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Rating: 
Summary: The Stark Life of a Sex Addict
Review: I never understood sexual addiction until I read this book. Ryan is incredible - he is able to completely convey what horrors this compulsive behavior meant for him. What said it all to me is when he explained he would go into bars and pick up whomever - a man, a woman . . . it didn't seem to matter! (He wasn't bisexual) Another shocker is that he had an incredible position at Princeton, but just couldn't keep his you-know-what away from his students. All that mattered is that he HAD to have sex, the compulsion was so incredibly intense, he just approached whomever was handy. In addition, this book, surprisingly enough, is amazingly funny (it reminds me of another memoir, "Permanent Midnight" in that way). Sometimes I found myself laughing out loud! It seemed that the humor was a great healer for him. My only regret is that he didn't reveal his treatment, which I would have loved to have learned about, as his compulsion was so deeply engrained. Bravo to him for "coming out of the closet" on this issue, writing this book, and showing us what this compulsion took from him.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Real Journey
Review: I've had similiar issues as Mr. Ryan for over 30 years and I've never been able to express coherently my experience and feelings until I read this book. Mr. Ryan does an incredible job of translating complicated dynamics in a completely natural and real manner. That it is written in 1rst person narative and not from a distant doctors view from the ivory tower allows the average person to relate. The entire concept of "The Secret Life" is so dead on that I can think of no better way to identify what one goes through as a sex addict. I would think this would be fascinating reading for someone not suffering from this addiction. It is good writing. If the topic is relevent to your issues it will save your life.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Real Journey
Review: I've had similiar issues as Mr. Ryan for over 30 years and I've never been able to express coherently my experience and feelings until I read this book. Mr. Ryan does an incredible job of translating complicated dynamics in a completely natural and real manner. That it is written in 1rst person narative and not from a distant doctors view from the ivory tower allows the average person to relate. The entire concept of "The Secret Life" is so dead on that I can think of no better way to identify what one goes through as a sex addict. I would think this would be fascinating reading for someone not suffering from this addiction. It is good writing. If the topic is relevent to your issues it will save your life.
Rating:
Summary: A nice autobiography
Review: This book was tasteful and interesting. I bought and read this book because I saw that my english professor was reading it--I didn't even know what it was about. When I bought it and saw it was about an addiction to sex I felt a little embarrassed--but soon got over it because it's not about sex, it's about a man with an addiction. I reccomend this as a literary read if nothing else. Ryan has true talent.
Rating:
Summary: A nice autobiography
Review: This book was tasteful and interesting. I bought and read this book because I saw that my english professor was reading it--I didn't even know what it was about. When I bought it and saw it was about an addiction to sex I felt a little embarrassed--but soon got over it because it's not about sex, it's about a man with an addiction. I reccomend this as a literary read if nothing else. Ryan has true talent.
Rating:
Summary: Great story about the suffering of a sex addict.
Review: This is one of the very best books I have ever read about sex addiction. Not only does it present a powerful, gut-wrenching account of what it feels like to be such an addict, it also tells a moving, often tragic, but also inspiring story of growing up in the America of the '50s and '60s.The author wins you over early as he leads you slowly and painfully through his early childhood and molestation, his memories of his alcoholic father, academic and athletic struggles, peer conflicts, bottoming out in his sex addiction, then seeking recovery through a 12-step program. Must reading for anyone affiliated in any way at all with any of the nearly half dozen programs dealing with sex/lust addiction. Highly recommended for other 12-step recovery people who might be tempted to snear at sex addiction. Ryan demonstrates that his disease was just as deadly as alcoholism and drug addiction. After reading the book, one realizes it is no laughing matter - regardless of what some sitcoms and commercials say. Compares well with "Asylum" by Patrick McGrath, also about sex addiction, but, unlike "Secret Life," a novel with the tone of a thriller. Ryan's story is so compelling, one almost feels sorry to put it down but wishes the author well at the end as he embarks on a hopeful journey of recovery.
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