Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions [Paperback]

John Howard Prin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Every day millions of people do things they hide from friends and family: gambling, shopping, adultery, eating disorders, drug use, and more. In fact, about one in fifteen people is living a secret life. That means somebody close to you may be a Secret Keeper. Or it could be you.
For three decades, author and counselor John Howard Prin lived as a Secret Keeper, and his secret addictions escalated to near catastrophe. Since breaking the habit, he has directly experienced the rewards of successful recovery — whole-mindedness and renewed integrity. In these pages, he offers compelling true stories and practical exercises to empower anyone to break secret-keeping habits or help a loved one caught in a web of deception.
The first half of the book explores the human tendency to keep secrets, profiling a variety of Secret Keepers from all walks of life. The second half provides a clear, step-by-step approach to healing, rebuilding self-esteem, and living a healthy, secret-free life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A timely book! John Howard Prin takes the reader on a wonderfully exciting journey of self-exploration and the development of personal insight. He provides practical methods to free ourselves of our `hidden secrets' so that ultimately we can be at peace with who we are even when no one else is around." -- Patrick DeChello, PhD, author of Understanding Self-Injury

"Anyone who keeps secrets will find powerful help here. John Prin does a masterful job of showing both the nature of the problem and the solution. John knows his stuff." -- Earnie Larsen, author of Believing in Myself and Stage II Recovery

"As a recovering alcoholic, I have devoted a good part of my public life to raising awareness of the importance of treatment. John Prin has performed a public service of the highest order with Secret Keeping, which paints a pragmatic path to addressing addictions, boosting self-esteem, and living honestly and openly. John Prin's message is uplifting: treatment works, and recovery is possible." -- Jim Ramstad, U.S. House of Representatives, co-chair of the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus

"John Howard Prin's Secret Keeping is the first book I've read that explores the origins and essence of secrets -- how they help us and when they hurt us. Using examples from his own life and the lives of others -- from public figures to the guy next door -- Prin skillfully weaves a new quilt of understanding of the Jekyll and Hyde in each of us. He also provides new and necessary hope with a series of practical exercises we can use to transform ourselves and our world." -- Terrence Daryl Shulman, JD, MSW, CAC, author of Something for Nothing

"John Prin has written an important work that offers understanding, depth, and hope. It presents a path to letting go of secrets and living a life of honesty, openness, and transparency. A wonderful contribution to the recovery process." -- Claudia Black, PhD, author of It Will Never Happen to Me

About the Author

John Howard Prin is a licensed alcohol and drug counsellor, speaker, and teacher. Counting among his seminar clients Ford Motor Company and Eli Lilly, he has written for many American publications. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: New World Library (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577315340
• ISBN-13: 978-1577315346
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Howard Prin, BA, LADC, specializes in helping people who are recovering from addictions experience the joys and rewards of lifelong recovery. John's talents as an addictions counselor and educator have motivated individuals in recovery groups and treatment centers to stay sober nationwide.

In 2010, John's nonfiction writing opened doors to his love of fiction and memoir. His longtime dream of writing novels sparked new creative projects--stories of love, marriage and sexuality. His writing mantra? "Love transforms us into our better selves." Look for updates on this new direction emerging from his energy and passion.

Along with John's love of counseling and helping people reach their potential, he has published numerous articles and books on addiction/recovery topics. Participants of John's audience-centered lectures, both clients and professionals, find them interactive and entertaining. At Hazelden treatment center, he served as a clinical case manager and unit counselor. Currently he heads True You Recovery, Inc. in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. John's career began with his own recovery from chemical addictions in 1996.

John welcomes comments and dialogue from readers (fully confidential) on topics ranging from the 12-Steps to unhealthy secrets to clinical therapies and more. Contact him at www.TrueYouRecovery.com, where you will find more about his services and fiction/memoir projects, including his email address and phone number.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of reassurance, encouragement and hope, December 20, 2006

By 

Cheris S. Garrison (Madison, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions (Paperback)

John Prin's second book is not just for persons with secret addictions, but for everyone who cares about our fellow human beings and wants to learn more about us. We can all recognize someone in this book, whether it's a friend, family member or a public figure. The book is very readable and moves along swiftly, enriched by the many detailed personal stories of secret keepers. A very powerful part of this book is John Prin's sharing of his own personal 30-year experience of secret keeping and his recovery.

The book is divided into 2 sections: "Problems and Consequences" in which the author explains the "degrees" of Secret Keeping (from benign to malignant), and "Solutions and Rewards" in which he offers 6 stages to successful recovery, with checklists and exercises to work through. In addition, this book has a strong feeling of hope, reassurance, patience, and encouragement along with a very welcome spiritual element.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Toxic Secrets, January 4, 2007

By 

Douglas E. Tueting (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions (Paperback)

Secret Keeping by John Prin is a latest clinical study of the origins, toxicity and healing of the secret keeping that warp and suffocate human experience. Prin takes his previous work further to suggest the myriad forces that tempt and drive the secret keeper, and then he shows the way out. With many illustrations, stories, graphics and current scholarship this engaging book is easily readable and highly useful. Our toxic secrets really do strangle us all, but Prin shows a way to new life.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, Hopeful, Helpful, November 22, 2006

By 

Jane Maccarter "Jane Susan MacCarter" (Livingston, MT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions (Paperback)

"Excitement... pleasure... delight." To varying degrees, we all crave these qualities in our lives, and why not? Usually they serve to improve our tenor of our days.

However, when our craving for excitement comes only from 'the excitement of breaking a rule'... and when our pleasures are chiefly derived from illicit or destructive acts... ... and when our delight in these activities comes only in the fact of 'getting away with it'.... then we're in big trouble, Bubba, whether we admit it or not.

Mr. Prin hones in on the true causes of addiction, destructive behavior and self-loathing. In SECRET KEEPING, Prin offers readers a deeply moving tale of a previously skewed, unhappy life (Prin's personal autobiography, along with other case histories) on the one hand... and a riveting, inspiring 'how-to guide' on turning one's life around-yours, mine, anyone's-on the other.

Prin's autobiographical segments keep the reader riveted, wondering what will happen next. His tried-and-true 'how-to' chapters-how to move from a life of dysfunction and unhappiness to one of authenticity and self-worth-are streamlined, succinct, and easy to understand.

SECRET KEEPING guides readers along a six-step path on the continuum of dysfunction and addition to wholeness and recovery, helping them to...
° Surrender secret keeping habits and attitudes
° Accept one's duality and start understanding it
° Prepare to state the true facts about one's life
° Disclose secrets (true facts) to somebody
° Trust in a new world view, and to
° Account for present and future behavior

Prin also provides 'Three Rs' to help motivate readers to improve their lives, wherein...
° Realistic thoughts replace distorted thoughts
° Positive feelings are restored, and
° One is able to reconnect with one's spirituality.

Prin's latest book can help anyone along the seeker's path to finally become the whole-minded individual all of us wish to be. SECRET KEEPING is fine, fresh, and written in a manner that keeps the reader turning pages, far into the night.

* * *