Customer Reviews

How to Quit Drinking without AA: A Complete Self-Help Guide, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

First, I'd like to ask you, the reviewer, to ignore the negative comments of any other reviewers in this passage. The reason I ask you to is that they have lost sight of the overall perspective and value of this wonderful manual. One reviewer, with their religious overtones, would probably have one replace one addiction with another. I don't believe that individual truly understands spirituality. I won't elaborate any further. Ignorance makes itself known.

Jerry Dorsman's book simply is a comprehensive guide to alcohol addiction treatment that does not focus on one methodology, but all of them. No one therapy can boast a cure-all for every single person afflicted. One would be naive to think so or is brainwashed. I'm not saying that one should not be proud of their accomplishment, believe strongly in how they recovered, and promote it. But, when your promotion is putting down other recovery methods that have worked for others, then that is foolish. The greater good is served when we embrace all methodologies; and just as each one of us is unique, we need to accept that certain methods for treatment will suit some people better than others. Why wouldn't we want to promote this? How does this harm anyone? Actually, it harms far more people if we chose to compartmentalize our problems like so many bills at the end of the month. I feel I can comment on this at length because I have used Jerry Dorsman's book extensively in treating not only alcohol addiction but other substance abuse problems. I have worked doubly with the chronically mentally ill and addicts of alcohol and drugs. Mostly, I have worked with the dually-diagnosed, those that are afflicted with both mental illness and addictions problems. I have seen tremendous results from my use and reference of this book. I encourage others to buy it to become more effective! Trust me, because I am a real person in the real world treating real people with real problems. If you want solutions and are wondering where to start or look, look no further than this book. It is the best stepping stone you can use to recover from alcoholism. But, if you think Jerry Dorsman would have you believe this book is all you need, you're wrong. This book will open your eyes and give you hope for a life fulfilled and full of happiness finally. The next step is your decision to take power over your own life. Good luck:)

After having alcohol destroy my life for the past 17 years, I finally wised up and said the hell with this. I'm an atheist so I figured that AA wouldn't be the right choice for me, so I purchased this book and set my mind on defeating the grip alcohol had on me.....I WON! It has been 6 months now without a drop of alcohol, I feel great! If I can do it, anyone can. I highly recommend this book....good luck to anyone trying to quit, You CAN do it.

I bought this book in a previous edition, and I intend to get the '98 edition just to see what Jerry has added. I feel that mentioning AA in the title is important in that I had been looking for an alternative to AA (which I used successfully and UNHAPPILY for 3 tears). A title is of course what you first take note of in a bookstore. It is not an AA bashing book, it is far too ethical for that. If you're looking for common sense methods of quitting and staying that way, facts rather than folklore, and a presentattion that does not insult the reader, this is the book for you.

Interesting to see the extremely positive and extremely negative ratings on this... Apparently there's not much of a middle ground here!

I enjoyed this book, and found it very helpful. I've been sober for 3.5 years now, and for me, it was very important to try to approach recovery holistically. And this book helped me to do that, by presenting new ideas and insights, with lots of clearly written information, and suggestions to try.

This book is not anti-AA in tone, nor does it suggest that individuals should not use any group support (AA or otherwise). It merely presents additional information and ideas, which the reader can evaluate and try out. For those who believe that each person must find his or her own road to recovery, this book is a good starting point.

As a qualifier, I have problems with alcohol addiction, and I am also a chemical engineer. I have tried AA and stayed sober for some time, but in the long run, it didn't work for me. I couldn't accept the first 3 steps of the 12, so I looked for an alternative. Unfortunately, this book is just factually wrong. The basis for the recovery program is based on Dorsman's assertion that alcohol is metabolized into glucose, so that alcohol consumption is equivalent to eating suger, causing hypoglycemia etc. This is plain wrong! Alcohol does have empty calories, but not because alcohol is a sugar. Alcohol is metabolized via it's own pathway through acetaldehyde to acetic acid to carbon dioxide (not glucose!) Your body will preferentially burn alcohol over any other foods since it is a poison and your body is desperately trying to get rid of the poison. As a byproduct of the metabolism, energy is generated.
There are much better books for those looking to quit drinking without AA, Two suggestions: "The Easy Way to Stop Drinking" by Allen Carr and "Alcohol: How to give it up and be glad you did" by Philip Tate.
I also wholeheartedly endorse giving AA a try. It didn't work for me, but it has worked for many people. I truly hope you (and I) can find the path to freedom from alcohol.

I am heavily involved in AA and am a supporter of AA. This book informs people of the physical aspects in details that you cannot get in AA. The book is full of information on health and natural recovery ideas. This book is educational on alcoholism and realistic and also in the '90s'......The author approaches alcoholism by showing you different ways to change your behavior. He gives you the information and you choose what works for you (as in AA).

The book basically shows a different approach which is refreshing and informative.

Very interesting reading for someone wanting to learn about alt. ways to deal with alcohol problems in your life. It is simple to read, makes good common sense, and I think addresses some of the issues facing someone who wants to quit drinking. It is not a spiritual book but more of a reality book for people who want to understand what an alcohol addiction can do to your life. It presents a number of alt. ways to deal with the problem both from a mental and physical standpoint.

This is NOT an anti-AA book but rather a book that presents many approaches to the incredible challenge/struggle of quitting drinking for good.
We are all individual and unique and therefore different approaches will work for different people.
Thank God AA works for many people but thank God (or whatever is important to you) that there are choices for those people that do not choose AA, ot that AA did not work for.
This book is filled with wonderful information, on many many different ways to quit drinking. Instead of viewing it as anti-AA why not see it as a blessing that may help people, anyone, stop drinking for good!!!

This was a good workbook. It was like being with your own personal pyschologist helping you figure out why you drink and what different methods there are out there to stop. I liked it so much I got one for someone else too.

Since I've quit drinking (on my own)I have read dozens of books on giving up alcohol. This book I liked but not in whole. I liked a lot of the ideas in the book and have post-its on the pages or chapters I really liked. I keep it in a cabinet where I kept my alcohol to remind myself of certain concepts and ideas that the book has. Every book on quitting have some really good chapters but this one has the most post-its for me.