5 comments about Loving an Adult Child of an Alcoholic.

1. This book offers great insight into the common behaviors that ACOAs share. But its real value lies in the creative how-to tips that can help the spouse/significant other handle those unpredictable bumps that come with loving an ACOA. If you are committed to your ACOA and want to improve your relationship, this book can help.



2. This book is a must read for anyone in a relationship, not only with an ACOA but adult children from most disfuctional backgrounds. The pain that these adult children carry, the loneliness, anxiety, and fear that even they don't understand significantly effects intimacy and leads many of these relationships to end for all the wrong reasons. In most cases the adult child either doesn't realize how they are effected or won't share that with their significant other. This leaves the one in a relationship with an adult child unknowing of the troubles down deep inside their loved one. That's where this book comes in.Unfortunately, without the knowledge in this book (and books like it), good relationships end because the adult child wants out, thinking changing their circumstances will change how they feel but the only way to save not only the relationship, but themselves, is to look inside. The knowledge in this book will help both partners if they work hard and have faith that they can get through the stuggle they are going through....



3. I have a whole shelf full of literature about alcoholism, addiction and recovery. This book by the Beys is without a doubt one of the best I've read. They combine a deep knowledge of the issues surrounding partners of "ACOA"s (adult children of alcoholic parents) with common sense advice, homey little case histories and even a joke or two in the section explaining the value of humor.
   Although the book is aimed at ACOA partners, I think it's full of wise advice for ANYONE who understands that relationships thrive and grow because of WORK.
   One charming thing about it is that the Beys freely admit that they don't have all the answers, and have even been wrong in their evaluations and suggestions in the past. Although everyone knows no one is perfect, it's rare to see this sort of candor in a book of this type.
   I am hoping to get my partner to read this as well, as I think there's a lot that we can discuss from it.
   The only even slightly negative thing I would observe (and this is more a quibble than anything substantial) is that their writing style is a bit odd, with a strange avoidance of contractions and an aim at simplicity. It's almost as if it wasn't written by someone for whom English was their first language.
   That said, it's still very clearly written. Overall; extremely highly recommended.



4. I found this book to be the ultimate companion in my journey to understanding the impact of alcoholism on a child and how that is carried into adult hood. It has allowed me to become a more supportive partner and assisted in the emotional management of our relationship.



5. I bought this book to give to my husband. I was floored by how insightful it was. It was like someone followed me for a week and wrote a book on my behavior. It made me feel 100% better to know I'm not alone, there are reasons for some of my wacky behavior and there's hope to work through it.

4 comments about Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America.

1. This is one of the most comprehensive historical books on the history of addiction treatment and recovery I have read. Not just a history of Alcoholics Anonymous, it covers the cures, the fakes, the trials and tribulations of attempting to treat alcoholism and other drug addiction in America.

   It should be a "must read" for anyone interested in treatment and recovery. William L. White did a great service for the treatment field by writing this book




2. A very thorough account of the addiction field from it's first conception up the the conflicts in this area in the present day.
   This book contains an excellent historical context which is useful to many addictions professionals.



3. As a clinical person both in mental health and addiction medicine I can say without reservation that this is the most complete and interesting books on the topic. You won't be sorry you bought this one and will keep in you libray for life.



4. I'll bet not one person in a hundred who is employed in the addictions field has any idea of the history of their profession. This is a history book that is chock full of the befuddled efforts of millions of people who have tried almost everything to get sober. Carrie Nation, The Keeley Institute, Kellogg and his corn flakes, the gold IV injection treatment, and the use of methamphetimine right down to MADD... this book details a group of people who, on their own, tried to fight addiction and support each other in their sobriety. All this without the help of the government until recent times. A textbook, a whodunnit, an emotional journey through hell and out the other side This is the definitive history of addiction treatment attemps in the United States of America. How anyone can call themselves a therapist and not have an intimate knowledge of this material is beyond me. Three thumbs up!

5 comments about Getting Them Sober: You Can Help! (Getting Them Sober).

