Don't Call It Love : Recovery From Sexual Addiction

Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful!
Review: As an addictions counselor and author, I found Carnes's work to be very insigtful and helpful. He has done a wonderful job highlighting a problem that is not often discussed and certainly misunderstood. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about sexual addiction. Please be sure to include this title as part of your recovery.

John D. Moore
Author of Confusing Love with Obsession

Rating:
Summary: I'm a counselor and this book has helped my clients.
Review: As an addictions counselor, I can testify that this book should be the first stop for anyone wanting to understand more about sexual addiction. See if you fit the pattern. Even if some of the examples are more extreme than your situation, focus on the basics and see if it sounds like you. Most of my clients have had no problem seeing themselves clearly in this book.

Rating:
Summary: I'm a counselor and this book has helped my clients.
Review: As an addictions counselor, I can testify that this book should be the first stop for anyone wanting to understand more about sexual addiction. See if you fit the pattern. Even if some of the examples are more extreme than your situation, focus on the basics and see if it sounds like you. Most of my clients have had no problem seeing themselves clearly in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent discussion of addiction, sexual and otherwise
Review: Drawing on the still small number of admitted sex-addicts with a significant amount of time in recovery, (3-5 years or more), this book looks at the statistical, predictable journey of the recovering sex addict. The book presents a realistic yet hopeful view for all who suffer, and are willing to work at recovery, from this dreadful affliction.

Rating:
Summary: Positively Stunning
Review: Draws on long experience in the field to talk about what works and what doesn't work in treatment of sexual addiction. The case histories are fascinating, and frightening. Reading about the extremes to which some some sex addicts go to satisfy their addiction should impell anyone with tendencies in this direction to get help before they get any worse.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent discussion of addiction, sexual and otherwise
Review: His explanantion and discussion of addiction, in particular his explanantion of the Additive Model of Addiction, is worth the price of the book all by itself (actually, the book is a real bargain for the price). He discusses clearly the etiology of the sex addict, relating how a person becomes involved in compulsive sexual acting out and why, and includes resource references, such as contact nos. for SCA, SA, SLAA, et al.

His "Out of the Shadows" is also a very good book on this topic, but in treating the topic of addiction, he stays within the confines of sexual addiction, and so if you are new to learning about addictions, some points may be lost on you. They are both worth getting and reading (I have both), but if you want to buy only one, and are wondering which to get, I recommend this one over OOTS-- but only because it treats both addiction in general as well as what it looks like in the context of sex. Thus I feel this book is more comprehensive.

If you even suspect you may have a sexual compulsion, buy this book and decide about yourself for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Positively Stunning
Review: The world would be a remarkably better place if "Don't Call it Love" could be required reading for all humanity.

This book documents the results of a study that looked at people who identified themselves as tending to act in a compulsive manner sexually. There is no shame here, no accusations, and no demands, simply concurrent statements of fact. This was Carnes' study and these are the results.

If you've ever wondered, ever even suspected, by the time you finish this book you will know for sure, one way or the other.

I also read "Out of the Shadows," by Carnes. It rang true in the same way, and I've found that many people can finish it in one sitting. "Don't call it love" takes longer, but is much more comprehensive. I strongly reccomend buying both, starting with "Out of the Shadows" and then moving on to this one.

Bottom Line; whether or not you or someone you know struggles with sexually compulsive behavior, what you will learn from this book will help you understand the psycology of addiction and make you a more compassionate human being.

Far and away the best book on the topic I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Rare and wonderful insights
Review: This book sheds light into the many dark places where sex addiction is home. The fact that it was written from compilation of surveys from 1000 sex addicts in recovery, gives it unique credibility, many helpful insights and advise. It describes and offers advice for early recovery, a year into recovery, later in recovery. It tells what they felt were the difficult barriers, what worked and what didn't. This could be extremely valuable to those considering or starting recovery, or returning to recovery after an absence. Knowledge in this book is comforting. There is plenty of hope for those of us who need this.