Alcoholism Books

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This book is excellent for marriages when one of the partners is an alcoholic; it is also good for codependent marriages in general. Much of the book would apply to marriages where a partner is abusive, even if not alcoholic. The advice and illustrations are hands-on and useful. The book is about a hundred pages and very dated; however, the information is still valuable and well worth the price.

I have my copy highlighted throughout. Here is a sample quote:
"To see this situation realistically, she would have to understand how desperately the guilt-tormented alcoholic needs such weapons to bolster his own ego. When he uses these weapons to attack, it is not because he hates his wife but because he hates himself and needs to reassure himself that he is not all bad. He finds fault with the person nearest to him because it makes it a little easier for him to tolerate himself."

This book is a useful support to the spouse of an alcoholic, reflecting the Al-Anon philosophy and general good common sense, which is sometimes overlooked by the partner in the throes of chaos generated by living with an alcoholic/abusive partner. Highly recommended.
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This is one of my favorite books....I think it really helps keep the focus on me. I blamed the alcoholic for my problems for so many years...I find with this book it helps me to see and accept my part in the disease and I am finally able to work on it. I like some of the candid stories and I find that no matter where I am in recovery...relationships are hard, especially when I never knew what a healthy one was until now. This is great reading......and another important piece of conference approved literature for Al Anon recovery.

The book has good general information about the affects of different drugs on the brain and body, and attempts to address some of the social controversies surrounding various drugs. I wish it had more information on the history of drug legislation in the US and the sociocultural context of those decisions.

I use this text in my undergraduate course 'Drugs and HumanBehavior' at USC. The students like it. The pictures are great. Everything's explained in clear language. The references are up to date, chapters are well organized, and the reviews are comprehensive.

I cant believe this book is out of print this is one of my favorite books. I reread it all the time. Clearie has to move to alaska to live with relatives she has never met she has many adventures including landing some creep in jail. i love this book.

The Eagle's Shadow is about a girl who goes to live in Alaska with her reletives for a year. Its a lot more than that but i dont wanna give away the book. I think this was a pretty good bookk so you guys should read it. PLEASE READ IT!! Nora Martin is a great author. Hey Nora please write some more books!!!

It contains fascinating side-lights upon the sub-Roman period in British history. There are obviously false stories about miracles mixed up with some verifiable facts, such as an eclipse of the sun that took place on May third, 664 at 4 o, clock in the afternoon.
Bede (like many religious teachers today) worried a lot about men's hair styles. British (i.e. Welsh) and Irish Christians had the wrong kind of haircut. He was also very concerned about the correct date of Easter, but he casually mentions an abbess who wanted to pass along the abbacy of her convent to her daughter. Men and women both lived in virginity in the monastery of Coldingham. The notes by McClure and Collins do not comment on these matters.
The translation is the Bernard Colgrave one. If you want a Latin text I think you have to get the Loeb edition - I couldn't find one on Project Gutenburg.

There are striking similarities between Bede's era (mid 700's) and our own. You would have figured that our "advanced" society would have learned from the past and not be caught up in a never ending repeat of past problems. Any number of passages in this book could be inserted as a lead story in a TV or newspaper report and I suspect no one would know the difference. If the New York Times was being published in the year 731, Bede would have been on the "Best Seller" list.

"Last Call" was a good read. It's a testimonial to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its power to guide alcoholics from the "hell" of their addiction to sobriety and spiritual rebirth through working the twelve steps. The author first details the history of the AA organization and its evolution to its ubiquitous presence around the globe. He then makes a scholarly argument for the "disease concept" and a genetic vulnerability for alcoholism. And finally, he gets to the heart of the matter, using descriptive vignettes of AA meetings and the narratives of AA members to give readers a glimpse into the workings of AA and the lives of those who people its meetings.
With a therapist's insight and empathic world view, Dr. Hedblom deftly weaves their stories with colorful figures of speech, humor, and the grit of real life. Anyone who drinks or worries about someone who drinks would gain a better understanding of alcoholism, alcoholics, and how they may be helped through AA through reading "Last Call".
I found the stories compelling, instructive, and very human - alternately eloquent, sad, funny, and touching. Dr. Hedblom is a gifted story teller, and I look forward to enjoying his next book.