1. I started with Volume 1, and subsequently bought all 5 in Toby Rice Drews' series. I am two years past what I believe was my "rock bottom" as the wife of an alcoholic. I'm actually still married to him, he's still drinking, but the lessons of these books saved my sanity, fixed my own life, and the change in my behavior has visibly improved his. I know I gave his disease back to him by following these books. In fact, I read Volume 1 before I went to Al-Anon for awhile. In telling my stories of how I was handling incidents to the veteran Al-Anon folks, I could tell they were amazed and impressed at how I was handling my alcoholic. They were like "she's doing it perfectly but she's a newbie!" Well I was following Toby Rice Drews advice. It is a short easy read and will become your bible. Buy It!!!



2. This book is a Godsend for people living with an alcoholic. Truly it's amazing. While it may not fix your alcoholic, it will at least give you piece of mind. I started applying the principles in this book to my life, and to my immense joy and happiness, my alcoholic decided to go into rehab all on his own. You could have knocked me down with a feather. He has been sober now for almost 3 years. It's like a miracle. I even wrote Toby a letter and thanked her! I'm even teary-eyed just writing this review. Read this book, it will change your life!!!



3. When I first picked up "Getting Them Sober", I was utterly astounded and amazed. I called my sister excitedly to share. I read her excerpts. She said, "Oh my gosh, the author really knows him(meaning my alcoholic)." my sister said. Toby Rice Drews knew. This God given author knew my life. The insight was incredible it was an "aha" book. Somebody put into words and explained what I was going through, in lving with active alcoholism.
   
   Toby answered THE QUESTION. The question that I was too afraid, too hurt, too ashamed to ask...... There it was in black and white!....."If he runs off with another woman, does that mean he doesn't love me?" Whew, I felt so much better knowing that I wasn't the only one who had ever felt that way or asked that question. I was enlightened and relieved.
   I had also wondered, "Why am I so afraid he will leave?" "Why have I given him a million second chances?" "Why do I take him back?" Those questions and answers were there. I was able to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I grew. My life was transformed from that knowledge. I am very grateful for "Getting Them Sober."
   
   I own all five of the books in Toby's series. The "Getting Them Sober, vol 4" book (which is all about the hidden issues in seperation/divorce in alcoholic families) was very helpful to me when I was going through my divorce. I carried it with me constantly. Here is the product link:Getting Them Sober: Vol 4 : Separations and Healings (Getting Them Sober)
   
   Fifty percent of American families have active alcoholism in them according to the NIH. This book is a must read for everybody. Families of alcoholics, counselors, teachers, and judges will gain great insight, hope and strength in their understanding of those who suffer on a daily, yearly, lifetime basis from the HORRIBLE family disease of alcoholism. It is a good read and must read for all.



4. and the website listed is just as useless.
   
   There are many other books which are more helpful I would pass on this one. I'm selling my copy asap.



5. In trying to understand the devastation that alcoholism has on friends and family....this book was enormously helpful. Knowing that alcoholism is a disease and that many alcoholics words and actions are undeniably the same, helps keep the diseased person in perspective and helps you to detach.

5 comments about Beach Dreams (The Beach House Series, Book 3).

1. Romantic comedies are a favorite read of mine. And I don't see very many of them come along. So, as I found myself laughing aloud numerous times I kept thinking, this is so yummy. It's a treat to be entertained and even delighted as you read. And the comedy is only part one of the reason I loved the story. Part two? The romance. Once Jeremy and Tiff are free to interact together more, I enjoyed how real that interaction was. (Keeping morality at the forefront.) Trish Perry's heroine (Tiff) was learning to walk as a Christian, learning to deny her natural response to situations and live for God. Readers will relate to that "denying the flesh" idea. But Trish wasn't in denial about how difficult that can be.
   
   And the setting? Who doesn't like a getaway spot as a setting for a book? Reading is often about escaping (and indulging your imagination), so why not escape to the beach?
   
   I must also highlight the character development. Readers who come to the book looking for more than romance will find it here. These characters have to work through some stuff. And though I laughed at their antics (from the very first scene), I also teared up with their struggles.
   
   I haven't enjoyed a book with this much laughter for a while. Bravo, Trish! Bring on your next book!



