Recovery Books - Page 17

Thoughts Are Things

Prentice Mulford

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A thought-provoking book! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Prentice Mulford wrote this book in 1889, long before more well-known, contemporary authors began writing about the power of thought. Despite being over 100 years old, this is a powerful book on thought.

Mulford explains we have, in effect, two minds: the mind of the body and the mind of the spirit. The mind of the body is limited and fights change. It thinks things must always be the way they've always been. The mind of the spirit trusts in the Supreme Power which made all things and knows that anything is possible if you believe.

Long before the law of attraction became widely known, Mulford talked about the fact that what we talk about and think about is what we attract to ourselves. He explains that if a group of people talk about disease or suffering, they will eventually bring disease and suffering to themselves in some form. He also notes that the surest way for a woman to become ugly is to be discontented, cross, complaining and envious of others. He therefore encourages the reader to call on the help of the Supreme Power to get into the thought current of things that are healthy, natural, strong and beautiful, and leave the negative thinking behind.

While the book talks about many aspects of the power of thought that will be familiar to today's readers, he also covers some topics you don't hear discussed as much today. One of my favorite chapters is the one on cultivating courage. He notes that courage and presence of mind mean the same thing; and cowardice and lack of mental control mean about the same thing. He notes that courage comes from discipline regarding so-called little or trivial things. It means focusing on whatever you're doing at the moment, rather than allowing your thoughts to scatter in many directions. This focus allows you to have the presence of mind to do what needs to be done, rather than to panic.

A great example of courage he gives is: "It was this electric vigilance and mind watchfulness that gave an American officer during the Revolution, who, in the confusion of battle, suddenly found himself in front of a British regiment, the deliberation to ask, 'What troops are these?' 'The Royal Scots,' was the reply. 'Royal Scots remain as you are,' was his answer, and he rode off to his own lines. That man had a mind trained to give him time to think."

I have not read another book on thought quite like this one, and would encourage anyone interested in better understanding the power of thought to give this book a try!

Editorial Review:

Preston Mulford's collected essays are a spiritual inspiration for generations of readers. Included in this volume are: "The Material Mind vs. the Spiritual Mind," "Who Are Our Relations?" "Thought Currents," "One Way to Cultivate Courage," "Look Forward!" "God in the Trees; or, The Infinite Mind in Nature," "Some Laws of Health and Beauty," "Museum and Menagerie Horrors," "The God in Yourself," "He Healing and Renewing Force of Spring," "Immortality in the Flesh," "The Attraction of Aspiration," "The Accession of New Thought."

Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market

Eric Schlosser

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 105 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Must Read For Free Market Enthusiasts 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Free markets are a myth. Well functioning markets depend on a complex alignment of public and private values, culture and laws. When these causes are not aligned, the model breaks down. One measure of market malaise, if not social malaise, is the size of black markets in the economy.

In Reefer Madness, Eric Schlosser estimates that black markets in the U.S.A. are about 5% to 10% of the total economy. In less developed economies or transitional economies such as Russia, black markets represent 40% or more of the total economy.

Why is this of concern? According to Schlosser, black markets undermine government and democracy, both in respect and revenue, creates criminals of both producers and consumers of black market products and services, and creates unnecessary spending on litigation, the courts and prisons. Almost all Americans are guilty using black markets, even if it is paying the plumber or other trade in cash to evade taxes.

Schlosser explains his thesis with three cases studies: marijuana, illegal immigrants, and the porn industry.
With the marijuana black market, he effectively argues there is limited evidence that marijuana consumption is harmful, and that many people consume it. Indeed, it is difficult to make a case that it is any worse, and possibly better, for people than alcohol, which is legal. The greater harm has come from overzealous prosecution of dealers and users, filling prisons in record numbers. However, armed robbery and murder often carry lesser sentences. Current laws and prosecution of marijuana use are an abject failure. Both consumption and production have increased over the decades. Marijuana is arguably the largest cash crop in the United State.

Given the disconnect between public and private values, would not an alternative policy, such as decriminalizing the use of marijuana, regulating its use in the same manner as alcohol make some sense? Schlosser makes a clear case that it would produce a social net benefit, increasing tax revenues, reducing court cases, and start emptying prisons. There would also be less tangible benefits such as greater respect for the governing authority.

Illegal immigration is the second case study, focusing on the black market for Mexican labor in the California agricultural community. Schlosser shows how cheap illegal Mexican labor has distorted producing strawberries, ostensibly to California's advantage in the short term. But in the long term the effect will be painful, because the farming community is so far behind now in adopting new technology, because of the cheap labor. As well, cheap foreign labor has reduced the local standard of living and increased black markets, which some experts estimate to be as high as 30 percent in the LA area.

The long term effect if continued will be to create a homegrown peasant economy. The solution does not lie in building fences or other restraints to immigration. The most effective policy choice according to Schlosser is developing and ensuring fair labor practices, including a decent minimum wage for all workers, whether they are immigrants or not.

