In The Art of Moderation, John Michael has written a radical book about a common topic - alcoholics who reduce their drinking. Educated by Alcoholics Anonymous that this was impossible, John proceeded to live out the AA reality of periodically abstaining, then drinking all out for long periods at a time. Eventually, John decided to reject the AA claim that he would be an alcoholic his whole himself or herself; the values and activities one embraces; the people one associates with; the feelings that dominate one's life; heath behaviors like diet, exercise and smoking; the way one actually drinks alcohol; and one's larger ethical and moral principles. Moderating one's drinking takes time, effort, thought, and practice. It is not complicated, however. What it takes is perfecting the various facets of one's internal and external life.
"John Michael's book is genuine, well-written, and represents sound and scientific principles. He has become one of those bold enough to reveal the secrets that enable most alcoholics to escape the grasp of both booze and the AA philosophy that may be equally addictive. -- Stanton Peele, author of Diseasing of America and the Truth About Addiction and recovery
I usually underline with a yellow marker. Had I underlined your important comments I would have had a yellow book! -- Richard O'Toole, Ph.D., ST. Petersburg Florida
John Michael's book is genuine, well-written, and represents sound and scientific principles. -- Stanton Peele, Ph.D., Author, Addiction Researcher
Michael brings hope -- and a good deal of down-to-earth practical advice. -- Jan Blomqvist, Ph.D., Addiction Researcher, Stockholm
Sophisticated and stern process that many alcoholics may find more palatable than AA, though requiring no less disipline and honesty. -- Today's Librarian
There is a widespread belief that the only alternative left to people with severe alcohol problems, is to submit to being a 'non-practicing alcoholic' and to commit oneself to life-long total abstinence. Contrary to this, modern research has recurrently showed that there are multiple paths to stable recovery from such problems, and that quite a few do resume non-problematic drinking. John Michael -- in his account of how he managed to overcome his addiction to alcohol, not by trying to resist his 'inner urge' to overindulge but by learning to desire to be a moderate person -- provides an ample illustration of these findings. By sharing his experiences of how he managed to change his lifestyle, the author brings hope -- and a good deal of down-to-earth practical advice -- to those who find that their excessive drinking brings misery but, for various reasons, are not inclined to define themselves the incurable victims of an impersonal 'alcohol disease'. -- Jan Blomqvist, Ph.D., Addiction Researcher, Stockholm
Product Description
Readers will be enlightened, while seriously facing their lifestyle habits, with this succinct, yet comprehensive, dialogue of an ex-alcoholic and his conversion to drinking moderately.
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