Customer Reviews

Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic: Professional Views and Personal Insights (The Praeger Series on Contemporary Health and Living)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an important book because it fills a gaping hole in the literature about alcoholism. High-powered executives, leading academics and successful artists and authors can all be alcoholics and the problems they face are not the same as those of a skid-row bum. The experiences they have as alcoholism intrudes inexorably into their lives and the choices they make about recovery programs have not been described before in the insightful way that Benton does in this book. Her use of interviews and personal stories complements the thoroughly professional approach she takes to what is a huge issue affecting health and productivity across the world. Alcoholism is not necessarily regarded as a disease by medical authorities, nor are twelve step programs the only kinds of treatment programs, but Sarah Benton has captured the essence of these two tried and trusted principles that have proven to be the most effective ways of dealing with alcoholism over the years. It is especially significant that this book challenges the traditional criteria used by clinicians for diagnosing alcohol dependence and abuse and provides enough information for these criteria to be updated in a useful way. I recommend it warmly to anyone who works in this field and also to people who may wonder if they have a drinking problem despite being a high-functioning person.

This is an excellent source of valuable, first-hand information on alcoholism. The author, a high-functioning alcoholic in her own right, has the intestinal fortitude to "tell it like it is." I found her grasp of the subject material to be outstanding, and her knowledge, courage and ability to describe in detail what a high-functioning alcoholic looks, acts, and functions like to be fascinating. She describes characteristics and traits, which paint a vivid profile of the high-functioning alcoholic, and draws personal parallels from her own history to close out each chapter. This book is a must read for any leader, manager, supervisor, treatment professional, legal professional, or law enforcement officer.

With Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic Professional Views and Personal Insights Sarah Allen Benton adds an important new voice to the discussion and examination of the curse and conundrum of alcoholism. As an accomplished (highly functioning . . . sorry!) researcher and scholar, Benton offers an array of what I call "stats `n facts" (Benton's "Professional Views") which will amaze and alarm any reader with any interest in the topic of alcoholism. But Benton goes beyond providing a compilation of "stats `n facts." She adroitly uses these "Professional Views" as a framework or structure to support what I feel is the heart and soul of her book: her "Personal Insights." These insights, culled from years of her personal journal entries, recount her own experiences as an increasingly self-aware HFA (Highly Functioning Alcoholic). A gifted and painfully honest memoirist, Benton recalls Caroline Knapp (whom Benton, appropriately, cites throughout) whose seminal Drinking: A Love Story (1996) chronicles another HFA's journey.

By sharing her "Personal Insights," Benton illuminates the "Professional Views" and vividly reveals her growing awareness as she moves, over time, from denial to acceptance and from recognition to recovery. Her honesty is profound and profoundly moving. I found myself reading this work very deliberately: I was torn by my desire to devour the narrative, while also wanting to savor and reflect upon each revelation. In Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic Professional Views and Personal Insights, Benton successfully and courageously crafts an astonishing and deeply personal scholarly treatise.

The first half of this book offers no surprises in its examination of the fact that many well-functioning people are alcoholics. Statistical figures are duly trotted out and there are numerous anonymous anecdotes detailing various stories of addiction. Far too much much space is taken up with the author's unenlightening diary entries from the various stages of her own addiction (all of which are, strangely, written in the past tense.)
The second half of the book quickly degenerates into an uncritical paean of the twelve-step program, with the absurd assertion given that true recovery from alcoholism is not possible without "belief in a higher power." (The briefest of mention is given to recovery programs that are not faith-based.) Recovered alcoholics who do not believe are even called "sober alcoholics" to differentiate them from those who do believe, and it is stated that these people are not "truly" cured. (Benton finally admits three quarters into the book that she herself has always been a true believer.)
If you are not a believer and are looking for help with alcohol addiction, do not turn to this book: it will discourage you from even trying.

It is without reservation that I recommend this book. Saraha is unquestionably a true expert on both addiction and recovery. The latter being most important.

In her work, she has captured the essence of what it is to be an alcoholic. She puts words to feelings. Then, she offers hope, and a way out for those that choose it.

Through her experience and knowledge, others will find the strength and courage they need to put aside excuses, and seek help.

"Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic" will change lives. Perhaps, touching generations."

Read it, read it again, and then give it to someone you love to read it.

Paul

A good book on a difficult subject-what is the alcoholic like who still functions at a high-level. What does (s)he have in common with other alcoholics who have not done so well and lost so much more? What are the similarities between the HFA and the "Bowery-bum". It serves as an useful introduction to the topic. Very helpful book. A good read for people of diverse backgrounds and experience approaching this subject for the first time.

