Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop? [Hardcover]

John Hoffman (Editor), Susan Froemke (Editor), Sheila Nevins (Introduction), Susan Cheever (Afterword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1594867151 | ISBN-13: 978-1594867156 | Publication Date: March 6, 2007 | Edition: First Edition

This companion book to the HBO documentary of the same name sheds light on the hidden American epidemic of addiction. Blending compelling personal narratives with statistics and expert opinion, all gleaned from over two years of research and reporting, ADDICTION offers a comprehensive and provocative look at the impact of chemical dependency on addicts, their loved ones, society, and the economy. Breaking the stigma that addicts are simply weak and immoral, it delves into new brain research proving that drugs and alcohol change the chemical composition of addicts' brains, making it veritably impossible for them to quit. The nation's top experts persuasively argue that the time has come for the blame to stop and the healing to begin.

ADDICTION also features material not included in the documentary: testimonials, original graphics and images, additional elaboration on theories and treatments of addiction, and more. Featuring a foreword by Sheila Nevins, the president of Documentary and Family Programming at HBO, an afterward by the best-selling author Susan Cheever, and the writing of David Sheff, this book is essential reading for anyone who has been impacted by what is now realized to be a very real and widespread disease.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Hoffman--Vice President of HBO Original Programming, has spent the past eleven years creating, producing, and supervising documentary programming for HBO, including the ADDICTION project, Hacking Democracy, the Emmy-nominated Last Letters Home: Voices of American Troops from the Battlefields of Iraq, and In Memoriam, New York City, 9/11/01. Before coming to HBO, Hoffman produced and created the children’s television series Allegra’s Window and served as executive director of AIDSFILMS, where he produced six multi-award-winning films, including AIDS: Changing the Rules.

Susan Froemke has more than twenty-seven nonfiction films to her credit, including the 1976 classic Grey Gardens and the 2001 Academy Award-nominated Lalee’s Kin, an HBO film that was also honored at the Sundance Film Festival. A four-time Emmy Award winner, Froemke won a 2001 Grammy for her work as director and producer of Recording the Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks. Before starting her own company in 2003, Froemke was the principal filmmaker at Maysles Films, Inc.

Susan Cheever is the bestselling author of twelve books, including five novels, the memoirs Note Found in a Bottle and Home Before Dark, My Name is Bill, a biography of Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and most recently, American Bloomsbury. She is a director of the Corporation of Yaddo, a member of the Authors Guild Council, and teaches in the Bennington College MFA program and at the New School.

Sheila Nevins, president of HBO Documentary Films, is responsible for overseeing the development and production of all documentaries and family programming for HBO, Cinemax, and their multiplex channels. During her tenure at HBO, she has received seventeen Primetime Emmy Awards, twenty-four News and Documentary Emmys, and twenty-five Peabody Awards. Nevins has also been honored with a Personal Peabody in 2001 and an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 for her contributions to the art of the documentary.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; First Edition edition (March 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594867151
• ISBN-13: 978-1594867156
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding my son's addiction, April 10, 2007

By 

Susie K. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop? (Hardcover)

I have asked my son a thousand times----"why can't you just stop?" His "I don't know" would leave me feeling even more bewildered, hopeless, and sad. This book gets to the heart of the matter ----- the difference in brain chemistry ----- which precedes that first drink, hit,or fix and the alteration of brain chemistry-----which follows. My son just entered rehab today and for the first time in a long time I feel a sense of empowerment and HOPE !!! Thank you HBO for delving into this societal problem which is destroying many of our best and brightest.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, April 16, 2007

By 

Tracy Chavez "buyanything" (Orlando, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop? (Hardcover)

This is a MUST read for those suffering with addiction. I have read countless books on the subject. This is the only book that I have read that gave me clear cut understanding of addiction. It is very hard to find out where to go for help and this book lays out all of the options and gives the good and bad of each. Before we had insurance, I didn't know there was help out there. This book leads you to places that will help. It will give you a clear starting point. No more calling around and practically begging for information. Its really sad our medical system is like this. This book will surely help. Thank you so much.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good information, May 6, 2007

By 

Marie Ehrenberg "Marie" (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop? (Hardcover)

Very good information given in a simple way. Important for anybody who needs to know facts about this disease.