2. Beach Dreams by Trish Perry is a combination of two series. It's the third book in the Beach series by Sally Johns, and it's also the third book in the series by Perry about a group of friends from Northern Virginia. Tiffany LeBeouf is recovering from the devastating death of her mother from breast cancer by returning to her home and trying to pick up the pieces of her life. But she comes back to find that her job no longer exists and the super-cute guy, Jeremy, she just met is already taken. So Tiff, who is just learning to lean on her faith, heads to a beach house in California to mourn and recover with her father. But there's been a mix-up with reservations at the beach house, and she has to share with none other than Jeremy's perfect girlfriend who reminds Tiff a bit too much of what she was like before she found faith in God. Perry writes with a great deal of humor, and the way she renders scenes, like a day out at the amusement park, is a true pleasure. This is a perfect book for curling up on the beach and soaking up the warmth of the summer sun and God's love.



3. Written by: Trish Perry
   Published by: Harvest House
   Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins for ReviewYourBook.com 8/2008
   ISBN: 978-0-7369-2446-7
   "Impossible to put down" 5 stars
   For the first few chapters, this book was simply good. The middle and ending were impossible to put down. I loved the characters, except for Eve who they decided was short for evil.
   The struggles and maturing process that the characters go through seems to be the same, regardless of their ages. Perry realistically shows that a relationship with God is a process. I connected so well with the characters, and many of the situations were relatable.
   Definitely read this to find out if the characters will grow in their faith and love. Whether in the middle of summer or in the dead of winter, you will enjoy this!



4. Beach Dreams is Trish Perry's best book yet! How fun to finally read Tiff and Jeremy's story. I couldn't put it down!



5. Trish Perry has done it again. She takes an interesting cast of characters, places them in a picturesque setting, provides them with multiple challenges, and makes her readers laugh and cry and not accomplish anything else until the book is finished!
   
   Tiffany LeBouf, who we learned to dislike in Trish's first two books, is the heroine in this one. Tiff returns home after caring for her dying mother to find her job is gone and her life is pretty much on hold. A trip to a beach house in southern California with her father seems the perfect chance to relax and regroup. But a mix-up in booking means she is sharing the house with obnoxious Eve, girlfriend of handsome Jeremy. Sparks fly between Tiff and Eve. When Jeremy shows up to surprise Eve, a different kind of spark ignites between him and Tiff. The little beach house will not hold all of them and nothing can hold all of its occupants little secrets.
   
   This book is thoroughly entertaining and touching. Trish has mastered the art of telling a deep story using humor and characters so real you are sure they could be your next door neighbors. I highly recommend Beach Dreams. I also recommend the first two books, The Guy I'm Not Dating, and Too Good To Be True. I, for one, can't wait to see what Trish Perry has in store for us.

5 comments about From Survival to Recovery: Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home.

1. If you, as a child, young adult or parent, have experienced the challenges of an alcoholic or drug addictive home this is a MUST READ. I gained insight into the behavior patterns and character defects that were created by my family life. The stories shared are touching and inspiring.



2. this was a wonderful book,it was so painful to read ,but so real,with out these stories that validated my own pain of growing up in my own family...where i felt so alone and abandoned and so out of control, this book helped me see that if i didnt work this stuff out in my own life that i would live it out and recreate the same scene in my own life..out of my aloneness and abandonment issues i would put this on other people and have the same expectations of them as i did of my family of original and those needs would not be meet because i was not healthy enough to find someone that was available as only the inavailable was attractive to me ...as i was also looking for someone to rescue and caretake just as i had learnt in my family..or i would find someone to rescue me..this book stopped me enough to get honest,and as without anything in life there is no gain without pain ..what a book...what a journey..the truth does set you free.have the courage to read this book it is amazing...its not about blame its about recovery..



