk, is most certainly not addicted to alcohol.

I'm glad I read the book. The stories were interesting and I learned a lot, but I resent the fact that he makes it seem like quitting was so easy, anyone can do it - just eat your carrots and say a few prayers and God will send the withdrawal and craving away.

What a great tool this is for helping you to decide whether or not you have a problem with alcohol. Alcoholism is a cunning, baffling and powerful disease, and the only one that tells you you don't have it! Because it can be so difficult to diagnose, it is very helpful to have books like these that can share a story and experience that you may relate to. Bottom line is that not all alcoholics have lost everything and are living in the gutter. They may be living in the house next to you driving that new car, or they could be your boss. Or they could be you. Great book to help you find out.

Michael Z, Author The Wisdom of the Rooms A Year of Weekly Reflections

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/06)

The author, Dr. Jeff Herten, writes "An Uncommon Drunk" from two main perspectives. The first is based upon his own experience as a functioning alcoholic. The second is based upon his experience and knowledge as a medical doctor. The amount of medical information that he provides about the damage that alcohol causes to our bodies is incredible. I have a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and I learned more in this book about the physiologically damaging effects of alcohol than I did during my entire program. The alcohol industry does a lot to make alcohol appear benign, but really it is a dangerous poison for our bodies.

His experience as a functioning alcoholic is scary. He indicates that there are a lot more functioning alcoholics operating in our community than we realize. These people might be medical doctors or corporate leaders. They are in positions that put us at risk. He also notes that a functioning alcoholic can easily switch into a non-functioning alcoholic role. I personally witnessed this when the President of a community hospital system in central California made the transition from being an administrator into being a homeless vagrant.

In addition to sharing his own personal experience with alcoholism, Herten also writes about other peoples experiences. It is really sad how many lives have been damaged and destroyed from addiction to this substance. Alcoholism doesn't just affect the abusers life, but also the lives of those around him. These people include spouses, children, employees, and innocent bystanders. It is really an insidious problem.

The information that I gained from reading this book really opened my eyes about an intervention that I needed to do with a functioning alcoholic that is close to me. If I carry this knowledge in me, and don't tell this person what I learned about the health problems that he has coming his way, then I continue to enable him. At 4:30am, after I caught him finishing up a Bloody Mary, I started talking about how his health problems and weight problems are being contributed to by the incredible amount of alcohol that he is consuming. Unfortunately, the response that I got was a question about what alcohol has fewer calories. I will keep referring to this book for more information to help me wake him up. He needs to realize that if you are grossly obese and can see your liver, you have a problem.

"An Uncommon Drunk" should be read by alcoholics, their families, substance abuse counselors, doctors, future parents, and students. I can't imagine anyone that would not benefit from this book, except cultures that do not drink. A person in denial would definitely have a harder time staying in denial after reading this story. A functioning alcoholic is a person that drinks frequently, yet still seems to have a good life. It is easier for a functioning alcoholic to be in denial, than non-functioning alcoholic. After they read this book, it won't be so easy.

I have struggled with the question of whether I have had a drinking problem for the past several years, and if so, to what extent. After all, I don't wake up in the morning and reach for a hair of the dog that bit me. I've never missed work, never been stopped for drinking and driving (although that was sheer luck at times), and never beat up on my wife or kids in a drunken rage. The problem is, we have all been fed this extreme portrait of what makes an alcoholic, and it makes it all to easy for many of us to deny that we have a problem. Deep down inside, though, we know that we are addicted to our daily dose of liquor - no matter how small, or whether it comes in the seemingly inoccuous form of beer, wine, or the hard stuff. Then again, there are so many reports that come out every so often, touting the benefits of having just the right amount of booze on a daily basis. Here's the real skinny: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF BOOZE ON A DAILY BASIS!!!

The truth is, there are many of us who aren't necessarily born to be hard wired drunks, but we fall into a daily drinking habit through learned social patterns. It sneaks up on us, and our inner voices deceive us when we try to stop. This book is refreshing, because it talks to those of us in this boat, and I was certainly one of them. For fourteen years, I hardly ever went a day without drinking several glasses of wine, at a bare minimum. I woke up nearly every day hung over to at least a certain extent, but found myself reaching for a drink again the minute I got home from work. I've successfully held a job all these years, but very little otherwise got accomplished in my life.