I read about this book in the NYT and kept shaking me head, yes. Yes, I know several people this could apply to. So many friends and family are leading highly successful lives so think they are invisible to disease and/or addiction. They say, that's not me! I make 6 figures, have a big house and kids etc. They are high-functioning! I've shared this book with one of them and they are definitely seeing the light - and getting help! Thanks, Ms. Benton.

Continued (intermittent) heavy drinking a decade into my professional career has left my career, home and family relatively untarnished, but myself increasingly devastated. After a year of unsuccessfully trying to conform my drinking, I explored some books about alcoholism. I read stories of people who triumphed after spiraling to the point of constant drinking and financial ruin. While inspiring, they left me in denial.

This book hit home like nothing else I've read. Benton includes her personal journal entries from various stages of her battle with alcohol and recovery. I literally gasped as I so clearly recognized my own denial, circular thinking and bewilderment. Benton then shares her experience in recovery. In addition to describing her journey through the 12 steps of AA, she gives a comprehensive, objective and evidence-based description of alternative (non-AA) treatment strategies and methods. She is clearly not only a recovering alcoholic, but also a compelling writer and treatment professional. Her combination of warmth, insight, and objectivity is unique and highly effective.

Before finishing the book, I attended my first 12-step meeting. Without this book, I never would have anticipated or recognized the denial that accompanied me at that meeting. I remain in early recovery. I refer to this book often. It reads as a survival manual--real, to the point--but with a deeply caring and personal voice. I highly recommend it to anyone who is contemplating sobriety, especially to those who look outwardly to deny an inner battle with alcohol.

Sarah Allen Benton's book on the High Functioning Alcoholic (HFA) opened my eyes immensely -- not only to a major worldwide health issue, but to my own personal struggle with alcoholism. As an HFA myself, I was in denial for ~10 years. My denial was fueled by all of the common thoughts that were similarly described - "I have a Master's Degree and a high-powered job, I'm not an alcoholic." Or "I work in healthcare, I think I would know if I had a problem with drinking." I strongly related not only to her personal journal entries and insight, but also to nearly all of the traits & characteristics described of many HFAs. I had NO IDEA there were so many other people out there like myself who struggled with living two different lives, losing all morality when drinking, not being able to (and having tried NUMEROUS times and methods) to stop drinking once I had JUST ONE alcoholic indulgence, never feeling like I had a serious problem yet always feeling that uncomfortable suspicion that my drinking was abnormal, the guilt and remorse after drinking, the spiritual struggle... I could go on and on.
In addition, as a member of a Twelve-Step recovery program who will have 9 months of sobriety next week, I really appreciated the research and descriptions of the various types of recovery programs. As a self-proclaimed athiest for many years, I was turned off by the idea of surrendering to a higher power. If I could do so many other great things in my life, why on earth couldn't I control my drinking? That was my train of thought then. Oddly, I do not feel the same way today. I thank my "higher power" daily for keeping me away from a drink. (Who, might I add, I initially thought of as my beloved dog, a far stretch from a religious organization or similar concept of God). Lastly, as I struggle through the 4th step of the 12, I greatly appreciated Ms. Benton's description, explanation & sharing of personal experiences of the twelve-step process. I finally understand why I am doing the things my sponsor asks me to do -- and they make perfect sense to me.
It is my hope that this book aids in the awareness and understanding of HFAs. Perhaps then I will not here the comment "why do you go to meetings? You are not an alcoholic" from the same people who witnessed me drink myself into a black out time and time again, and put myself in such risky situations that it is nothing short of a miracle I am alive, healthy & successful.

Everyone has a unique story and path to recovery. For me, this book told *my* story and helped me break any lingering thoughts I may have had about not being an alcoholic. I would fit the high-functioning label (executive, big house, cars, involved in the community, etc.) and there are many others that fit this label but are in denial about their problem. Many of us are in denial or fail to get help because we don't fit the existing stereotypes of what an alcoholic should "look" or "act" like. Instead, we rot from the inside. This book brings attention to this problem and makes recovery more accessible.

I especially appreciated the personal journal entries. I understand that not everyone will relate, but some will, and for those that do, these are powerful. The journal entries put to words the feelings and struggles that I went through in my journey, and the personal entries resonate in a way that no amount of data and statistics can. I'm grateful to the author for her courage in including these entries.

For anyone who is concerned about their drinking but believes they don't have a problem because they have a good job, a wife, happy kids, or a big house (or even all their teeth...), this book is worth the read. Even if a 12 step program isn't the right path for you, this book will help you look past the pretty exterior that many of us are able to put up and think honestly about our drinking.