3. This books takes an accurate and 'in depth' look at what it's like to grow up in an alcoholic/dysfunctional family. It gives a very good description of the feelings and characterisics of Adult Children of Alcoholics. I could identify with many of the stories. This book gave me hope. If you're like me, there aren't many active ACoA meetings in your area. I attended Al-anon because it was more active in my area, and I definitely needed some type of support group that focused on addiction, but at times I felt out of place. It wasn't until I found this book that I actually felt a part of the Al-Anon family. Until I found this book, I often felt like an outsider looking in because there were no longer many active alcoholics in my life, but I was still suffering from the effects of alcoholism. This book shares stories that looks at the many different facets of growing up in an alcoholic home. I think it's a 'must have' for all Adult Children of alcoholics. I can now vouch for the phrase "Al-anon is for Adult Children of Alcoholics."



4. While it's an important part of recovery to study the steps, to learn about the disease of alcoholism, and to be able to follow the directions and suggestions in books, what really helps me are the stories of people who have been there and experienced that. That's what I relate to.
   
   This is a book full of stories of people who have grown up in an alcoholic home. At times reading it was like listening to my brother or sister's experience - it hits that close to home. But eventually, I found my story, and in that moment, I realized I wasn't alone. What a relief, what a gift, and, ultimately, that's what led to the miracle of recovery for me. If you're alone or suffering, buy this book and read it. You'll soon find that you're not alone and that together, we can all heal.
   
   Michael Z, Author, The Wisdom of the Rooms A Year of Weekly Reflections



5. this book is for women only - and does nothing to address the needs of men who grew up in violent alcoholic families. It even uses the words "SHE" and "HER" when descibing the victim or person seeking recovery.

5 comments about The Heart of Addiction: A New Approach to Understanding and Managing Alcoholism and Other Addictive Behaviors.

1. A respectable service to addiction by questioning tradition thoughts and treatments. Without trashing other systems, the author transers years of insight and research from his own practice into a framework that is logical, consistent and practical. He deftly removes the overtones of religion, shame and isolation that can (and has) resulted in what I call 'orphaned addicts'. His content inspires rethinking of the addictive process and yields to constructive self-examination without 'preachiness'. A safe-read for anyone who may be questioning their own addictive behavior and a must-read for those familiar with traditional addiction methods.



2. The field of addiction counseling has struggled with how to understand and treat addiction for decades. For some, addiction is best understood as a disease that can respond to the standardized treatment of detox, group work and self-help programs, AA in particular, that focus primarily on addictive behavior. For others, addiction is a behavior driven by underlying conflicts and issues that need to be addressed in a treatment process designed for each individual, one that addresses his/her specific underlying psychological dynamics. This book is a comprehensive presentation of that second perspective. It is a thorough discussion of the psychology of addiction. Whether one agrees fully with the perspecitve is less important than the importance of understanding what it contributes to efforts to develop effective intervention with persons struggling with addictive disease. This book does provides the reader with an opportunity to make that assessment.



3. I don't usually buy books of this nature but it was recommended to me by a friend. Even if you don't have an issue of addiction this book will help you understand and cope with others that do in your life. I have a degree in Applied Behavior and I can say this is one of the most useful books I've ever read. The examples of real people and reasoning is extremely sound.



4. I am licensed as a therapist specializing in chemical dependency and have worked in the field of addiction for many years and have treated hundreds of people and thousands of family members. I read about addiction constantly, review all research and I must say that although this book is very well written is fraught with the same misconceptions and twists of logic that have been around and answered for many years. This is just a more stylish manner of refuting redundant research and twisting logic by lumping terms together and holding out the hope that if an addict or alcoholic can address their inner demons they can use in moderation. The book equates compulsive obsessive behaviors such as sex addiction with alcoholism. It tries to convince you that apples are the same as oranges. It suggests that problems cause addiction when the opposite is true. This book would be totally refuted if openly subject to scientific review alone. It doesn't even address AA. They book is written by a therapist who wants to "treat" you for your "addictions" that are caused by your own supposed "inability to cope". Although this may be true of sexual compulsivity or hand washing, it simply does not fit with known and documented bio genetic predispositional properties and cellular bio mechanical attributes of chemical dependency. Ask a responsible therapist if individual counseling works on addicts. It almost always ends in failure. Why not address AA? Perhaps because it does not entirely jive with the premise of this book; That people can "learn" or be "therapized" into wellness from drug and alcohol addiction, which is not only irresponsible, but potentially hazardous to the alcoholic who is desperate to learn how to drink "normally". I guess, if not for the intentional misinformation, it could be an entertaining read for someone with OCD issues. The book perpetuates ignorance and false hopes about chemical addiction. A better read can be found in Milam and Ketcham's milestone book "Under The Influence."