The bare honest truth is, alcohol diminishes the human spirit. There are some of us who can function better while drunk or intoxicated than others, but we all eventually succumb to its effects - and usually recognize it only when it's too late.

By exposing this truth and helping me to see the symptoms of my own addiction, this book has convinced me to get sober. It's been nearly 3 months since I've had a drink. I wake up feeling the best I have in years, and I'm a hundred percent sharper and more productive at work. I'm more engaged with my kids, and I stay up late at night getting things done at home that I never would have imagined doing before. Like the author, I haven't yet attended an AA meeting. I'm not sure that AA is for everyone, although I can relate to those who feel that they need to go there for support and guidance. For me, reading this book was enough. I guess I'm an "uncommon drunk" myself.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. I also recommend Pete Hamils' "A Drinking Life."

I wish I had the guts to write an essay to get into college like Will's. The book was a page turner with gripping characters and an engaging plot. I am begging the author for a sequel.

I've often heard that books can be made or destroyed in the editing. In my opinion, "The After Life" is one of those books. There is a talented writer at work here--I just felt the book's structure made it drag. For that I have to look to an editor asleep at the wheel.

Will has never met his father. Through a bizarre chain of events, and through his wealthy father's influence, Will finds himself enrolled in the same prep school attended by the twin half-siblings he's never seen--Liz and Kyle.

When Kyle's father dies from a overdose the night after meeting Will for the first time, the three teens are summoned to Florida for their father's funeral and will reading. A bizarre condition of Will's (surprise) two-million dollar inheritance is that Will drive his father's Volvo back to NYC within two days in order to collect his money.

Since Will has no driver's license (and honestly, is always too stoned to drive anyway), his manipulative half-brother offers to drive the three of them to NYC so that he can make sure that Will doesn't make off with more than two million dollars.

The fact that this title packs such an unforgettable, hilarious and unique first chapter, and promises an unforgettable road trip on its back cover copy may not have done the story this author really wanted to tell any favors.

The combined expectation of a structure that failed to live up to the explosive first pages and the promise of a ROAD TRIP!!!! made the pages between the end of chapter 1, and the middle of the book (when the road trip became inevitable)feel like an information dump.

This is a a title that could have used some careful structural editing. This is a story that should have been brilliant. Sadly, by page fifty I was begging the main characters to sober up, do something to make them feel redeemable, and get on with the road trip promised on the back cover.

"The After Life" is truly worth a read, and is worth the cover price for the first chapter alone. Just don't expect an action story and avoid giving it to any child under the age of seventeen.

Had this title come billed as twenty-something literary fiction, I'd have afforded it one more star. My thirteen-year old daughter found it located in the YA section of my book store--another publisher error in judgement that I feel harmed this book's marketing potential, and cost it what would have been a near-four-star rating.

Fortunately, I read it first.

I read this book in two sittings. It's a novel both of fascinating characters and of true suspense - who are these three people, this pair of twins and their half-brother? What's going to happen to their father's big fortune? I couldn't wait to find out.
And although the subjects are weighty (death, addiction, family, love, crazy mothers, crazy fathers), the writing is hilarious.

It does have "mature themes" -- drinking, talk of drugs, lots of sexual tension -- in case you're thinking of buying it for your eight-year-old niece who is a very precocious reader.

You should buy this book for the first chapter alone. It is without a doubt the best opening scene for a novel I've read in quite some time. What Daniel Ehrenhaft pulls off in those pages is a masterfully funny and surprisingly moving episode that sheds light on the screwed up but sympathetic life of his main character, Will Shepherd. All of the characters in the book are well-crafted and the space that they inhabit is at once familiar, yet unique. I couldn't put the book down since I so enjoyed the dialogue, the dilemmas and the insanity of the relationships. It's a compulsively readable and hilarious book that is totally worth a read.

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. It's one of the best novels I've read in quite a while. The characters are engaging, the themes are provocative, and the plot moves forward at an enjoyable clip. I very highly recommend this one, for adults of all ages.

I think books like this are a great idea, especially for teens. But in my humble opinion, combining important issues that teens deal with like sex, drugs, and divorce with "god" is a mistake.

Let the facts and the issues stand on their own merit...trying to throw "god" into the mix just makes already tough issues even more confusing for teens to sort out.