The porn industry over the past century is the subject of the third case study. Indeed, Schlosser provides a thumbnail history back to Comstock's antiporn crusades in the 19th century. The major focus is on the last 50 years and the remarkable cultural shift in American attitudes toward porn during that period. Schlosser focuses on the story of Reuben Sturman, the dark genius of the modern porn industry, and his battles with the government. While Sturman eventually goes to jail for tax evasion, his victories in the courts in fighting charges of porn pave the way for the modern porn industry.

Sturman's story also highlights the role of the courts in reflecting cultural change in community standards over the decades, a role well suited to judicial interpretation rather than legislative or administrative law. Arguably, the black market in porn is much less than it otherwise would have been without these decisions.

While Schlosser suggests that reason will win the day, his three case studies are less than reassuring. It seems irrationality, ignorance, and inertia play a powerful role, especially for marijuana and immigration. Problems that can extend for decades and generations eventually undermine the integrity if not the foundation of a society founded on the principles of free market democracy.

Schlosser's book is a must read for anyone interested in the health of their democracy and market system.

You Can't Make Me Angry

Paul O.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wisdom of the ages 4 out of 5 stars.
21 of 21 people found this review helpful.

This book condenses a lot of AA and Al-Anon thought into a few fast-reading pages. It contains many handy tools and techniques for managing difficult emotions and letting go of the need to control others.

I don't believe it's just for people in AA and Al-Anon. The wisdom in its pages is universal, although the constant references to AA and Al-Anon might put off an average reader.

I want to share this book with many people, to give them a taste of what serenity -- emotional independence -- feels like.

I highly recommend the book as a companion text to other program literature. It does not replace the Big Book or Paths to Recovery, but it condenses and clarifies a lot of age-old wisdom in a few easy-to-read pages.

Editorial Review:

And acceptance is the answer to all my problems... A.A. members know of Dr. Paul's wisdom through the often-quoted passage from his story in A.A.'s Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Paul continues sharing his astute insight and gentle humor with discussions of the physical, mental, emotional, interpersonal and spiritual aspects of sobriety.

Group Treatment for Substance Abuse: A Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual

Mary Velasquez, Gaylyn Gaddy Maurer, Cathy Crouch, Carlo C. DiClemente

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

This practical manual presents a 29-session treatment program designed to engage, motivate, and stimulate processes of change in clients at all stages of recovery. The program is based on the research-supported transtheoretical model of behavior change. The manual employs skills-building activities and interventions that are likely to be most effective with clients as they cycle from the earlier stages of change/m-/precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation/m-/to the later stages, action and maintenance. Each of the structured sessions is presented in a consistent, highly accessible format, including a clear rationale, summary of objectives, and overview of the main activities that will take place. Step-by-step guidelines for implementation are provided, as well as strategies for using a motivational interviewing style. The manual is complete with all needed handouts and exercise forms, ready to photocopy and distribute to clients. Ideal for use with groups, the approach can easily be adapted to individual treatment.

7 Tools to Beat Addiction

Stanton Peele

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Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

DO YOU WANT A LIFE WITHOUT ADDICTION?

Whether you are battling drugs, nicotine, alcohol, food, shopping, sex, or gambling, 7 Tools to Beat Addiction is a hands-on, practical guide to overcoming addiction of any kind. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction but do not find that twelve-step or other treatment programs work for you, this book can help.

In , internationally recognized expert Dr. Stanton Peele presents a program for addiction recovery based on research and clinical study and grounded in science. His program utilizes proven methods that people actually use to overcome addiction, with or without treatment. 7 Tools to Beat Addiction offers in-depth, interactive exercises that show you how to outgrow destructive habits by putting together the building blocks for a balanced, fulfilling, responsible life. Dr. Peele’s approach is founded on the following tools:

•Values
•Motivation
•Rewards
•Resources
•Support
•Maturity
•Higher Goals

This no-nonsense guide will put you in charge of your own recovery.

My Name Is Bill: Bill Wilson--His Life and the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous

Susan Cheever

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not much new here... 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

While Susan Cheever makes a valiant effort to use imagery and some carefully styled first person musings of Emily and Bill Wilson, her efforts fall somewaht flat. On the balance, this is essentially a retelling of "Pass It On." There are a few details at the end regarding Bill W.'s sexual compulsions that are common AA lore, and have appeared elsewhere.

For those interested in the history of AA, this won't offer much in the way of insight into the early days of AA and how the program worked. Entertaining at points, but difficult to read attenteively if you have already read other accounts of Bill Wilson's life.

Cheever's artistic touches didn't do much for me. I would rather she had put additional effort into her research, and brought a fresh telling with some new facts or insights.

A completist must have. For the rest...optional.

