Customer Reviews

Workaholics: The Respectable Addicts

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

 

 

Barbara gives an excellent description of the causes and gradual breakdown of workaholism. She discusses the various types of workaholics and their behavior. The symptoms are fully detailed. Just wish she could give us some more hope for a cure

With chilling accuracy, Killinger describes the downward spiral of the workaholic, with death as the fate of those who cannot or will not pull themselves out of their own making. A fascinating book, it is one of the few available on this topic (which is still largely unresearched). The book describes not only the workaholic, but the effect on relationships around a workaholic, be it a co-worker, a spouse or child. Beginning with the first signs of workaholism, the book takes you chapter by chapter into the ever deepening void which is the workaholics life. Killinger has managed to capture many of the signs and symptoms of a workaholic, and has conveyed it to the reader in easy to understand language which is at the same time well-documented and researched. It is without a doubt THE major work in this field.

The symptoms and effects of workaholism are well detailed and explained. But hope and the recovery process are painfully absent.

Wonderful book - gave me insight into a workaholics mind in order to help me cope w/ living w/ one; of course, it was slightly used but in fantastic condition so the price was unbeatable.

One of the great challenges of any book on addictions, whether sex, drugs, drink, or work, is that sometimes it's hard to tell if you truly are addicted or not.

Working a lot does not mean addiction; likewise addiction does not mean working a lot. A person I met on an airplane recommended several books -- this was not one of them, but I bought a parcel of them.

The problem with work addiction, as stated by the author, is that unlike drugs or sex, work is truly condoned and encouraged by society. In addition, people who work hard and are good at what they do, may be more likely to be intelligent enough to rationalize their addictions more successfully. Alas, it is these very things that make it difficult to differentiate between addiction and a mere love of work. Unfortunately, this book did very little to help a reader draw that line. Using extreme examples where people kill others or themselves because of work doesn't help draw the line. Admittedly it's hard!

The person whom I met on the plane is a counselor for work addictions, and did eventually think that I did not have such a problem. To paraphrase him, loving work is a gift that should not be mistaken for addiction. At the same time, setting priorities is important. I wish I could say this book will help you, but unless you are really at one end of the scale, I doubt it will.