As a teenager, I think a lot of books for kids today are sort of stupid. Like, they always talk to us like they're talking to our parents too. This book, BUZZ, talks directly to us--and I like that. The author lets us figure stuff out for ourselves, he doesn't cram it down our throats. It's respectful. In case you didn't know, this book is part a whole series of books (called FlipSwitch) on topics like drugs and alcohol, sex, divorce and self-image. Not all the issues might apply to you, but usually you have friends that are going through this stuff.

I can't recommend Marcus Brotherton's BUZZ and HEAT enough to young people. Recently in our youth ministry we passed out a number of these books to a group of high school students. They couldn't put them down. It's obvious that the truth and style in which these books are written are highly relevant to youth today. They're edgy. Highly entertaining. Short enough for anyone to read. They are NOT preachy. Most of all they are thought provoking. Marcus has done an amazing job of raising serious questions and answers to serious issues. I highly recommend getting a handful of these books and passing them out to any youth that you know. They will read them. And better yet, they'll deeply consider the truth presented there.

Having worked with youth for over two decades, I'm grateful when a book hits where a teen lives in a relevant way. BUZZ strips away the hype to get real about what drugs and alcohol really do in the live of any person. It offers an alternative message that teens will not only "get", but be able to live.

Suzanne Eller, author and speaker to teens
Real Teen Faith

Captivating the interest of teenagers and reaching them in a deep way is not an easy task. Many authors have tried and it is my opinion that Marcus Brotherton has accomplished this task with this book, Buzz. Brotherton's radical magazine-like style is challenging, creative, educational and entertaining. Buzz delivers a Christ-centered message about substance abuse in a modern thought provoking way. The style of the book keeps you engaged and looking for more. With stylish pages and a dynamic style, this book will keep teens reading and thinking. Buzz is not too long and the content is to the point and uses a language that teens can relate to. It is clear that Marcus Brotherton has spent extensive time with teens in youth ministry and understands the intricacies of the challenges and temptations that teens face on a daily basis. Brotherton says it like it is - there is no dancing around the issues and the facts in this book. He understands how teens think and helps them to come to discover how they think as well. If you know a teen or young person who is, or might be, struggling with substance abuse like alcohol or drugs, do them a favor and give them this book.

A Very Special Book. Too bad there's not currently a photo on Amazon! This is a picture tale about a cat with twenty captioned black and white photos that relate the story of a kitten. The story reflects the behavior and feelings of many alcoholics. The photos are warm, and sometimes a little sad (but not depressing), as the cat finds himself in rough places (when he is drinking too much) - But on the last photo, you see him go into an AA meeting door and it's warm and wonderful. Especially with that last photo, this book can make you smile and give you chills at the same time. A spectacular little gift to anyone in The Program that tells a great tale without being preachy. It would be suitable for children, but the deeper message makes it great for teens and adults also. A great gift for a sobriety anniversary!

A perfect gift for potential "Friends of Bill W." Newcomers and Oldtimers already in recovery will also appreciate this allegory on the subject of problem drinking. The message is clear, yet tastefully delivered with an abundance of feline images.

Its just a cute whimsical boo

for anyone who is or has known an alcoholic, this is the simplest, yet most profoundly honest portrayal of the disease. it is a sensitive, bittersweet eye-opener. it will illuminate you.

This book is an absolutely delightful and sensitive story about a cat who becomes addicted to drinking (including bathtub water and, at its depths, toilet water). The pictures are incredibly cute, but the message is certainly conveyed that substance abuse not only harms the abuser but also others; however, help can certainly be found.

This book inspires and encourages continued recovery. Highly recommended for those directly and indirectly involved with recovery.

Dear K, I love the book and I'm so glad you were published in it because otherwise I might not have read it. After 18 years of sobriety, I'm still inspired by an individual's story of addiction, the necessary desperation that leads to the first step, and their journey to recovery. Although it's the kind of book I might reread, when I'm finished I'll probably pass it on to someone that I think needs to read it and hope it keeps getting passed along until it's worn out. This book won't go out of style. PAP

I think you can't go wrong with this book. The stories are encouraging and uplifting which is what someone in recovery needs, in my opinion. I've even highlighted pages so that I can go back and re-read what really spoke to me. I'd recommend buying this book in heartbeat.