The "Last Call" was a book difficult to get into. I would not recommend this book as a first book towards recovery of Alcoholism. However, after attending several meetings of AA and understanding a great deal more about the process of the meetings and recovery using the 12 step program, I would strongly recommend this book. With easy language to read from chapter 2 to the end, Mr. Hedblom explains the process of recovery involving all three: mind, body and spirit. By using stories from recovering alcoholics, the author has easily brought the reader to the understanding that recovery from this disease is more than the physical abstinence from alcohol.

The final chapter "The Road to a Life Well Lived: The Promises" is very well written. He writes "The Steps, in their inclusion in life, become more in 'Sum Total' than they are separately." "Each step is a part of a progression leading eventually to greater spiritual awareness." "It is...spirituality reflected in interaction with one's fellows based on honesty, kindness, and a sense of empathy. One has a sense of having made peace with one's self...." Further Mr. Jack Hedblom explores "The freedom that the Promises talk about... the freedom from the tyranny of alcohol and its attendant compulsions and miseries. It is happiness derived from a sense of self-worth...."

The author's departing words of wisdom: "As the Big Book says: We have ceased fighting anything or anyone -- even alcohol. And, finally, We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness."

As an alcoholic who became sober 26 years ago, I have found that the 12 step program has brought me to a greater awareness of the Spirit within and without and reflected in all of life that I have and will encounter. The Last Call...Alcoholism and Recovery reflects well the steps I took toward that healing of mind, body and Spirit ...and that I continue to do so, "One Day at a Time."

Kathleen

This is an important book by two well established researchers that discussuses different approaches to measure alcohol consumption and the effects of excessive drinking. A must for researchers, protocol developers and program managers.

This is an important book by two well established researchers that discussuses different approaches to measure alcohol consumption and the effects of excessive drinking. A must for researchers, protocol developers and program managers.

I was disappointed by this audiobook because it was too similar to the other two titles I have by this author. It does have some good affirmations for the first time listener, but I believe she could have added more substantial suggestions directed at those recovering from drugs and alcohol. As a counselor, I thought this might be something I'd like to use with my clients, but I don't think I will be.

I've been in recovery for 14 years, and try just about every resource I can, just to keep my healing journey fresh to myself. This tape is one of the finest I've heard. I agree with Melody Beattie - this imagery takes recovery to the next step, into the cellular level, and I would add, with deep and true psychological insight and rich spiritual support. I highly recommend it as a potent, effective adjunct to your 12 Step Program.

Before I read The Rustling of Leaves, I had a few preconceived notions of what this story would tell. I thought It would be another one of those same old "rags to riches" tales that are so often told among various people in recovery. I thought it would be the average run of the mill epics that are often predictable and lacking any real human experience that has been done time and time again. I was wrong.

Throughout the book, I found myself held captive by the honesty of Mr. Costanzo's situation. His battle with booze, the courts, the prisons and ulimately himself, was a reflection a man who had managed to survive through an incredable amount of pain and misery. He basicaly was in a place where he had no choice but to surrender to the people, places and events that led him to helplessness and a ten by fifteen foot cell in Folsom prison. He was locked up with nowhere to turn, except to his God and his wife. Thats when started to realized all the problems he caused himself and all of those around him were a direct result of his unwillingness to let go of his own will. That's when he finally stated his long spiritual path that led him to the love that he knows today. The message this reader received was hope. The way Costanzo outlined his understanding of the twelve steps his never ending relationship with God, was moving as well as entertaining. The most effective and lasting memory I have of this book is the timeless love story between Mr. Costanzo and his wife Ginger; it brought me to tears.

In my opinion, this book would not only be help for those who are in recovery, but to the average reader that's looking for a story that will bring hope to the hopeless, faith to the faithless and joy to the joyless.

