Customer Reviews

The Alcoholic Family

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Steinglass' work is an excellent example of how Murray Bowen's family systems theory can be applied to the need to understand how alcohol becomes the central organizing princple in a family. The volume is written more for those who assist families and those in recovery, rather than the patients and family members themselves, that is, for any person in the helping professions who has a working knowledge of system's theory. Well-written, well-researched and quickly understood, it would be a good resource for anyone who deals with alcoholics, their families and adult children's issues. Again,the only drawback is that it is not for the general public but for helping agents and that is not a drawback as long as one is aware of that up front.

This is not a self-help book but rather a serious, comprehensive, professional presentation of the insidious nature of alcohol and its impact upon the basic structure and functioning of a family. The book is also outstanding simply because of the manner in which it approaches and describes the fundamental aspects of a family - even if one were not focused upon alcohol, the description of what makes up a family justifies purchasing the book. It is not a perfect book, and somewhat tedious/redundant during the last chapters, but it remains (despite a number of years since its publication) one of clearest and profound presentations on either subject (alcohol or family) there is.