What a wonderful collection of inspiring pieces from a broad section of the recovering community. Each story offers a glimpse at the challenges faced and how individuals reclaimed what was rightfully theirs - health, happiness and hope. I'd recommend it for anyone entering recovery as well as those who are already living a recovering lifestyle.

The Chicken Soup books have been a good read in the past. This one seemed to be the perfect Christmas gift for friends in recovery, so I purchased three copies (there were no reviews to assist my decision.) After reading some of the book, I quickly became disappointed. The stories seem to lack substance or the inspiration experienced in other Chicken Soup books. The stories described difficult events, but no insight as to how the individuals came to find peace and serenity. Basically it was, "I had this situation, and now I don't." In the future, I will wait until there are reviews to guide my purchases.

I really liked this book because it showed you how two very different people tryed to help each other and in the end loved each other. The Characters are hyserical and fun each with there own personality and flaws like any other i have read about. The only part I did not like about this book is at the end when you never find out if Della stars in the play or if she leaves. I have a feeling she doesnt leave but then David talks about writing another play, I'm thinking why can't we get through the first one. The book, other than than, was one of my favorites because I never knew if Della was telling the truth about Al, Ed, or her Baby, and it was really intersting when David would go and try to find her. Della is a fabulous character she makes me try to be spontanious all the time!!!!

I must admit I didn't think I was going to like this book at first. I kept reading, however, and quickly changed my mind. Another permanent resident for my book shelf...

This book was a lot of fun but awfully unbelievable. David and Della are an interesting pair of characters (literally) and any reader looking for a fun, fast-paced read will enjoy this story.

Although Paul Zindel is a literary genius, this far surpassed my highest expectations. David and Della are fascinating people, although a bit unbelievable. The story is gripping (I finished it in one day) and, in its own way, suspenseful: as Della's past is brought to light, she begins to slowly make sense, a great tactic. This is a book I will read many times.

I agree with the reader from Chicago; D&D is an entertaining, daring effort by Zindel, who never ceases to amaze me with his unique angles on teen angst and the like. It is so refreshing to see something other than the usual boy-meets-girl and they fall in love garb. David and Della are interesting, vividly drawn characters, and though this story would probably never happen in reality, well, who needs reality in a decent novel? And besides, maybe it does happen in NYC...I'm from London; what would I know? Anyway, if you're 12 or over, try and read it.

I'm a Bible student and belong to a Bible fellowship. I'm familiar with alcoholics, alcoholism, and A.A. from several viewpoints. And I've attended A.A. meetings. Though it is little if ever discussed in today's meetings, the Bible springs to your attention. You hear the Lord's Prayer recited at the close of most meetings. You hear Bible expressions like Thy will be done; love thy neighbor as thyself; faith without works is dead, Creator, Maker, Father, Spirit. Then you see them in A.A.'s basic text--the Big Book. If you dip more deeply, you see Dr. Bob's last major address to AAs when he spoke of the absolutely essential importance of the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 to the early program. You find out that early AAs made a mandatory decision for Christ; they confessed faults in a manner covered by James 5:16; and there is talk of God's guidance. For this reason, this book has had great recognition. A police sergeant in Miami was using it to help alcoholics; and a former judge bought 12,000 copies to be distributed widely. Christian Book Distributors twice distributed large numbers. An oldtimer in Tennessee flew Dick to Nashville to tell people about the Bible roots; and he remarked that a copy of this book should be on every pastor's desk. A Roman Catholic priest who held a Ph.D. degree said the information helped fill the lacuna that existed as to A.A. history. Alcoholics Victorious and Overcomers Outreach, Inc. regularly featured the book at conventions and in catalogues. The faith-based NET Addiction Training Institute in Florida uses the book in its agenda. This has by all accounts made The Good Book and The Big Book the most popular and widely used A.A. history book that Dick B. has written. I distribute it as widely as I can. I give it away free to interested Christians. I support Dick's efforts to let alcoholics and addicts learn the Biblical roots and successes of early A.A.

There's a whole new rush to find out what early A.A.'s did with the Bible. I'm a Christian and a Bible student. And I'm delighted to see the trend. I've read Dick' book; and it think it meets the growing need for information that's been missing in 12 Step movements for many years now.

