Losing Your Shirt - Second Edition: Recovery for Compulsive Gamblers and Their Families [Paperback]

Mary Heineman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2001

Mary Heineman's authoritative book about compulsive gambling is as complete as it is compassionate. Losing Your Shirt offers a non-threatening approach to the problems encountered with compulsive gambling, both for the addicted and the addicted's loved ones. Individuals struggling to overcome compulsive gambling will see themselves in the book's powerful personal narratives. And, family members will learn not to blame themselves; not to resent the time and effort recovery takes; and not to condemn forever the recovering gambler for hardships caused by past gambling.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden; 2 edition (September 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568387334
• ISBN-13: 978-1568387338
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars True stories but no solutions for families, September 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Losing Your Shirt: Recovery for Compulsive Gamblers and Their Families (Paperback)

As the adult child of a compulsive gambler, I picked up this book in desperation, looking for some answers on how I should react to my father and the chaos he has made of his and my mother's life, so that I am actually helping and not hurting the situation. I was sadly disappointed. The only "answers" presented in this book are many recommendations to join GA/Gam-anon. Unfortunately, there is no Gam-anon meeting in my area. I was also looking for an explanation of what it means to "work the steps" and what each step requires. No luck. Just a list of the steps. There are lots of true stories, enough so that almost any reader can find a situation they can relate to, but after you've read through Part One it starts to get tedious and really only depressed me more.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for gambler's families, June 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Losing Your Shirt: Recovery for Compulsive Gamblers and Their Families (Paperback)

Anyone affected by another's gambling must read this book. Also anyone who has ever been told by another that their gambling is problematic must stop and look for themselves in Losing Your Shirt. Being able to identify may be the beginning of getting help before all is lost.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Losing Your Shirt" gives hope and understanding., May 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Losing Your Shirt: Recovery for Compulsive Gamblers and Their Families (Paperback)

This book is an excellent source for understanding not only the gambler and his/her addiction, but the family members touched by the addiction. It is so well-written, that all members involved in the gambler's life (including the gambler) can relate to its message. For the spouse of a gambler, it can help you to get to the most important stage of grief, which is acceptance. Understanding breeds acceptance.