Customer Reviews

A Place Called Self: Women, Sobriety & Radical Transformation

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

 

 

I've been recovering from compulsive overeating (food addiction)for two years and the information that I found in this book has been extremely valuable for my ongoing recovery. I wish I had found this book sooner. My abstinence would have been stronger and the way clearer a lot sooner. I have been enriched with insight and strenght by reading this book. I loved the way my experiences were validated and a way shown to continue my transformation. Transformation is not something that happens after completing a number of steps or directions. Transformation is an ongoing process, one that takes a lifetime. Throughout the journey, the payoffs are numerous. Once we embark in this journey, we are never the same. There is not an easy answer for life's difficulties and challenges. We will inevitably always encounter them. What we receive through transformation is the ability to cope with these difficulties, the ability to find inner joy and strenght without turning to substances or destructive behaviors. Thank you Ms. Brown for writing such a powerful book. I have bought it for my sisters and close friends struggling with one kind of addiction or another.

As a woman in early recovery, I really needed books that were speaking directly to women because lets face it, we woman are just built differently than men. So, it just goes with the territory that our recovery will be a bit different. I mean, men and women all go through many of the same trials and triumphs during recovery, but as I say, we woman are just built differently. That is not to say that all women will experience all of the moments considered in this book, but in my opinion, there were so many aspects of recovery detailed in this book that many of us will be able to relate to. In early recovery, it is so good when we learn that we are not unique in our madness. We aren't the only ones who did incredibly stupid, mortifying to remember things. It is so refreshing when we can hear someone else say something to which our reply can be,
"ME TOO." "I can't believe someone else felt that way!" This book should help women to realize that they are not alone and their feelings, WHATEVER they are, on any given day are OKAY! During early recovery, it has been so rewarding to read as much as I can and go to many meetings and reach out to other women. This book was one of the many valuable tools in my recovery process! I still have down days, but it is books like this that help to pull me up. Good buy!

This is an excellent resource for anyone working with women in recovery from addiction. Dr. Brown shares insight gained both from personal experience and in her work in sobriety. It is a useful perspective and helpful to professionals who may never have been addicts themselves. Betty Greene, LPC

After reading this book I was left with much dissappointment with Brown's description of "sober living." This books places a lot of emphasis on the negative and only briefly touches how truly wonderful living sober can be. Most information is slanted towards how difficult sobriety can be, and almost had me wondering why I didn't have many of the feelings and experiences she writes about. While there are twist and turns in sobriety, not all are negative. I would not recommend this book to a newly sober person as I feel it could perhaps have them questioning their own sobriety or worse, relapse.

This well written book is the first of its kind, that I have read, addressing womens issues without excessive feminism, man bashing or lesbian lobbying! I am impressed by its clarity of thought, organization and thorough approach to early recovery issues for recovering women!