Buddhists have 4 noble truths based upon natural human suffering, being powerless over it, etc., and 8 paths to enlightenment that essentially say "you must change your life." AA historians are often people in the AA program, mostly who've been around for years, who collect old writings and documents, many of which were never kept very accurately in the early days of AA, and claim to know the "secret" of AA. But, given the 12 steps' strong correlation to Buddhists principles, maybe something Bill and Bob never got honest about was where they truly got the 12 steps from. After, all 4+8=12.

From the very beginning of his research as an active, recovered member of the A.A. fellowship, Dick had his eye on the Bible and its relationship to the fellowship he had joined. For a long time, he didn't see the relationship, nor hear about it. Then a young friend in our Bible fellowship, who was also an AA, told Dick there was information about the Bible roots in the A.A. book - DR BOB and the Good Oldtimers. Dick read it and then began his systematic, detailed, walk through the historical people and events the A.A. book had mentioned. Before he got to this title, he had examined Dr. Bob's library and found the thesis corroborated. Then he examined Anne Smith's Journal and found the same result. Then the Oxford Group and all of its books and verses that talked about the Bible. Then the real Akron story--The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous. And finally it was time to dive into the Bible itself and also the Big Book which contained A.A.'s basic text. And dive he did. He left no stone unturned to detail the many different ways in which A.A.'s Bible roots could be found embedded in its Big Book, Twelve Steps, Slogans, Traditions, and Fellowship. And because of this, the book became a favorite with Christians who wanted to know just how much the Bible had to do with A.A.. It also became a favorite with AAs who were beginning to wake up to the fact that a major part of their history had never before made it to the history books. The reasons are many. And six years ago, I tackled this book and briefly reviewed it. Meanwhile, it has gone through several editions, several printings, and thousands of hands. And it is the most important starting place today for a real understanding of what A.A. was before it became diluted through the ignorance of its current leaders as to the vital Biblical history and roots. Today, this book is part of Dick's 30 published titles, which includes 25 reference books that flesh out the picture, from many standpoints. I recommend this foundational book today with just as much enthusiasm as I did when I first heard of it and read it.

Every so often I find a literary treasure that bears reading more than once. This book by Dick B. is one of those books. I dug into it more times than I can remember, as I kept getting more out of it each time I opened it. This book made me into a sponge, soaking up everything within it. Not only are the words written the truth, but I found that the words enabled me to experience a more solid foundation for my own recovered existence. Trying to recover without this book is like trying to see yourself without a mirror- it is just as important to include this as essential reading. God gave us the Bible, Dr. Bob and Bill W. gave us the Big Book, and Dick B. has put it all together so we can be empowered through both. I include this as required reading for my sponsees, as it is vital they get this information so they can achieve a happy and lasting sobriety.

Sincerely,

Rev. Stephen J. Murray, MCRC / NICD Director www.nicd.us

David gives an insightful look into the thoughts and prayers of a sad and lonely child. He takes the reader into the lonely world of his childhood and describes his feelings of abandonment and ridicule at the hands of the very adults who should love and protect him. He describes his compelling need to defend those who had betrayed him and left him on his own; and tells of his journey own through a rocky childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. As he writes the reader can truly witness his growth as an individual and as his own person.

David tugs at the heartstrings of all who read these pages. As a mother, he makes me want to scoop up the little boy and keep him safe. He brought tears to my eyes thinking of the lost feelings and insecurities he must have felt as a child. But as an adult he shows, through his writings, that he is overcoming his childhood and in the process gives hope to all.

I heard about this book on Howard Stern and it's very--NICE. It's POSSIBLY the CLEAREST book ever. I was best man at his wedding--despite the fact that he actually has a brother--at a charming little Italian Village. Some may say the book gets a litle "hot and crusty," but I say, "Listen, pal! He has a -- RIGHT -- to protest!" He reduces the issue of "Rory and the Hamburger" to a lovely Chinese meal; the most difficult problems are no more than a "sweet breakfast" of the soul. He says don't cry over spilled milk--unless, of course, you're the one who spilled it, all over the table in a restaurant in New Hampshire. Again, the theme of New Hampshire: Most powerful are the book's tragicomic visions of a bufoonish man, running helplessly after a car, as he is mocked. Eventually, he throws a newspaper.

