Rating: 
Summary: FABulous
Review: Dr. Drew--I just heard you mention on Loveline (night of 10-20-03) that you've been torturing yourself by reading these reviews, and how people don't understand that point of the book... well, can you respond to any of the reviews? Maybe, maybe not... anyway, my review: awesome book. AWESOME. I rarely go out and buy a book, but since I'm a loyal loveline listener and love the show, I went out and got it very interested to hear what you had to say. I thought it was somewhat repetitive, BUT you were trying to drive home a few key points (and making sure they were going to stick). It was well written, and I could relate to your emotions throughout the whole book. I've been (and will keep) recommeding it to my friends, parents, etc... anyone! :) Thanks a lot... It's a great read. Any chance of you coming to Cal Poly, SLO? :)
Rating: 
Summary: More Biography than Self Help - Unsophisticated Read
Review: Far more compelling than the dramatic descriptions of his patients' vulnerable vignettes is the revelation of what is going on emotionally within Drew Pinsky, a well-known addiction medicine specialist.
His frank narrative becomes a cathartic journaling of his emotional response to his interaction with Mind Gamers Extraordinaire: addicts. He casts himself as a rescuer, who wants desperately to fix his patients...who unfortunately for him, must want to fix themselves as a first principle. This book is worth reading, but... The writing is nothing special and you'll have to wade through a few lines of untranslated gee-whiz, I-went-to-med-school jargon that adds up to nothing more than word count.
You'll also have to overlook Dr. Pinsky's hand-wringing about society going down hill and his total lack of awareness of how his own well-intentioned radio show effectively normalizes, if not advertises drug use and any kind of sexual activity among adolescents. On the subject of word count, just FYI there are more than 25 full-page illustrations of Humpty Dumpty between 245 big-print pages. Some of the illustrations look like they were downloaded from the internet and Xeroxed all jagged-edged right onto the page. Not a major point, but I couldn't shake the sensation that I was reading a high-schooler's ten-page report that has three pages of filler in it. Adding to this sensation is the recycling of phrases and concepts already presented in previous chapters. For $27, not a bargain.
Good book, but don't fall in love.
Rating:
Summary: Like the TV show
Review: I had heard Pinsky talk about the book, his experience on PBS. He made some excellent statements about life, the struggles of childhood innocence and how we deal with our different traumas. I said hey, his book must be great. I was looking for that mixture of sociology, philosophy, analysis and psychology. In short, some deep thoughts. Well, it wasn't so. The book simply tells you the experience of his patients. Wasn't what I expected, but it may work for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Oversimplistic psychobabble
Review: Any attempts to read Cracked in a level deeper than superficial would be an exercise in futility. Dr. Pinsky may entartain the notion that his writing comprises of genuine psychological concepts however he is very much mistaken. Dr. Pinsky leads his readers to believe that childhood experiences are the ultimate cause of future addictive behaviors without providing any supporting scientific research studies. Dr. Pinsky neglects to emphazise concepts of agency and determination in the recovery process and instead offers the obscure and meaningless "I don't know" idiom as an answer. Readers are introduced to addicts as one-dimensional persons, forever haunted by their pasts thus robbing his patients of complex feelings and thoughts. To Dr. Pinsky's credit, genetic predispositions are mentioned unfortunately anything remotely suggesting that individuals are born genetically different is almost always underplayed in the hopes of avoiding arguments of determinism and discrimination. Ironically and much to my displeasure, Cracked offers exactly what Dr. Pinsky complains modern culture proffers: a much oversimplified answer to an overly complex problem.
Rating:
Summary: Information is power
Review: One of the best things a person can do to help a loved one inflicted with addiction is to understand the condition before they try to "help". This book provides the reader with an understanding of addiction from a doctor who has been dealing with addiction for longer than many of us have been alive (sorry Drew, lol). Desperately trying to find a cure for a loved one with addiction without fully understanding what addiction is will only further enable the addiction, IMHO. For such people, treating their codependency will be the best maneuver in helping their loved one overcome this disease. Ultimately, we are all responsible for putting back together our own lives, and without good people like Dr. Pinsky dedicating a part of his life to the treatment and education of Addiction, many would be unable to gain the understanding that creates the framework for putting it all back together.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed in more ways than one.
