Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions (Plus) [Paperback]

Gerald G. May (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plus | Publication Date: January 9, 2007

Addiction and Grace offers an inspiring and hope–filled vision for those who desire to explore the mystery of who and what they really are. May examines the "processes of attachment" that lead to addiction and describes the relationship between addiction and spiritual awareness. He also details the various addictions from which we can suffer, not only to substances like alcohol and drugs, but to work, sex, performance, responsibility, and intimacy.

Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist working with the chemically dependent, May emphasizes that addiction represents an attempt to assert complete control over our lives. Addiction and Grace is a compassionate and wise treatment of a topic of major concern in these most addictive of times, one that can provide a critical yet hopeful guide to a place of freedom based on contemplative spirituality.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Explores the psychology and physiology of addiction from the perspective of contemplative spirituality, describing the relationship between addiction and spiritual awareness. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gerald G. May, M.D. (1940-2005), practiced medicine and psychiatry for twenty-five years before becoming a senior fellow in contemplative theology and psychology at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland. He was the author of many books and articles blending spirituality and psychology, including Addiction and Grace, Care of Mind/Care of Spirit, Will and Spirit, and The Dark Night of the Soul.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (January 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061122432
• ISBN-13: 978-0061122439
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Substance Abuse

More About the Author

Gerald G. May, M.D., is the author of Addiction and Grace and Care of Mind/Care of Spirit. A psychiatrist, he currently supervisors the program for training spiritual directors at the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC. He lives in Columbia, MD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Healing the Unconscious, December 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Addiction & Grace (Paperback)

I got the book as a reference from one of Keating's book. It is fantastic!! I recommend that all who face any disturbing addiction to read this book and indeed if you think you don't, read it and you will be surprised what you are addicted to. May shows the neurological aspect of addictions and very important he discusses the travials that occur during recovery. How your body adapts and readapts to habits and substances.

He says the root of the problem is in the psycho-toxins in our sub-conscious and recommends grace and contemplative prayer as a remedy. Where we let go of trying to solve it ourselves and allow God to heal us, to heal from the root. Here is where keating's book is useful for keating then expoundes on Mays recommended contemplative prayer namely, the prayer of silence of letting go.

The healing takes time and if you are looking for a quick fix, then forget this but if you want a root solution then pick this up. May says the beginning of a solution is when you say "I have a problem, I need help", God the healer, awaits to help you. May shows how to make an appointment, keating shows how to have a session and take the anti-bodies.

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God helps us win victory over any addiction, February 8, 2002

By 

"readon" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Addiction & Grace (Paperback)

I bought this book because it was recommended in The Sacred Romance. I have to say that Addiction & Grace is a fantastic book. Addictions (attachments) prevent us from experience the full glory of God in our lives. This book helped me realize how in trying to get victory over my weight and food, I was merely replacing one addiction (food) with another (discipline--food diaries, measuring food, controlling exposure to food). God can only help me when I get to a place where I am still, no longer able or willing to help myself conquer the addiction. I need to be comfortable in the anxiety that arises when God removes the addiction because it is in that void that I will meet God. I need to feel safe in risky situations (parties, potlucks) because that is when I will experience God's grace most.

This book is highly readable (but read it with an underliner). Every chapter is thought provoking, but the last few chapters on spirituality are the most valuable.

Please do yourself a favor and buy this book. It will get you on the path to understanding the truth and gaining freedom from addictions. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. -- John 8:32"

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wondering Why People Are Addicted?, September 19, 2003

By 

James David Childers (Lawrence, KS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Addiction & Grace (Paperback)

A relative of mine is addicted to crack. His wife is addicted to him. My father was addicted to cigarettes. My father-in-law is addicted to food. And many, many other people in my life are addicted to a wide variety of things. I was watching all this addiction go on around me, not understanding.

I don't even remember how I found this book. I've now given away about five copies to people who also were struggling to understand the addicted people in their lives.

Gerald May takes you through the process from the beginning to the end. The why's and the wherefores. Every word that is written in the beginning of the book is absolutely necessary to understand the conclusions reached at the end.

Now, I understand.

This book has brought great relief to me personally in that I am not so perplexed and lost in trying to understand why addicted people do the things they do. If you've ever asked yourself questions like 'Why don't they just stop?' and 'Why doesn't she/he just leave them?' then you need to read this book.

It's short and sweet and incredibly well written.