By way of a preface to "the healing Pages;" we should all remember that we are all interested in the future...for that is where you and I will spend the REST OF OUR LIVES. What do I mean by that -- and; less importantly; what does that have to do with The healing "Pages"? Glad you aksed. The future -- not the Passed, rather, "THE past," but The future-is where, after all, you And i are going to spend what? Why, the rest of Our Lives. And that's what David Dex's eksellent book is trying to say: The Future is Where YOU AND I are Going To Spend The Rest of -- OUR LVES. And "The Future" is no place for goats! Not in the Jooish Testament sense of "scaped goats" -- "scapegoats," get it? But "Goats" -- the "scapegoats" (see explanaytion) of their families, if you will -- or even if you won't -- have come a long way, baby! I think that's what Dayvd Deks is triing to say. GOATS BE FRE! and; GOATBOYS -- there human counter=parts!!! -- be FREE! Daddy wood you like sum sausage?! PLEASE?!

This book is a telling compiliation of thoughts, dreams, and nightmares, shared in a most compelling manner. David describes his state of mind at the time of the poem or short story he's included, which gives a close personal insight.

It provides insights into the dark corners of a man's mind. This isn't just for men who face the struggles of adulthood. Wives can see their husbands' suffering. Children can understand their father's struggles.

I would be remiss if I didn't confess that while I've known the author for two years. I know him far better, and feel an even stronger bond now, for I too am a "Fatherless Son".

David shares some of the most personal and painful feelings a man can have, and is unabashedly open about his fears and joys, a lesson we all could use as an example.

I've seen his inner child skip through the airport at midnight with joy that he'd gotten home to his family; and I've seen him buried deep in quiet thoughts. I've seen a kindred spirit, and am priviledged and proud to say I count him as a friend. . .in spirit, my brother.

To use his own words from the book. . ."Given a promise, the man, walked onward. Greatness awaits him."

Coming from an alcoholic family myself, I felt that the poems, stories, etc. in this wonderful little book were taken straight from my own heart. I carry the book with me wherever I go and whenever I feel depressed, I take it out and read one of my favorite passages.

The author is clearly in touch with his feelings. He is much further along on the road to recovery than I am, although I am well on my way also, partly in thanks to his inspiration.

I recommend this very brave and soul-bearing masterpiece for anyone who seeks to improve their life: narcotics, alcoholics anonymous, or anyone with weight issues, anorexia and general depression.

For anyone caught in the struggles of alcoholism and/or drug addiction, this is a good book for you. I fell in love with the addict in this book, Steve Campbell, because Roper made him so real. I could relate to almost every thought he had or suffered through. It may be a "novel" but the information is true, heartfelt and touching. If you're in recovery, thinking about recovery or hungover and crying with a life of unmanageable proportions, read this book and find your courage within as Mr. Campbell did. You're worth it!

I really enjoyed beginning to read this book. It was very informative and made smooth easy reading. However, evidently some other drunk needed to read it more than me and stole my damn book. Will have to order another one because it is definitely worth finishing!

A good read!
Recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject matter.

If you poke around in the introduction, you'll find that this book, all 464 pages, actually started out as a case study. More accurately, Roper is used to writing case studies about his mostly alcoholic an addicted clients, and his academic background shows through, which can make for heavy going.

What it shows, however, is what it's like to be a high bottom drunk - someone who hasn't lost all before they begin recovery. All the muddled thinking is there - all the rationalizations - all the self-pity along the choppy road to success. What it lacks is the tension and plotting I, at least, have come to expect from a book labeled 'novel.' Instead we have the rambling story of Steve, our drunk, coupled with Roper's rather heavy prose.

Steve's difficulty with some Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and love of other AA groups will be recognizable to anyone who has attending such meetings - and this too is worth knowing. But, and this is important, High Bottom Drunk gives an accurate and complete picture of what actually goes on in the head of a young man struggling with sobriety.

As a woman, I found this fascinating and sometimes discouraging, but worth wading through.

I also suspect any non-addict trying to understand an addict would benefit from reading this - if not every word, than scanning.

Of course, anyone who is going through the same struggle will be relieved to find they are not alone - and that's worthwhile too.

Dr. Roper has not only thoroughly covered the subject, as the expert that he is, but he has made it effortlessly readable for everyone. Reading and learning about alcoholism and addiction has never been easier. With no text book jargon to wade through, this is an insiders view for everyone.