Review: As a mother of a recovering addict, I have been through 2-1/2 years of stumbling through this world of addiction/alcoholism. I had hoped to learn something new and insightful, but was highly disappointed and disturbed that the book contents did not even attempt to deliver on its titled promise. If I had looked to this book for help and guidance when my loved one first admitted a drug problem, I would have been very upset at its lack of help. The writing and editing left much to be desired and frankly, I felt ripped off to have paid $24 for this book. It is full of platitudes, self-aggrandizing sexual fantasies, and is generally a thrown together mess of a book. I don't know if there was an editor or not, but there should have been. I'm surprised that Dr. Pinsky allowed it to be published in this form and associated with his name. There was very little to no help for families and loved ones of addicts, other than telling them that unless and until an addict is 'ready', no amount of help or support will matter. While there is a fair amount of truth to this, it isn't necessary to buy a book entitled "...Putting Lives Back Together Again." Spend your money on AA and Alanon literature and don't waste it on this book. Or join another support group or seek counseling to help yourself through this ordeal. This book is less than helpful. Best wishes and prayers to you.
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Drew Pinsky is the most amazing man in the world!
Review: I was a patient of Dr. Pinsky's back in 1999 at Las Encinas. I was an in/out patient for nine months. Never during that time did he need to pull out my chart to review my case. He has a knack of remembering each and every patient, the milligrams of meds they are on, their husbands and how many children they have. You are never hurried out of his office, if you need him he's there for you. Even if he's in another state filming a tv show he's only a phone call away. He can find out the root of your problem in about five minutes. This is the most gifted man in the world. I only wish that everybody could be his patient. Even though I wasn't an actual addict, I just needed to detox from way too much prescription medication, he always made me feel as if I belonged. He would ask me every few days if I was ok being there among heroin, crack, prescription etc. addicts and alcoholics because he didn't want me to feel "out of place". I was perfectly fine. There were musicians, doctors, actors, homeless people, college students, garbage truck drivers, homemakers, police officers, teachers, you name it sitting in the same group sessions as me. I was really no different than they were. I had a bad childhood too which is normally the beginning of the root of addiction. I have friends that I met there that will be my friends forever thanks to the program. I believe that anybody could benefit from this program even if they've never taken a drug or drink in their life. What you learn is how to cope with life. We all have our problems and I can't begin to tell you what it did for my life. I was an executive, married with a 2 and 4 year old daughter. My doctors had me so messed up on drugs that I actually do not remember about six months of my life prior to meeting Dr. Pinsky. My marriage was falling apart, we actually split up for a while. If I would have gone another two weeks without him I would have died. Dr. Pinsky saved my life and gave me back my family. I know how dedicated he is to his patients. The heartbreak from having friends relapse is devastating. I can't imagine how it breaks his heart. This book speaks the ultimate truth about life. Not just if your an addict but just a human being. It should be required reading for everyone, especially parents. It's all about being prepared for what your children are going to put you through as the years go by. I have a stepson who is a sex addict (pornography). It's no different than heroin or alcohol. It happens for the same reasons. If you only read one book in your entire lifetime, please make it this one. It could save you or someone you know. I know it's not a "self-help" book but with Dr. Pinsky at the wheel it's all you'll need. He speaks from his heart and I know that for fact. As I read above about Dr. Phil who I admire and respect, he has nothing on Dr. Pinsky. Thank you Dr. Pinsky, always, Shawne
Rating:
Summary: Awesome book.
Review: 'Cracked' is an amazing book that everybody should read, even if you or some you know aren't addicts. I've been listening to Loveline for a while, and I love the show. This book shows you what Dr. Drew goes through everyday as Dr. Pinsky, and really helps you understand addiction. Everyone should definatly read this book. :)
Rating:
Summary: Dr Drew Rocks!
Review: This book is very interesting and educational! Reccomend it to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: very informative
Review: This is an excellent book, easy to read, with important information about addiction and understanding it's causes. It is also a disturbing book for someone with an addict in the family, to see how difficult it is for the addict to stay in the recovery process, to get well.
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