5. I found this book refreshing and very insightful regarding the issue of addiction. Anyone could use the insight contained here, whether or not you are an addict. I would encourage friends and family members of addicts to read this to get a better understanding of the real heart issues behind addiction.
   
   It's time for the mental health community to recognize that treatment must get to the root of the problem - the heart, or drive, behind the negative behavior. Meds and meetings won't solve the issue; they just control the 'symptoms' of a broken heart.
   
   If you are suffering from an addiction, read the book and start journaling as though you are talking to a therapist like the author (if you currently don't have a therapist like him). Ask for truth to be revealed as you do this. It may be that you can find the point of helplessness that drives you to your addiction. It's worth a try. The main message of the book is very powerful. A must read for students of addiction.

3 comments about Take Control of Your Drinking...And You May Not Need to Quit.

1. I believe "Take Control of Your Drinking...And You May Not Have to Quit"
   provides a perspective that will allow doors to open that have previously
   been slammed shut. To give the option and tools to practice moderation as
   opposed to giving up alcohol entirely will encourage some to try change that normally wouldn't. The book doesn't avoid the issue that some must
   abstain.
   It is a to the point, informative and easy read that allows people who are ready to jump right into the process.
   This is a resource that should be in every health practioner's library.



2. It is widely acknowledged that the first step toward recovery is admission of a problem. With this book, Dr. Levy gives us clear and concise tools for addressing that admission, and attaching a reasonable approach to it. If you are willing to take a hard, honest look at your drinking behavior, Dr. Levy has provided a guide to help assess if YOU are all the help that YOU need. Bravo, Dr. Levy, for giving us all a leg up to the first step.



3. I teach a college course on alcohol and drug abuse treatment, and I have suggested this book as reading to my class. This book is an easily understandable and user-friendly guide that could help anyone concerned with their alcohol use to either cut down or stop drinking.

5 comments about Runner.

1. Chance is the main character in the book called Runner. This book was written by Carl Deuker. Chance and his dad live on a boat in a marina. His dad is having problems paying moorage fees and other expenses. Chance has to help him out. Chance's dad is an alcoholic and a bum spending the rest of his spare change on beer. The father would rather sit out on his tiny boat drinking than helping his son. Chance is having many problems in his life when his mom leaves them to go on and do something more with her life.
   Everyone on the pier knows that Chance's dad just got fired from his job. A stranger who nobody has seen before works in the marina office and asks Chance if he needs money to help his dad out. Chance doesn't think twice about this decision. All he has to do is jog a mile to a point, look for a package, then jog back with the package. If there is a package at the point, Chance returns it to the office marina guy. Every week Chance receives $200 dollars for running his normal jog route and returning packages that are there at the point. Chance is desperate for money to keep his boat and his spot on the pier. This job appears easy to Chance. He doesn't think about the contents of the packages and the possible consequences.
   In this heart-pounding thriller, Carl Deuker combines global concerns and the threat of terrorism with the everyday worries of a teen who only wants to keep his life together until graduation. Supported by a smart, politically aware girl in his history class, Chance learns there's a lot more to patriotism than just waving a flag, and a lot more to courage than just following rules he knows may be wrong. This timely, complex story will make you think twice about the choices you make and what it means to be brave.
   I personally liked this book a lot. It has several good parts in this story and some bad parts too. In life you want to make good choices and not bad ones. The moral of the story is to always think before you act.



2. Chance is teenager living an unusually hard life. His father is an alcoholic who can neither pay the morgage nor face the truth of their tough situation. When Chance is offered a well-paying job, he must either forget the immorality of it or forget the job. The longer he stays in the buisness, despite his slight ignorance, the deeper he gets. When a suicide or possible murder occurs, Chance must be exteremly cautious to let no one get involved, expecially not someone he cares about. But of course he meets a girl- how ironic!!!
   Great work of literature. I recomend this novel to all ya/teen readers.



