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Rating: 
Summary: There is another way
Review: I am married to a psychologist who long ago had a drinking problem and used the same approach in this book long before it was written. Now more than twenty years later he is a successful social drinker. Unfortunately I now must start the program. I have never had a DWI or have never had job problems from drinking too much. But my drinking has caused problems in my marriage. Recent studies have shown that the success rate with AA is not very high - I forget the percantages, though I'm not knocking the program for those who feel it's right for them. I do know that most AA meetings are notorious for being smoke filled rooms. Where is the higher power for that problem? It is sad to think so many people think AA is the only answer.
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Summary: Moderation is trouble for alcoholics
Review: I bought this book in 1997 as I was becoming increasingly aware that I could not control my drinking. I did not want to go to AA or quit drinking forever. However, I tried this program and simply could not stop for 30 days (the initial pre-requisit). So, as a last resort, I went to AA. During my first week of sobriety, I went to a Moderation Management meeting. It was very small, maybe 5 people. And run by a professional counsellor. Every single person in the meeting had stories about how their drinking was still out of control, but they were learning more about themselves. It just made me sad, to be honest. At the end of my first 30 days in AA, I had no desire to try social drinking. And here's why. For the first time in my life I could see how my brain worked and how uncomfortable I was in my own skin. I had been masking that uncomfortable feeling for years with alcohol. And I was not a DUI, job-losing, homeless drunk. I was a drink myself to sleep at night kind of guy. Which leads me to this: I believe this program and this book may be very helpful to some people. Just not me. And I would urge anyone with a drinking problem to try it, because if you do end up in AA, you will want to feel confident that you have tried everything you can to control and enjoy your drinking. If, in fact, you can control and enjoy your drinking, then good for you! As for me, I heard a statement early on that stuck with me. It said that when alcohol is taken away from the problem drinker, the problem is solved. But when alcohol is taken away from the alcoholic, the problem is revealed. That, for me, was the main reason this book/program didn't work for me. Bottom line: If you have a drinking problem, give this method a try. Give therapy a try. And if nothing else works, you will always be welcomed at AA.
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Summary: This is a book that dares to challange deepseated beliefs
Review: I was encorraged to start going to AA when I was about 20. I was never diagnosed as a "dependant" but rather an "abuser". I had many emotional problems in my life. I spent many years going in and out of AA with the true intention of solving my drink problems. I went through two inpatient treatment centers and was always blaming myself without mercy. I decided to try to moderate and found this book very helpful. I know the troubles the authour had, but that does not negate the importance of treatement options. Even the big book of AA states that if you are unsure "go try some more contrlled drinking". However, AA provides no structure to do this and had no idea of much research to show that many abusers can moderate if the are tought how. I have been succesful for a month and have realized that it is not the substance, but the emotional states that determine my drinking. My drinking has actually decreased over the month. I work with a thereptist to identify possible emotional pitfalls that might leed me back to binge drinking, but I am VERY optomistic that this will solve a very real and dangerous problem where AA could not. I love AA and many of the people in it. I still go to open meetings and do not question anyones path in tackling this problem. For those of you that try your guts out, but can't succede in AA, why not try another approach? People in AA are already suggesting that maybe I was not a "true" alcoholic, but I sure did some scary stuff when binging. I have found a new freedom and a new peace. My God is still large and in charge, but I think I have found my solution. All problem dirinkers are NOT alocholoics in my mind. I also have read "alternatives to abstenacne" and a book about the nature of addiction. Don't be afraid if you are being honest. You can put safety rules in place to minimize dameage if you fail. At least then you will know in your heart you need abstinace.
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Summary: PLEASE TRY RATIONAL RECOVERY
Review: Moderation doesnt work: proof, this author, tragically caused a fatal accident and is serving time for vehicular homicide. Hey folks, take charge of your life ! Stop being a slave to your beast and you will find life to be more enjoyable WITHOUT booze! REALLY !! Read rational recovery, and make your plan...
Rating:
Summary: Moderation is trouble for alcoholics
Review: Readers should know that this author wasn't herself successful at moderation. She killed a parent and child while driving drunk and is now in prison. If someone has a problem with alcohol, but isn't alcoholic, they will have no problem changing their drinking habits on their own. People who can't do this on their own are alcoholic, and they can't drink moderately. The greatest success for the greatest number of people is still AA. AA is something the author wanted to avoid but, unfortunately, her "better idea" led her to tragedy and prison.
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Summary: Excellent suggestions for problem drinkers!
Review: The book contains excellent advice for people with mild drinking problems, encouraging them to become more aware of their patterns and their responses to alcohol, instead of just indulging without a thought. I especially like the fact that the author encourages people to stay completely abstinent for a time (though personally I think it should be longer than the recommended 30 days) and then, before they institute the conscious moderation plan, to make a commitment to pursue a total abstinence program if they find the moderation guidelines to be impossible or too difficult to follow.In fact, Ms. Kishline followed the guidelines in this book when, after 7 years of successfully moderating, she came into a serious problem-drinking phase of her life, and true to MM, she publically announced that she was having difficulty and had decided to pursue abstinence. Too bad the program she chose to, in her words, "enhance her sobriety", was AA. Obviously AA did not inspire her to make an absinence commitment, and as she later said, even though she had been an AA member for months, she didn't feel she could tell anyone about her nightly binge drinking.It's a disgrace that AA members would use this tragedy to proclaim "proof" that MM doesn't work, that this book is "dangerous", or that MM caused the fatal accident. She wasn't even a member of MM at the time, she was an AA'er! My only complaint about this book, in fact, is that it does not mention the many abstinence-based programs and therapies OTHER THAN AA available for people who decide that indeed abstinence is the better goal for them.
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Summary: Probably not for everyone but works for me
Review: You don't buy a book like this unless you have had some problems with alcohol. I found the author's approach quite helpful, but I suspect if you have SEVERE drinking problems...numerous DWIs, job failures, and the like...this book is probably not for you; go with AA. The book proposes that there is an in-between solution besides total abstinence for people who drink too much. An alternative approach to the "total surrender" ethic of AA is offered. The entire regimen is described by the phrase "Moderation Management" which pretty well says it all. By the way, there is a MM group online where the principles outlined in the book are hashed out.
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