This book is of interest because it reveals the obsession of the mind of a man that is a recovering alcoholic. In the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book there is a section that reveals that the "disease" of alcoholism and drug addiction is the obsessive "thought process" in the individual. Mr. Costanzo, by giving the readers his life experience of this phenomena, assist others who might find themselves becoming obsessed. This book was a joy to read. An exciting adventure into the mental and emotional process of a recovering alcoholic who moves away from "the program of Alcoholics Anonymous" and begins to "take his life back for himself," rather then depending on a Power Greater than himself. He travels back to emotional hell and comes back to warn us of the pitfalls. I think any person on a spiritual path would enjoy this book. Certainly anyone who is in recovery from either alcoholism or drug addiction would find the pages an eye-opener in regards to their own life in recovery... it uncovered some of my own difficulties in my recovery process.

In the book Skullcrack by Ben Bo it showed that no matter what nothing can come in the way of family not even a hurricane.
My book was about a boy who always knew he was missing something in his life but between being harassed by his drunken father and doing what he loved surfing he really had no time for anything else. One day a mystical man named Mr. Bones followed him home one night and gave him some insight into his future telling him he would meet a very special girl and that when he met adeadly hurricane would hit him and he told him to beware Edwin. One day Jonah's father takes his game a little to far and gets really drunk and really mad and he comes after Jonah and hits him. Jonah not knowing what he was doing or where he was going just takes off with no money or food or anything but he falls off of a cliff causing him to go into a coma. The next day Jonah's father goes to see jonah in the hospital and he talks to Jonah about how he is never going to touch another drop of alcohol again, but then he starts to talk about Jonah's sister who he had never told him about before and it wasn't only his sister it was his twin sister but he had to give her away when they were like one year old because he said he wouldn't be able to raise a girl with their mother being dead and all so he gave her to the adoption agency and he kept Jonah. Jonah's father then decides since Jonah is out of his coma that they can go and see sally (Jonah's twin sister) so they head out to the island that she is on but they here of hurricane on there way there and find out that they are evacuating everyone from the island by bus. Jonah decides not to go with his dad on the bus and he goes to his sisters house. He meets her at her house and at first they didn't believe that he was her brother, but then they figure it out right as the hurricane hits and they all survive it.
I thought this book was really dull and boring at first but after you get about half way through it it starts to unravel Jonah's problems in his life and he tries to solve them. Overall this book was very good, and it showed me no matter what you can always find what or who you are looking for.
In this book it showed courage, but most of all it showed that you just can't keep family apart.

CRAIG p.1

Skullcrack is a short novel about a teenage boy living in Ireland named Jonah. His father is an agressive alcoholic. Jonah loves to surf off a small inlet called Craxkull Point. There he starts seeing stange images of a girl in the swirling mists of the cove. I found this book interesting and fun to read because I like setting and the suspense. The ends of most of the chapters leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. This also makes you want to read more. The text contains a group of "demons" commenting on some of the current happenings. Even though his dad is a heavy drinker, he cares deeply about his son and suprises him by buying two tickets to America. What adventures will Jonah find in the US? Read this book, Skullcrack to find out.

Black, an addiction expert known for her work on the adult children of alcoholics (It Will Never Happen to Me), here shifts her focus to recovering parents, in turn addressing the needs of their children. Based on the sensible idea that parents struggling with addiction face unique challenges in fostering antidrug/alcohol attitudes, her latest book acknowledges the genetic component of addiction while stating that the process is not inevitable. Provided are useful tools for assessment (e.g., "the family tree") and remediation grounded in the 12-step program philosophy. Early chapters review current information on brain chemistry, generational vulnerability, and phenomena such as multiple addictions, tolerance levels, relapse, and blackouts. The emphasis then moves to straightforward and realistic advice about self-forgiveness, making amends for past behavior, and new ways of relating to loved ones. Personal stories drawn from five diverse families are used throughout; limited references are provided at the conclusion. This candid and hope-filled book merits strong consideration by large public libraries and specialized collections given the prevalence of some form of addictive behavior in families.

The description of this book states it's for parents "whether they sobered up last year or 15 years ago".
The introduction says it will address families whose children were not affected by the addiction as well as those who were. It doesn't.
I got this book in the hopes it would help me with whether and how to talk to my kids about my addiction. It didn't.
I've been clean and sober for 15 years now and it's time to talk to my preteen kids before they get into the same trouble I did. Unfortunately this book focuses only on parents whose kids have suffered due to their addictions and not at all on those whose addictions predate their kids.
It may be a good book for some, but it wasn't at all what I was looking for.