3. Carl Deuker's RUNNER should attract both teachers of reluctant readers and young readers who feel that reading is not for them. The beginning is interesting enough with its high school bullying episodes and questions of rich (as embodied by romantic interest Melissa Watts) vs. poor kids (our protagonist Chance Taylor, who lives on a small sailboat on a marina's dock), but the book really takes off when recreational runner Chance gets an offer he wants to but cannot refuse -- running mysterious packages in exchange for cash like he and his alcoholic ne'er-do-well father have never seen.
   
   Here the high-octane plot takes off, running away with a reader who can't help but hold on to find out what's happening. Are the packages drugs? Explosives? Money? And who are the mysterious people leaving them behind in the cracks of a retaining wall near a beach on Puget Sound? Chance really doesn't want to know, but soon events take a dangerous turn, and if he cannot work up the guts to seek out the truth, it turns out the truth might be ready to seek him out -- with dire results.
   
   Known for his sports books, Deuker here shows a skill for pacing and plot in a thriller that will keep readers guessing until the spectacular finish. Although it touches on themes of patriotism and social class, RUNNER shouldn't be read for any deep characterization or rich description; realize instead that it is a book meant to entertain with a fast-moving story that should win over even the most reluctant of readers. Teachers should keep it on hand for students who will only try a fast-read, and young readers looking for a quick and engaging plot should "play Chance" by running some packages that may or may not make them an accomplice to a crime.



4. The book Runner by Carl Deuker, is about a boy named Chance who lives with his father in Seattle on his sailboat called The Tiny Dancer. Chance's mother left him when he was little and he hasn't seen her since. Now he is living with his father who can't seem to find a job. Chance and his father are short on money and are always late paying the bills. He tries to help his father by washing pots at Ray's Restaurant but it doesn't pay a lot. One day after going for a run, Chance was walking back to his boat when a fat man who worked in the marina office stopped him and offered him a job. "`You know something? I like your spirit. I really do,' said the fat man. `But I don't have time to play games. So listen and listen carefully. You're in trouble, and I can get you out of that trouble. I'm offering you a job, kid. Very good pay; very short hours. When somebody offers you easy money, you should at least hear him out.'" Chance knows that this man is up to no good, but he needs the money to pay the bills.
   
   I thought Runner was an excellent book and I had trouble putting it down. This book is very original and exciting trying to learn what the fat man was doing and why he wanted Chance's help. It was interesting reading about Chance's adventure and hearing all of the problems he was going through with money and school, and finding out what he was doing for the fat man. I highly recommend it to anybody. It is definitely one of my favorite books I have ever read.



5. "When kids hear I live on a boat, they picture a floating mansion outlined with Christmas lights like the one in the old movie Sleepless in Seattle. They think I sit on the deck under an umbrella while waves gently lap up against the sides, foghorns sound in the distance, exotic seabirds fly overhead." Chance Taylor a senior in high-school wishes this was true but his boat the Tiny Dancer is an old, weather-beaten, thirty-foot sailboat. Chances father an alcoholic Gulf War veteran just lost his job which was the last steady job Chance can remember him having.
   Chances escape from this is running. Then one day after he was done running a man offered him 200 dollars week to pick up packages by the beach on his running route. In the beginning chance suspects whatever he is picking up is illegal but continues to do it because he needs the money. As Chances friend Melissa and his dad get involved the danger of the situation become more apparent. In the captivating climax Chances father rises above his own problems to save his son. Deuker gives hints of what are in the packages without really telling you and the suspenseful action that he writes will keep you engaged in the story.

4 comments about Understanding the Twelve Steps: An Interpretation and Guide for Recovering.

1. This book is a must have for any beginning 12-stepper. It gives an excellent introduction to the understanding of how the 12 steps work and the spiritual principles behind them. This book would be an excellent choice for any person in recovery, as well as a resource for any person that is not in recovery, but wishes to have an understanding of the 12 steps. It is clear, easy to understand, and complements Gorski's other books very well.



