Customer Reviews

The Craving Brain: The BioBalance Approach to Controlling Addictions

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is very readable for the non-medical community. It gets right to the point of the author's 'biobalance' theory. References to research are detailed. Author frames his explanation of theory to be comprehensive, but readily understandable. Seems to build a plateau from which further research would and should continue. My only reservations: seems to be a lack of research on the 'smoking gun' portions of theory (especially, not enough detail on the phen-fen studies to evaluate their true importance). I give this 5 stars because an audience that would be even mildly interested in this subject can take alot away from this book. It is a fast read, but will make your mind think about your brain (or others' brains) many times after you put this book down.

Ruden's work is revolutionary. Not the final word, of course, but as a psychologist in the field I can say that The Craving Brain has been of immense value to me in both my research and clinical work. I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to understand and overcome an addiction.

This book is good in that it kinda skips past the self-help oppinionated stuff and helps the reader understand the chemistry of addition. The book makes alot of sense and gives good insight. I reccomend it.

Why do I stuff a whole bag of candy or quart of ice cream into my face? Why am I obsessed with Suzy down the street? Why do some people become alcoholics while others don't who drink just as much? Why am I so depressed? How can I learn to be satisfied with just the amount of food, sex and excitement that is good for me? This amazing book explains a neurobiological mechanism common to all these questions and more. It also provides helpful tools for the management of excessive cravings. This is done with such clarity and simplicity, and is potentially so valuable to humanity, that I believe it should be taught in school.

Anyone who has had issues with depression, obsessiveness, impulse control or addiction should be sure to get the Second Edition, which adds a lot of material on non-drug management of such problems.

On Jan. 23/00 I was waxing and waning on the merits of this bio-balance approach to addiction. Well , confession time ; I wrote that the day I severed the bond (33 years) with nicotine How - Zyban - if that is O.K. to mention .... but somehow ,in someway , that particular concotion ... ( its really wellbutrin), did everything that Ruden talks about.... it is definitely in the neuro-chemical balance in the brain; for me it worked; it cut the chord so to speak; ever since I can decide that I do not wish, desire or want to smoke......and 347 days later still agree with delightful easement. If only the medical establishment would get serious and start doing some baseline metabolic type test : why did it work on me and not on .. Joe or Mary ???? Letsget with it!

Finally , something on , about addictions that seems to hit the proverbial nail on the head. A forward assault on the bottom line of'addiction' ..the craving brain .....the complex of neuro-chemicals , especially dopamine and serotonin , and the yin/yang; up.down ; getting the right balance. Presented as a theory ... as such holds the potential as a very fruitful theory.

I came across this book by coincidence when reading and comparing various diet books. It has really opening my eyes and I found it quite fascinating. I've always been intrigued by neuro-psychology and this book fits right in there. It really helps to understand why a person is doing what they are doing. If you don't understand why, it's going to be much harder to figure out how to change it.

I noticed the reviews of the 2nd edition (which I have not read yet) complain about it not telling HOW to change things. For this edition at least, the prologue says straight out that this is not a self-help book. This is a theory, and anyone who has read or written a thesis in college knows that a thesis is not a step-by-step guide on how to do something. A thesis gives makes points that one can analysis and interpret as it applies to them. I found that this book did quite clearly spell out ways that have been shown to increase serotonin, such as the herd, lowering stresses, etc. The book talks about a few methods that have been shown to work for others, which I took as something I should try myself, thus I saw it as actually giving me methods to help myself. However, I had to make the obvious conclusion of trying for myself, what he tells me has worked for others. In order to make use of this book, one must be capable of making these types of conclusions for themselves.

Dr. Ruden is my Physician and all I will say is that he is the best doctor I have ever have. If I ever have to switch Insurance and have to go outta network to see him, I will.

When you read this book, let it be known that you are in good hands.