This is a great history of the beginnings of A.A. and of the struggles of Dr. Bob to find a credible medical facility to help in the physical and spiritual recovery of alcoholics. Sr. Ignatia is one more non-alcoholic, like Dr. Silkworth and Fr. Ed Dowling, who serve at a pivotal point in the A.A. story. The author helps us see in Sr. Ignatia's own spiritual and personal biography how uniquely prepared and how providentially generous she was to be able to facilitate Dr. Bob's and A.A.'s program at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio. I was intrigued with the seriousness that Sr. Ignatia, the doctors at St. Thomas and the Sisters of Charity in recognizing and attending to the underlying spiritual dimension of alcoholism. They were not the only ones to do this, as the book relates, but they helped bridge the moral/clinical gap that so many professionals and others, then as today, refuse(d) to accept.
I found Sr. Ignatia's life journey very instructive. She was a very diligent teacher of music, professional, and in a sense driven. She had her Waterloo experience in a near nervous breakdown. The doctor asked her if she wanted to be a dead music teacher or a live nun? Thence, began her service as Admissions Director at St. Thomas. She had learned first hand that living life involved ups and downs and that a "mysterious-to-us-at-times" Providence, Power Greater Than Ourselves, God would lead when we were ready to surrender. Living in that awareness allows one to take risks for the good. The story of Sr. Ignatia, Dr. Bob and early A.A. in Akron and Cleveland is a story of risk and fulfillment.

In the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, the recovery rate was about seventy five per cent. Today, the recovery rate is less than one per cent. In the early days of AA, 1935 to 1945, the founders of AA (Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob Smith and Sister Ignatia) operated under the concept that alcoholism was the indication of a spiritual illness. You first took away the alcohol, let the patient go through the withdrawal, and then they trained the alcoholic to be a spiritual person, both by learning to pray, (any religion would do) and then to pass your victory on to other suffering alcoholics. As AA grew, it began to be accepted in government run hospitals. And anything to do with the government has to have nothing to do with religion. So they began to treat alcoholics with psychiatry and downplayed the religious angle, hence the much lower recovery rate. Groups that use religion to treat alcoholics, like Teen Challenge, have an 80% recovery rate. When Sister Ignatia was helping to steer the recovery boat, along with Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob and the assent to Grace, recovery from alcoholism was possible for the first time on this planet. The other influence working against AA's religious methods was the birth, in the late 50's, of political correctness which fears surrender to religion (of ALL kinds) Reading this book about Sr. Ignatia has strenghthened my spirituality in AA. I just celebrated fourteen years sober.

