How to Quit Drinking without AA: A Complete Self-Help Guide, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The more you know about a problem, the better equipped you are to resolve it..." (more)
Key Phrases: problems alcohol causes, alcoholic drinkers, quitting drinking, New York, Rational Recovery, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Quit drinking on your own terms," urges Jerry Dorsman, addictions counselor and an alcoholic in recovery for over 16 years. Those terms, carefully outlined in How to Quit Drinking Without AA, shift the treatment model away from disease toward holism. In this upbeat and clearly written guide, Dorsman neither moralizes nor locks the alcoholic in the perception of powerlessness. "A part of you remains nonalcoholic, no matter how much you drink," Dorsman counsels. This book aims at reaching the strength and integrity of the nonalcoholic self.

Offering a refreshing look at the problem, Dorsman emphasizes habit over disease. If drinking is a learned behavior, it can be unlearned. Each chapter contains worksheets designed to penetrate the alcoholic's denial and exercises to assess the problem. Five simply stated steps integrate psychological and physical realties. A chapter on healing details a regimen of healthy eating, physical exercise, and great activities to substitute for drinking. A chapter on renewal offers auxiliary therapies to drug and alcohol treatment such as acupuncture, massage, and tai chi. How To Quit Drinking Without AA will appeal to those who are ready to take charge of their recovery, seeing it as nothing less than the means to change one's life.

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Take Control of Your Own Recovery Process -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 2nd,Revised edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076151290X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761512905
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,317 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive, effective, passionate recovery manual!, March 21, 1999

By	[e-mail] "bsgoodwin" (Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

First, I'd like to ask you, the reviewer, to ignore the negative comments of any other reviewers in this passage. The reason I ask you to is that they have lost sight of the overall perspective and value of this wonderful manual. One reviewer, with their religious overtones, would probably have one replace one addiction with another. I don't believe that individual truly understands spirituality. I won't elaborate any further. Ignorance makes itself known.

Jerry Dorsman's book simply is a comprehensive guide to alcohol addiction treatment that does not focus on one methodology, but all of them. No one therapy can boast a cure-all for every single person afflicted. One would be naive to think so or is brainwashed. I'm not saying that one should not be proud of their accomplishment, believe strongly in how they recovered, and promote it. But, when your promotion is putting down other recovery methods that have worked for others, then that is foolish. The greater good is served when we embrace all methodologies; and just as each one of us is unique, we need to accept that certain methods for treatment will suit some people better than others. Why wouldn't we want to promote this? How does this harm anyone? Actually, it harms far more people if we chose to compartmentalize our problems like so many bills at the end of the month. I feel I can comment on this at length because I have used Jerry Dorsman's book extensively in treating not only alcohol addiction but other substance abuse problems. I have worked doubly with the chronically mentally ill and addicts of alcohol and drugs. Mostly, I have worked with the dually-diagnosed, those that are afflicted with both mental illness and addictions problems. I have seen tremendous results from my use and reference of this book. I encourage others to buy it to become more effective! Trust me, because I am a real person in the real world treating real people with real problems. If you want solutions and are wondering where to start or look, look no further than this book. It is the best stepping stone you can use to recover from alcoholism. But, if you think Jerry Dorsman would have you believe this book is all you need, you're wrong. This book will open your eyes and give you hope for a life fulfilled and full of happiness finally. The next step is your decision to take power over your own life. Good luck:)

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best and Most Effective Recovery and Empowerment Book!, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

I bought this book in a previous edition, and I intend to get the '98 edition just to see what Jerry has added. I feel that mentioning AA in the title is important in that I had been looking for an alternative to AA (which I used successfully and UNHAPPILY for 3 tears). A title is of course what you first take note of in a bookstore. It is not an AA bashing book, it is far too ethical for that. If you're looking for common sense methods of quitting and staying that way, facts rather than folklore, and a presentattion that does not insult the reader, this is the book for you.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me !, December 13, 2006

By	J. Woods (Biloxi, MS) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After having alcohol destroy my life for the past 17 years, I finally wised up and said the hell with this. I'm an atheist so I figured that AA wouldn't be the right choice for me, so I purchased this book and set my mind on defeating the grip alcohol had on me.....I WON! It has been 6 months now without a drop of alcohol, I feel great! If I can do it, anyone can. I highly recommend this book....good luck to anyone trying to quit, You CAN do it.