Editorial Review:

In this definitive and groundbreaking biography, acclaimed author Susan Cheever offers a remarkably human portrait of a man whose life and work both influenced and saved the lives of millions of people. Drawing from personal letters, diaries, AA archives, interviews -- and Cheever's own experiences with alcoholism -- My Name Is Bill is the first fully documented, deeply felt account of Bill Wilson and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders

Christopher G. Fairburn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

excellent book/resource 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book provides an excellent guide and resouce to health professionals working with this challenging patient group. The new transdiagnostic treatment is well developed and consisely described. The book provides a step by step guide as well as useful treatment strategies to deal with the core psychopathology. Well worth buying.

Editorial Review:

This book provides the first comprehensive guide to the practice of "enhanced" cognitive behavior therapy (CBT-E), the latest version of the leading empirically supported treatment for eating disorders. Written with the practitioner in mind, the book demonstrates how this transdiagnostic approach can be used with the full range of eating disorders seen in clinical practice. Christopher Fairburn and colleagues describe in detail how to tailor CBT-E to the needs of individual patients, and how to adapt it for adolescents and patients who require hospitalization. Also addressed are frequently encountered co-occurring disorders and how to manage them. Reproducible appendices feature the Eating Disorder Examination interview and questionnaire. 

Is It Love or Is It Addiction? - Second Edition

Brenda Schaeffer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

An excellent resource for addicts who want real love! 5 out of 5 stars.
49 of 50 people found this review helpful.

I can't believe I am the first one to review this book! After struggling with addictions of all sorts for years (including alcohol, drugs, sex, and love addiction), I finally determined why I kept sabotaging my relationships with women. My compulsive search for something to help me feel less pain came from my childhood, and this book was the stepping stone that helped me see that there was hope to overcome this tricky addiction, seek help, and learn to love myself and others with authenticity.

I highly recommend this book to any alcoholic, chemically dependent or sexually addicted person. There is hope for a relationship without painful addictive behaviors, and this book will help you find that hope!

Editorial Review:

Is It Love or Is It Addiction? has helped many people find their way from the fear and distrust in poor relationships to the fulfillment in meaningful ones. Psychotherapist Brenda Schaeffer draws on common sense, compassion, and years of experience to provide tools for moving from addictive to healthy love.

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism/Third Edition

Anonymous

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

a way of life that works 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

this book gave me a working relationship with power grater than myself ,that deepens day bye day. I owe my life to this book.

62 Years of Proven Effectiveness 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

While AA may not be the answer for everyone, it is for many thousands of alcoholics and others. 12-Step programs are popular in many places now, based on the Steps to recovery first written in this book. Alcoholics Anonymous has never been on any best seller list, but it has sold over 20 million copies. This is good reason to take seriously what the authors say in this book. I can add my personal testimonial: the 12 Steps have changed my life for the better. Given the choice between potential death or 12 Steps, I will take the Steps!

A manic stockbroker invents his own religion 1 out of 5 stars.
8 of 28 people found this review helpful.

Popular? Yes! A good guide to life? Well I don't know about that.... Rating this book is like rating the Holy Bible. Unfortunately, that's how it is regarded by many in this day & age. I am a recovered alcoholic who found solace in learning to trust my gut, instead of trusting a book written by a stockbroker with only 3 years sober. I did go to AA and one of the first things I heard was "It takes two years to get your brain out of hock, and 3 more to unscramble them". How many years sober did Mr. Wilson have again when he penned this text? Gee... by his own definion, he was rather foggy brained when he wrote his own religion. Hmmmmm..... I can't argue that many people adore this book, people are generally lazy, and enjoy having a "life" handed to them on a platter. So be it.

The Twelve Steps for Christians

Friends in Recovery

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good stuff, Maynard 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

A balanced, helpful guide to 12 step work. Best used in a group setting. I find the fourth step is particularly well written; it provides a good framework for the inventory. The group guidelines keep the discussion focused on personal recovery. A great way to implement Biblical principles in the daily life of the believer.

The Book is Excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The book is an invaluable tool in the work I do. I recommend it to anyone who is struggling with any kind of addiction. This book was written by several men and women who did not want credit for it but that God would get all the credit. The profits from the book go to other ministries not a person for gain.

The Twelve Steps for Christians 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Twelve Steps for Christians provides a study for alcoholics, addicts, etc. who KNOW WHO their GOD is. We have created a recovery group using this book that brings believers together in CHRIST for their recovery. The scriptures and CHRIST HIMSELF are the ROCK upon which we follow the 12 steps and change lives. It has been a welcomed ministry for our church and a blessing for the christian who needs to attend 12 step meetings,...keep their eyes upon JESUS and what HIS GRACE and MERCY have done for them, ...and practice becoming a truly new creature IN CHRIST.

Editorial Review:

This revised edition is a powerful resource for merging the practical wisdom of the Twelve Steps with the spiritual truths of the Bible.