The Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety (Paperback)

by Bert Pluymen (Author) "My name is Bert . . . and, uh, I have a desire to stop drinking..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Pluymen, once named one of the best lawyers in America, turns his attention from the law to write a thoroughly engaging, yet thought-provoking book on alcoholism. He is careful to point out that alcoholism is not just a disease of the down and out, but of the rich and famous and everyone in-between. Although his approach contains a good touch of humor, he remains fully cognizant of the seriousness of his subject. He mixes both facts on alcoholism and stories of alcoholics from different walks of life and at various stages of recovery. A particularly valuable chapter is "Wake-up Call for Women." Here he warns that not only are women at increased risk because of their drinking, but they suffer much more for drinking far less than men. For them, alcohol can become lethal after just two drinks. This is scary stuff, but through both the stories and his own tips, Pluymen shows those in the grip of this deadly disease a clear and effective way out. Marlene Chamberlain --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"A vital tool for awakening the alcohol-abusing professional." --Dr. Frank Sadlack, Ph.D., executive director of La Hacienda Treatment Center "The section on women [and alcohol] is especially good." --Ann W. Richards, former governor of Texas -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (January 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312254288
• ISBN-13: 978-0312254285
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,369 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bert's guide to being a rich drunk, August 16, 2005

By	Mike B. (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

I was looking forward to getting this book because, like Bert Pluyman, I'm a recovering alcoholic lawyer who lives in Austin! But, I was pretty disappointed.

The first half of the book is basically Bert's autobiography, including entries from his journal. It's replete with stories about his enormous wealth, his career success, his jet-setting playboy lifestyle, and his sexual conquests. Oh, and did I mention that he was captain of the high school football team, a great rugby and soccer player, and ran 3 miles a day even while drinking? Well, if I didn't mention it, Bert certainly does. Often. Of course, smattered amongst that are notes about how he would get drunk a lot and have bad hangovers.

Once you have choked down all the desciptions of life on the French Riviera and his big house in Westlake Hills, Bert informs us that there are studies out there showing a link between genetics and alcoholism (wow, no kidding!) and that substance abuse can cause heart problems (I had no idea). Mixed in are various platitudes from the Big Book, some attributed, some not. The second half of the book mostly consists of various testimonials from other drunks, a la Big Book, some of which were a little more helpful to those of us that don't own Ferraris. Tony's story in particular was quite moving to me. But, it wasn't worth reading the whole book.

The title implies that this book takes a more secular approach to sobriety. That's not the case, as Bert tells us "hey, you use electricity all the time without understanding it, don't you? You can do the same with God!" Where have I heard that before?

To summarize, this book is self-indulgent hack. I have to share with you a quote appearing as an introduction to Part Two:

"You are about to have the most meaningful relationship you will ever have.
That relationship is with yourself. You are about to discover who you really are."
-- James, a janitor with a fourth-grade education.

We can even learn from the Great Unwashed...

It's a pretty easy read, so even if you buy this you won't waste too much time on it. By the way, for those of you who are actually looking for a thinking person's guide to sobriety, I highly recommend Albert Ellis' "Rational Steps to Quitting Alcohol."

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Basically an intro to AA, with some testimonials, May 5, 2005

By	Larry R. Nelson (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Because of the title and other factors I was expecting a non-religious approach to alcoholism. But that is not what this book is. It is the story of one guy who didn't think he could possibly be an alcoholic, and how after some ups and downs discovered that he wanted to stop drinking and found great value in AA. He avoids discussing Christianity but a big part of his story is his improved relationship with what he calls God.

In other words, reading this book is a lot like just going to an AA meeting, where people every day tell the same story. As such, the book has value in the same way AA has value. And on those terms it is moderately useful, even including chapters in which some third parties tell their drinking stories, just like in AA. But in terms of rationality, this is no more a "thinking person's" book than any other. If you're looking for a secular book on alcohol recovery, keep looking.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best current book for high-bottom drunks, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety (Hardcover)

Bert Pluymen's The Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety is the best book I've seen regarding high-bottom alcoholics, those bright and successful people who have not yet qualified to tell lurid war stories and who therefore assume the early luxury of comparing themselves out the doors of many AA meetings. I've been a chemical dependency counselor for twenty-three years, and I still shudder when an attorney or social worker lands on my caseload and tells me everything that isn't wrong with him, little or nothing that is - except the documented complaints that forced him or her into treatment - and looks blank when asked the standard assessment questions that focus on obvious physical, psychological, behavioral, social and spiritual consequences. I believe that Mr. Pluymen has just given us an invaluable resource, and I may be using it for client homework assignments.