2. I found this book useful in offering a different perspective on the 12 step programme which was useful in my approach to working my steps.
   
   Recomended by my sponsor. Recomended by me to mine and to you.



3. This book supplements the major literature of Alcoholics Anonymous--specifically (1) The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and (2) Alcoholics Anonymous. The book is easy to read and written in contemporary English and is a wonderful tool used in combating the disease of alcoholism.



4. This book rocks! I have been so frustrated over the past few years where the Big Book is considered. It is such an amazing book, but so difficult (if not impossible) for many people of limited vocabulary or education to understand.
   
   We have two program people in our home who absolutely cannot understand the Big Book, no matter how hard they try. As many of you know, it's not just the vocabulary, but the wording that can be difficult. As a professional with two Bachelors and a Masters, I have found the Big Book to be the most difficult book I have ever read. Many people argue that the Big Book should not be re-written. To do so would tamper with the message. While I understand the concern, it is sad that so many people are unable to comprehend all of the wonerful material because of the style in which it was written. After all, the Bible has been written in many different versions so that young people can understand it. Adults too. I believe we need the same thing with the Big Book. A "Study Big Book" perhaps.
   
   Enter "Understanding the Twelve Steps." This is really a no-nonsense look at the twelve steps and the ideas they are trying to get across. It isn't a simplified Big Book, but a study in the 12 steps. Although the language speaks to Alcoholics, it is fantastic for people in any 12-step program. AA, Al-Anon, Alateen, CA, NA, CODA, etc. The author does a great job speaking in terms that help one visualize the ideas discussed. I think it's a fantastic supplement to any of our wonderful programs.
   
   Peace

5 comments about Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening..

1. I have read this book...i have given copies of it free to many clients...and have gotten only good feedback...and i have heard the shrill voices like those of these negative reviews for so long now i could cry...there are better and more effective ways to help families of alcoholics..this book outlines them, including explaining the research findings now for 20 years on this topic. So when will people start to listen to hear what works in the real world, not what they want to believe and insist on jamming down everyone's throat. These "disease of alcoholism" people with their constant attacks on those struggling to really change their drinking...with their demeaning language and desire to put everyone safely in the same box...the "alcoholic...we all know what that is" box...hurts all of us...treatment providers (me), clients and families alike. The truth is: Alanon does not help the alcoholic, interventions hurt the alcoholic, CRAFT helps everyone. Wake up and grow up please.



2. I'm a therapist who works with the family members of substance users. I always use this book with my clients and they LOVE it. They like the easy to read format, the exercises that encourage change, and the positive tone of the book. I can't tell you how many lives this book has helped change. If you have a family member or close friend who has an alcohol or drug problem, this is the book for you!



3. I have been using this program for 9 months. I know it works for me and see great progress with my afflicted one. It is uplifting, gives me hope and encouragement, and makes sense. I read passages I have underlined almost every day. I learn something almost every day. This struggle is not easy and this book helps me a great deal.



4. I am so happy to recommend this book!
   
   I was looking for a better way to get my friend into treatment and found some of the latest research on HBO's website for their series, "Addiction". The HBO website has video clips that describe the CRAFT method and how it is proven to be the most effective, so I bought this book with high hopes.
   
   My friend decided he was ready for detox within a week of using this approach. I am grateful for tips like watching for a window and planning for treatment in advance. CRAFT is about empowerment with positive reinforcement - without anger or judgment. This book shows how important it is to avoid shame and guilt about addiction.
   
   I wish I could give this book to everyone in Al-Anon. Al-Anon was not offering anything but a support group for feeling OK about doing nothing - "Letting Go". It did not make sense to detach from my alcoholic friend and wait for him to hit a new bottom. I did not want to isolate him further or fall back into enabling and this book explained how to take action in a healthy way.
   
   Thank you to the authors - and to HBO for promoting CRAFT. Why isn't this more talked about?



5. This is a great book. I have been around the AA program with family members for my entire life and this approach for the hard headed or unconventional alcoholic/user is wonderful. I am happy to have found this and am using these new methods daily.