Alcoholism: The Facts is a classic text on one of the most common drugs in the world - alcohol. The book is written for those who share their life with someone who has an alcohol problem and those who have an alcohol problem. The author, Donald W. Goodwin, is a practicing doctor who can skillfully write so that the average layman as well as an up-and-coming medical professional can gain valuable incite into the world of alcoholism.Dr. Goodwin has organized his book into four major parts: 1) Alcohol, 2) Alcoholism, 3) Understanding Alcoholism, and 4) Treating Alcoholism. Each major part of the book is subdivided into four additional sections.
PART 1: Alcohol - This part of the book introduces the reader to alcohol. It talks about the types of alcohol beverages, how alcohol affects the body, how alcohol influences behavior, and alcohol throughout history.
PART 2: Alcoholism - The author defines alcoholism, provides the reader with explicit symptoms of the alcoholic, explains the typical course the alcoholic travels, and provides in-depth information on women and alcohol.
PART 3: Understanding Alcoholism - Here the author discusses the risk factors related to alcohol, the connection between alcoholism and depression, alcoholism within the realm of heredity, the addictive cycle of alcohol, and several psychosocial theories related to alcoholism.
Section 4: Treating Alcoholism - Dr. Goodwin covers the variety of treatments available for those who struggle with alcohol. Research gathered from treatments in the West as well as research gathered from the East. There was a chapter dedicated to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and one on attacking the problem of alcoholism within the family. The book ends with one of the most widely-used self screening questionnaires for detecting alcoholism. This questionnaire is called MAST or Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. The questions are pretty intense but straight forward.
MY TWENTY DOLLARS WORTH: Typically I loath (tier 2 word) scientific type books with big tier 3 words and pages upon pages of information a doctorate student could only understand. However, this 158 page book on alcoholism was informative, practical, and easy to read. Traditionally, I trudge through non-fiction books especially when they contain a ton of material just to support the author's one main point. This author was gracious enough to trudge through the mounds and mounds of research for us and then summarize his findings. Yes, this book is a summary of Donald W. Goodwin's research. It has been written in a way so that even a lay-person can understand the complexities of alcoholism.
This was a simple read. The book has given me an insight into a world I have chosen to ignore. Alcohol impacts every one's life whether they are the drinker or the non-drinker. Is it good or bad? Is there a good time and a bad time to consume alcohol? Is there a right amount or wrong amount of alcohol one should consume? These are all questions each person must individually resolve within themselves. However, think about this: "If anything (i.e. alcohol, food, pills, lust, etc.) consumes your every thought, find a friend and talk about it. This may be the key to opening the door to a healthier and happier life."
PART 1: Alcohol - This part of the book introduces the reader to alcohol. It talks about the types of alcohol beverages, how alcohol affects the body, how alcohol influences behavior, and alcohol throughout history.
PART 2: Alcoholism - The author defines alcoholism, provides the reader with explicit symptoms of the alcoholic, explains the typical course the alcoholic travels, and provides in-depth information on women and alcohol.
PART 3: Understanding Alcoholism - Here the author discusses the risk factors related to alcohol, the connection between alcoholism and depression, alcoholism within the realm of heredity, the addictive cycle of alcohol, and several psychosocial theories related to alcoholism.
Section 4: Treating Alcoholism - Dr. Goodwin covers the variety of treatments available for those who struggle with alcohol. Research gathered from treatments in the West as well as research gathered from the East. There was a chapter dedicated to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and one on attacking the problem of alcoholism within the family. The book ends with one of the most widely-used self screening questionnaires for detecting alcoholism. This questionnaire is called MAST or Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. The questions are pretty intense but straight forward.
MY TWENTY DOLLARS WORTH: Typically I loath (tier 2 word) scientific type books with big tier 3 words and pages upon pages of information a doctorate student could only understand. However, this 158 page book on alcoholism was informative, practical, and easy to read. Traditionally, I trudge through non-fiction books especially when they contain a ton of material just to support the author's one main point. This author was gracious enough to trudge through the mounds and mounds of research for us and then summarize his findings. Yes, this book is a summary of Donald W. Goodwin's research. It has been written in a way so that even a lay-person can understand the complexities of alcoholism.
This was a simple read. The book has given me an insight into a world I have chosen to ignore. Alcohol impacts every one's life whether they are the drinker or the non-drinker. Is it good or bad? Is there a good time and a bad time to consume alcohol? Is there a right amount or wrong amount of alcohol one should consume? These are all questions each person must individually resolve within themselves. However, think about this: "If anything (i.e. alcohol, food, pills, lust, etc.) consumes your every thought, find a friend and talk about it. This may be the key to opening the door to a healthier and happier life."
Back in the late 60's - early 70's there was a commercial with an elephant roaming through a house. This commercial seemed to be on every channel, every day, in between every show. The commercial began with the camera zooming in and out of rooms throughout the house. Then the front door opened. A few heads turned towards the door as this huge elephant walked in. As the elephant walked through the house from room to room, each of the family members simply ignored the elephant or moved quickly out of its way. Before the commercial came to an end, the figure of the elephant faded into grey and was replaced with the figure of a man. The picture faded away and some message about ignoring alcoholism was placed on the screen. I wonder how many of us know of an elephant in our house yet chose to ignore it? Or worse. I wonder how many of us are the elephant yet don't realize it or chose to ignore it.
I highly recommend this book for those who want to gain practical knowledge about alcoholism. As I have mentioned previously, it is an easy read and worth the space in your professional library.
AR QUIZ: NO AR QUIZ
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