Customer Reviews

Perfect Health Library: Overcoming Addictions: The Spiritual Solution (The Perfect Health Library , No 5)

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

 

 

I found this book to be enormously helpful. Unlike several reveiwers who didn't find a step-by-step approach, "Overcoming Addictions" seemed very clear in terms of actions to take. I've used the techniques and viewpoints expressed in the book and found it THE most helpful and effective approach to overcoming addictions I've seen yet. The problem is that you have to actually read the book and get the idea, instead of looking for lists of what to do. He treats you as an adult with a sound inner core. His view is that an addicted person is essentially trying to find joy and a degree of enlightenment. He honors the reader by saying that "using" is simply a misguided but understandable attempt to find union with the already existing inner child, the wise and joyful person who already exists. He explains the karmic cycle in clear terms and advises how to insert images, memories and real experiences into the cycle of addiction to supplant the old habit with new, positive ways to cope with life. His is a message of hope. It is not a method which punishes, negates or brands you with a label of "addict" for the rest of your life. This book, if read mindfully, can clear a way to a far happier life. As to specific techniques, he provides tips for yoga poses, food programs, questions to ask yourself and other advice. He advises mediation and gives several specific ways to use meditation and breathing exercises to increase mindfullness. His is a message of hope and positive action based on an understanding, very human and highly validating view of the addicted person.

One hopes Chopra's penchant for the prolific does not dilute the forcefulness of his ideas. This book is a perfect antidote to the "just say no" approach to addictive behaviors. The style is friendly, inspirational, delightfully allusive (references ranging from John Milton to Charlie Parker). Still one wishes for more specifics and comprehensiveness. Chopra treats alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs. What about legally prescribed yet abused drugs

I can not recommend this book to someone that is trying to overcome an addiction. I could not find where the spiritual solution was in this book. Meditation, yoga...sure I would recommend these to anyone, but they are not a solution. What I did find in this book was the definition of what the author believed an addiction to be. There are some really good books out there on addiction and this is not one of them. In my opinion, look for books that give you information on how to get to your inner child. Books with information on expressing suppressed emotions.

Read the recommendations on the cover carefully. They are ALL for the author, NOT the book. There are good reasons the book is not recommended. It is not based upon research or even extensive personal experience with addicts. It is simply some off the cuff remarks by a famous person who does not understand addiction. I agree spirituality is the cornerstone of recovery and joy is needed, but it is not as simple as the author implies. His emphasis on psychoanalytic understanding of addiction is very outdated and has not led effective treatment.

I found that this was a complete waste of time! I consider myself a very spiritual person but this was so vague that I kept waiting for the "meat and potatoes" so to speak. I have a family member who is a severe alcoholic and I found nothing in this concept that I could use to try to help the situation. Don't waste your money!

The author's approach is natural and meditative but lacks a step-by-step strategy. For those looking for steps to recovery, I suggest reading the book, Alcoholics Anonymous. This is THE founding text from which all other 12-step recovery programs began. Believe me, a recovering alcoholic, I found the SOLUTION in the 12-steps and with other recovering people. It saved millions of lives as well as my own.

This book is completely useless to a real addict. Being a recovering addict and actively working with other addicts in recovery I have to say that this book has absolutely no effect. I read it myself when I was still in my desease and was desperately looking for a solution and it had no impact on me. If the author would have made any kind of thorough research he would have noticed that a little pamphlet like this would have no effect. Addiction is an extremely powerful obsession and can only solved with a strict 12-step program or maybe some very, very good therapy.
This is the worst of Deepak's pseudo spiritual books. If you are an addict don't wast your money and do the real deal. If you are a friend or family member of an addict don't think that some superficial guru will solve the problem. Everybody who says there is a soft or easy solution is lying. Addiction can only be overcome by the willingness and hard work of the addict himself.

Another nice book with greate examples of origins of addiction and how we can control it. It is painful to look at the ill effects of addiction not only in us and in out loved ones. but this book completely changed the perspective.

This book has been amazingly helpful to me. It is a totally different approach to addiction, but truly seems like the correct and only way to go about it. This book can help you stop your addiction in a way that will last by changing your lifestyle and mindset. At last, an end in sight, and peace.

I would highly recommend this book, to any one who is going for the first time to overcome addictions. For me I have found out with this book that you can diminish greatly or completely eliminate addictions if you read it carefully, in detail and follow what Deepak Chopra is saying. Like I mentioned before it is the first step to recovery. I know that they are a lot of negative addictions out there like illegal drugs, alcohol, tobbacco, gambling and to much sex like a sex addict can also destoy lives. So if you really do want to take the first step to recovery I would recommend this book.