Customer Reviews

Lifeskills for Adult Children

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a veteran of the "adult child" genre, and as I was reading this book, I found myself thinking that other books in my library covered this ground much more effectively for my taste. I found the tone of this volume somewhat simplistic and the sample person-to-person interactions a bit forced (which I suppose is the point), but that made it hard for me to relate to them or imagine myself carrying out the sample exercises.

Personally, I got a lot more out of _Adult Children of Abusive Parents_ by Steven Farmer, which deals with many of the same topics but uses far more detail and more real-life examples I could believe actually happened, and that made a big difference in whether I felt able to take the advice to heart. (Details ARE important to me, and I felt like _Lifeskills_ was light on them: My copy may be 200 pages long, but it uses a suspiciously large font and liberal line spacing -- only 28 lines to a page.)

There's also a curious convention _Lifeskills_ uses -- three small stylized icons of a man tilting back a bottle of wine, which are used as section separators! Given that many "adult children" have one or more alcoholic parents, this really made me cringe.

If you've never read any other books in this genre, this is probably an OK place to start. I just found that with some other books on this topic I'd read, I got more "bang for the buck."

"Lifeskills" is one of those books everyone should own. It deals with the personality traits inherent in those from dysfunctional families (primarily, children of alcoholics) and presents "normal" functioning skills which children of alcoholics often do not learn. Even if one is not a product of an alcoholic environment, this book gives an excellent view of healthy, "normal" responses to life's daily situations.

For years I have struggled with poor social and communication skills which caused me great frustration. This book was written for people like myself who have grown up in the shadows of alcoholism and consequently did not develop some key life skills as a result of the alcoholic environment. This book is a must read. it is thoroughly well written, with examples and instructions on how to develop the life skills needed. i especially liked the chapter that focused on conversation clues, which gives scenarios that can be used in everyday life. Wonderful!!

This is a great book for Adult Children of Alcoholics. One of the shared characteristics I've learned about adult children is a yearning for what is "normal". This book helps to know how to 'pick up the many broken pieces' and learn how to move on from the childhood life-style we were brought up in and relearn what is normal. I've read another book by the same author and have enjoyed the amazing insight she brings to light. I would hightly recommend Adult Children of Alcoholics expanded edition. It tells about the several characteristics identifiable statics that so many of Adult Children have in common --- it is amazing! A couple of other reads I would recommend and have found very insightful are:

YOUR PERFECT RIGHT: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships (9th Edition) by Robert E. Alberti and Michael L. Emmons
(Excellent book on how to be Assertive ---not passive or aggressive.)

BOUNDARIES by Cloud/Townsend --- When to say YES, When to say NO, To take Control of Your Life
(A must read book-- it helped change my life). We all need boundaries in our life and this book helps in many ways, but a couple that stand out are "the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions, and how to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others".

Because of Janet G. Woititz and her many years of studies in the area of Ault Children and her writings on these topics to the public as well as other colleages in her field, I have been greatly helped and on the road to recovery!

I haven't finished reading the entire book yet but I'm finding it to be a little basic. The information is all useful but at this point in my life (I'm in my 50's), I've figured out most of these skills on my own already. The book probably would have had more impact on me when I was younger and still struggling with the kinds of things the book addresses. Certainly I'm better able to cope now because of the kinds of skills the book teaches. And of course the learning process never really ends (I am reading the book after all!). So I would say the book is worthwhile but its impact may depend on where the reader is in their personal journey.

I've purchased many books by Janet Woititz and have not been disappointed. If you're an adult child of an alcholic, this book can help. However, I suggest you start with reading Woititz's book "Adult Children of Alcholics".

The skills taught in this book can be used from the day I read it.
Although there is enough number of books analyzing abuse, this book is different because it is so helpful in coping with life for adult children like me.

This book is great and very helpful for all ACOAs! I loved it and it really gave me some skills to take home! Janet Woititz is a great author who is very knowledgeable about her subject, and I recommend this book to anyone struggling to deal with being an adult child!

This book was very helpful in helping recover as a ACOA. It was Insightful as to what I can do to change behaviors that I have learned becuase i lived with Alcoholic parents.

debated over the purchase of this book for several months before I decided to purchase this book thanks to the previous reviews. I was not as impressed once I began to read it. But for those who are just beginning to research why they are adult children it will do.