Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely the best treatment of the disease of alcoholism
Review: I have read, re-read,quoted from this book for more than ten years.I have given over 150 copies to people who have a need to know more about the disease, particularly to those who have to live with alcoholics. After reading this book the loved one knows what to do for the sick person. Many have gotten sober as a result.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for people interested with Alcoholism
Review: I myself am a recovering alcoholic. I never realized how harmful this disease is on ourselves and our families and friends. And the worst is that IT IS A PROGRESSIVE DISEASE. Alcoholism was pronounced a disease by the AMA in 1957. The disease sneaks up on you and then you get to the point where you start having serious symptoms, like delirious thoughts, paranoia, loss of appitite, and the shakes. No one should have to live like this. And this book points all of this out. And it also discusses different types of recovery. All which are helpful, from daily AA meetings, alternative recovery groups, and a helpful medicine called Disulfiram. I highly recommend this book for everyone, both alcoholics and the family and friends of the alcoholic.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for people interested with Alcoholism
Review: I myself am a recovering alcoholic. I never realized how harmful this disease is on ourselves and our families and friends. And the worst is that IT IS A PROGRESSIVE DISEASE. Alcoholism was pronounced a disease by the AMA in 1957. The disease sneaks up on you and then you get to the point where you start having serious symptoms, like delirious thoughts, paranoia, loss of appitite, and the shakes. No one should have to live like this. And this book points all of this out. And it also discusses different types of recovery. All which are helpful, from daily AA meetings, alternative recovery groups, and a helpful medicine called Disulfiram. I highly recommend this book for everyone, both alcoholics and the family and friends of the alcoholic.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat informative but one-sided
Review: I read this book as part of an assignment. If you are going to read one book to obtain information about alcoholism, it should not be this one. Most of the basic facts presented are accurate, but the primary purpose of the book is to advocate the authors' viewpoint that alcoholism is solely genetically determined. They present plenty of evidence to support their views, and many of the studies are interesting, but the evidence is selectively presented. For the general reader who wants to learn more about alcoholism I would recommend a more balanced approach with more information and less proselytizing.One other minor gripe I have is the authors' (somewhat reluctant) recommendation of AA as a treatment option. I have nothing against AA and many folks have found needed support in that organization. However, there is no evidence that the 12-step approach has anything to do with their success, and their quasi-religious approach is not for everyone. There are other organizations that offer alternative forms of support with no less success.
Rating: 
Summary: very informative and to the point
Review: I would reccomend this book to anyone who knows they, or someone they care about is an alcholic. I had to read this for my boyfriend who is currently going through his Divirsion classes. (AA) It helped both of us realize the seriousness of this disease. THUMBS UP!!
Rating:
Summary: I recommend it to my counseling clients
Review: I wrote a cover statement for Milam's book and I always suggest to families of alcoholics to read it to understand exactly how the disease works on the body/brain.. it is excellent.... Toby Rice Drews, author, the "Getting Them Sober" books
Rating:
Summary: Not exactly uplifting (for some of us)
Review: I'm new to recovery and find this book extremely disturbing. I agree that it contains vital information, but the times I've tried to read it I've become extremely discouraged about my chance at succeeding. Be forewarned that it might make someone attempting to recover feel hopeless.
Rating:
Summary: Phenominal information that has yet to hit the mainstream
Review: I've just read this book for the first time, dog-earing pages as I went through. I astounds me that this was first published in 1981 yet so much of the truths that are presented are not yet common knowledge. Anyone wanting to understand why some people are alcoholics MUST read this book. As the authors discuss, the medical community and other well meaning(?) groups such as AA ignore or are ignorant to many truths. This should be the starting point for anyone trying to understand alcohol use and abuse.
Rating:
Summary: Greatful introduction to physiological alchoholism but...
Review: The only problem with this book is that it ignores one important
reason for alcoholism: psychologigal reasons. Millions of people have started their "career" as alcoholism because of psychological reasons: they have had psychologigal reasons that have started them to drink: divorece, loss of dear friend or job, depression, the list could go on and on.
However there are fysiologically alcholized people and this book very well analyze their drinking career and its destructive power on his/her body and brain.
One important point: these physiological vs psychological reasons for alcholism do NOT have to be reason for bitter fights. Just both sides of same coin so to speak. IMHO there are TWO kinds of alcholism: physiological and psychologocal and I really wonder why there should be just ONE proper explanation to such a complex problem as alcholism is. The most important thing is to try to help alcholized people, not to quarrel endlessly.
Rating:
Summary: somewhat informative, but out-of-date
Review: There is very little new information. Most of the information concerning alchohol as a disease, the self-administered tests and the case histories have all been covered before, although much of the information is pertinent. However, much of the science of alchohol addiction and/or abuse is evolving and this book does not include these new insights.
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