Understanding the Alcoholic's Mind: The Nature of Craving and How to Control It

by Arnold M. Ludwig

Book Overview

Despite the immense obstacles they face, many alcoholics do manage to recover. In this groundbreaking book, Arnold M. Ludwig--a doctor with over twenty-five years of experience working with alcoholics--goes inside the minds of alcoholics in order to explain the behaviors and thought processes they use to get and stay sober. Whether alcoholics achieve recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous, a church, counseling, hospitalization, or entirely of their...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195059182
• ISBN13: 9780195059182
• Release Date: June 1989
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Very helpfull

I enjoyed this book. I was having difficulty with a relative who was addicted. The book gave me insight into the problem. It was written at a high school level. It was easy to understand. The author gave me a lot of insight into the problem of addiction.

A cogent, powerful little book

Though lucky enough to not be an addict myself, I have learned a huge amount about alcoholism and recovery from it in the past few months. I've been to several dozen AA and Al-Anon meetings, read many, many books and pamphlets and I must say that Ludwig's book is definitely one of the best I've read during that time. Everything he writes about rings dead true from what alcoholics, both using and recovering, and their loved ones report. If I had only one book to recommend as an adjunct to a good 12-step program, it would probably be this one. Don't be put off by the mass of references and small print, it's not a completely academic effort, but extremely pragmatic, super well written and easy to read and compassionate without being coddling. (The other writer I can't recommend highly enough on relapse prevention is Terence Gorski, but that's a subject for another review...)

Filled in the gaps

I have been in substance abuse counseling and AA on and off for a few years. Recently I began researching alternatives to the 12-step approach in secular organizations such as SOS and non-AA affiliated books such as "Rational Recovery." This was one of the books I chose to read and I'm very happy I did. Written by a medical doctor and experienced researcher, the book brings together a lot of information about alcoholism that I had picked up in bits and pieces from treatment into an understandable and inspiring model for recovery. The chapters -- entitled "Paradoxes and Contradictions", "The Lure of the Siren", "The Dry Drunk", "The Mystery of Craving", "On and Off the Wagon", "The Proper Frame of Mind", "Resisting Temptation", "Sobriety Scripts" and "The Sober Mind" -- cover in depth how and why alcoholics relapse, and present foundations for committed sobriety. He states the fundamental view of the book in the preface: "1. ...many alcoholics, under the proper circumstances, do manage to recover. 2. Those who recover do so by adopting certain characteristic ways of thinking and behaving. 3. The changes associated with recovery...tend to involve...all aspects of their lives." The book follows this premise with scientific background, real life examples, and insight into why AA and other approaches work or do not work for different individuals. I've been able to put into perspective the seriousness of my harmful drinking and understand what it means for me to make a true, lasting commitment to sobriety. Most importantly, I've gained insight into the worst aspect of alcoholism (for me), craving, through the latter chapters on how to avoid, curtail and resist it. The information in this book has given me valuable tools to continue with my sobriety.

Well written and convincing

I love this book. As a drunk, I recommend it to all my friends who need help quitting. The book talks a lot about the tricks we play on ourselves.

A Very Effective Tool for Those Who Want to Stop Drinking

This book is a good "companion" book for someone who wants to stop drinking. It has chapters detailing the nature of cravings, practical solutions for resisting temptation, and what happens beyond sobriety. You can pick it up and put it down, after the first read through, and always find something useful if you need a little boost. The author's credentials and amount of research are exemplary.