For eighteen years now, I have been researching, analyzing, and pulling together all of the wellsprings of A.A. My area of focus and such expertise as I have concerns the original A.A. program in Akron which derived primarily from the United Christian Endeavor Movement of Dr. Bob's youth in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The Akron program was summarized by Frank Amos in his report to John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1938; and its ingredients are a dead ringer for the techniques of the Salvation Army, the Rescue Missions, the principles and practices of Christian Endeavor, and several of the Oxford Group life-changing ideas. But early Akron A.A. was a unit unto itself. On the East Coast, Bill Wilson was formulating his ideas for recovery from the conversion thesis of Dr. Carl Jung, his own conversion at the altar at Calvary Rescue Mission, Ebby Thacher's prior conversion there, and Bill's study of the monumental coverage of such conversion experiences by Professor William James. There is much more, and it is discussed in my latest title The Conversion of Bill W. And later, after the Akron program had earned its spurs as a Christian Fellowship, Wilson was commissioned to write a text which was supposed to describe the original program and flesh it out with testimonials by those who participated. Instead, Bill drew on all the sources in the East, plus some newcomer ideas from Richard Peabody, Sam Shoemaker, Dr. Silkworth, and New Thought writers. Out of this came the Big Book, published in 1939, and very much based on the teachings of Rev. Sam Shoemaker of Calvary Episcopal Church. But Bill left out the rich Akron roots including the Bible, Quiet Time, Anne Smith's teaching and her journal, the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13, and the devotionals like the Upper Room, the books AAs studied such as Drummond's The Greatest Thing in the World, plus what Bill was later to call the "doctrines and dogma" of the missions. The end results of the Wilson pen were a Big Book and Twelve Steps which neither resembled the Akron program nor the conversion picture painted so clearly for Bill by Jung, Hazard, Thacher, Silkworth, James, and even Shoemaker. Because of this jumble, I have spent most of my research time and 31 published titles covering the materials that were left out, are virtually unknown today, and yet produced the astonishing 75% success rate in Akron and the 93% rate in Cleveland.
Meanwhile, author Mary Darrah had been working up her materials on Sister Ignatia of St. Thomas Hospital in Akron. For me, the material seemed at first to be irrelevant to my work on the earliest A.A. But, from the beginning, I noticed the very important pieces of Akron history that Darrah had unearthed and placed in the Ignatia book. I appreciate them even more today. These included: (1) Specific mention of Anne Smith's Journal and its relevance to the Twelve Steps later penned by Wilson. (2) Her delightful phrase that Anne Smith served God and Scripture daily to those who supped at the Smith home each morning. (3) Her highlighting of the close relationship between Ignatia and Dr. Bob's wife Anne. (4) Her providing Ignatia's materials on hospitalization and recovery. While Darrah's history pertained to the period which began after the Big Book was published in 1939 (though Mary tries to make it otherwise), she seemed to grasp the importance of the all-but-forgotten history of Akron A.A. itself. She overrates Ignatia's part in the "founding," but she brings to light one of the major factors that branched forward in Akron during Bill's twelve or so years of major depression. For, in post-big book days, while Bill was suffering from immobilizing depression, it was the work of Clarence Snyder in Cleveland, Dr. Bob and Anne and Ignatia in Akron, Richmond Walker's writings, Father Pfau's writings, Ed Webster's writings, and the materials from local groups that changed the face of A.A. yet allowed it continued growth. By all accounts, Ignatia's contributions in this period were enormous. And I believe that if one looks at the very unusual AA of Akron pamphlets that were written by Evan W., commissioned by Dr. Bob, and circulated from the 1940's to this day, you can see that there was a hearty ember of Bible, Christianity, and devotional practices that was fanned and kept glowing during New York's dark years. And if you look at the original Akron program (1935-1938), the sources of that program, the surviving details as outlined in DR. BOB and The Good Oldtimers, the program at St. Thomas Hospital as spelled out by Darrah, and the Akron pamphlets, you can see a deeply religious foundation in the A.A. program which no one seemed to understand any better than Sister Ignatia. My recommendation? Look at A.A. from a chronological standpoint--not the tired and erroneous timelines still being circulated. Look at the Akron beginnings in Vermont and the program that emerged and produced the pioneer 40 in Akron and their cures. Look then at the beginnings in the East Coast and the original emphasis by Bill on conversion--sparked probably by his own grandfather Willie's conversion and healing of alcoholism. Then look at the Big Book program and Twelve Steps that Bill fashioned in 1938 and 1939 largely from the Oxford Group teachings of Rev. Sam Shoemaker. At that point, you have three major legs of our history. Then came Bill's long devastating depression, the new ideas and writings that sprang into being, coupled with Clarence Snyder's consistent championing of the Big Book, the Steps, the Bible, and the Four Absolutes and Ignatia's priceless work with beginners that did not diminish or detract from the Christian principles and Bible roots and did produce worthy results. The Darrah book is very valuable if one wishes to see the biography of A.A. from 1934 through 1955 when major and substantially different changes were placed in cement with A.A. Comes of Age, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and the St. Louis Convention. Good for Mary. See a summary of the foregoing picture, including Darrah's findings, Ignatia's role, the St. Thomas story, and the important Akron picture in the 1940's in my title Real Twelve Step Fellowship History. Dick B.

Mary Darrah deserves credit for tackling the biography of a tremendously overlooked personality from AA's past. The story of the little Nun is covered in detail. Darrah does a good job of getting the facts down.

However, this book suffers from stilted language and poor organization. The narrative conveys no passion or excitment, something I'm sure the writer must have possesed in order to cover such an obscure figure as Sister Ignatia. The chapters are not organizaed well and do not flow evenly into each other.
IT almost has the feel of one of those bad textbooks you had in high school.

However, it's still worth laying out the money for this book if you're desiring a better understanding of AA history.

Mary Darrah's book on Sr. Ignatia is an excellent historical document for all to read whether or not they are in recovery from alcohol or other drugs. This book is an accurate historical account of both the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the life of a compassionate yet tough woman.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the truth about AA history. It is interesting, informative and enlightening.

Mitchell K. (Author of HOW IT WORKED, The Story of Clarence H. Snyder and the Early Days of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio)