Rating: 
Summary: This Book is a Winner!
Review: "The Truth about Addiction and Recovery" is a great book in my opinion, full of common sense and useful ideas for those trying to escape the snare of alcoholism and other addictions. In addition, I am sure that it has set persons free from the strange, intellectually repressive and cult-like culture of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 steps. It amuses me that AA propagandists (on this review forum) are trying to trash a book that they obviously haven't read!
Rating:
Summary: Great Analysis, Strong Argument, Enjoyable Read
Review: Flying in the face of conventional thought, "The Truth about Addiction and Recovery" encourages the reader to challenge the contention that addiction is a disease. The authors' contention is that addiction is a coping mechanism that people develop to deal with life's stressful situations. Instead of doing the 12-step program the solution is to develop alternative coping skills.
Addiction is a symptom and not the disease.
Peale argues that treatment for addiction should be based on learning skills that allow the addicted person to cope better, communicate easier and relate to others better.
One of the more interesting points of the book is the analysis of people who try to kick an addiction without going through a 12-step type program. Statistically, untreated people have the same or better success rate as those in treatment. The author make a very strong case and argues it well. This should be required reading for anyone dealing with an addiction or who knows someone dealing with an addiction whether it is drugs, sex, food, shopping or whatever other addictive behavior they may have.
Rating:
Summary: Great Analysis, Strong Argument, Enjoyable Read
Review: Flying in the face of conventional thought, "The Truth about Addiction and Recovery" encourages the reader to challenge the contention that addiction is a disease. The authors' contention is that addiction is a coping mechanism that people develop to deal with life's stressful situations. Instead of doing the 12-step program the solution is to develop alternative coping skills.
Addiction is a symptom and not the disease.
Peale argues that treatment for addiction should be based on learning skills that allow the addicted person to cope better, communicate easier and relate to others better.
One of the more interesting points of the book is the analysis of people who try to kick an addiction without going through a 12-step type program. Statistically, untreated people have the same or better success rate as those in treatment. The author make a very strong case and argues it well. This should be required reading for anyone dealing with an addiction or who knows someone dealing with an addiction whether it is drugs, sex, food, shopping or whatever other addictive behavior they may have.
Rating:
Summary: Circular Arguments
Review: I also benefited from AA. It's free and readily accessible (kind of important). As several people have already stated the very value of AA is "I surrounded myself with healthy people", and "treatment must involve learning coping, communication and interpersonal skills". And again, AA is FREE.
Still, I also find it unfortunate that Bill W. himself ended up in "that other place" (religion), and that he talked so much as to obscure the relevant dynamic of the fellowship to those who need it most.
Where else (as a matter of percentage, probability, cost, and availability) can you go and hear real humans talk in a straightforward manner about life, AND have your own turn to practice same? Church? This authors book?
I agree with the author that maturing is a natural, endogenous process, but that alcoholics, etcetera are stuck in an eddy, and need to play a little concentrated 'catch up'.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Information, The last 1/2 gives you a plan
Review: I gave this 4 stars since it was written in 1992 and no updates since (but maybe what was said is all that needed to be said)
I found the chapter "Life Skills: If you don't have them, get them!" That chapter alone will help people to maintain recovery...it is part of what going to 12 Step meetings do... they help you to sociolize with others in recovery (ie. Water seeks it's own level) so learning to stop hanging out with the addicts who are using and hanging out with non users and recovering people will help you to stay sober even better... but there is far more to that chapter and the others. I grow tired of 12 Step programs and how they teach you about being helpless (you are helpless about the feeling of wanting to go use/slip...but you are not helpless) Your drug of choice does not tie strings to you like a marianate and when you feel like using...it has no power to make you stand up, make that call to your dealer or make you walk over to the store/dealer and reach down and get that money out...it does not make you use it... YOU did all that...it just made you feel good (or distract you from what you were running from for awhile...that is all it does) Remember when addiction use to be refered to as a 'habit'...it is, just really well engrained. Time to learn better and newer habits (they do that in 12-Step already...don't believe me? When you feel like using, use the phone, go to a meeting, journal, do your step work, exercise, help another addict, use phrases...all alternative habits to learn and distract yourself.) Most cravings last about 15 minutes maximum if you just wait it out and concentrate on other stuff... according to studies as of late (and yest studies do change) But learning you are not helpless is a bigger start. After all, if the drug was that powerful don't you think it could do something to stop you from going to a meeting...like calling a pizza delivery guy or something to stand in your way?)
Rating:
Summary: Great Information, The last 1/2 gives you a plan
Review: I gave this 4 stars since it was written in 1992 and no updates since (but maybe what was said is all that needed to be said)
I found the chapter "Life Skills: If you don't have them, get them!" That chapter alone will help people to maintain recovery...it is part of what going to 12 Step meetings do... they help you to sociolize with others in recovery (ie. Water seeks it's own level) so learning to stop hanging out with the addicts who are using and hanging out with non users and recovering people will help you to stay sober even better... but there is far more to that chapter and the others. I grow tired of 12 Step programs and how they teach you about being helpless (you are helpless about the feeling of wanting to go use/slip...but you are not helpless) Your drug of choice does not tie strings to you like a marianate and when you feel like using...it has no power to make you stand up, make that call to your dealer or make you walk over to the store/dealer and reach down and get that money out...it does not make you use it... YOU did all that...it just made you feel good (or distract you from what you were running from for awhile...that is all it does) Remember when addiction use to be refered to as a 'habit'...it is, just really well engrained. Time to learn better and newer habits (they do that in 12-Step already...don't believe me? When you feel like using, use the phone, go to a meeting, journal, do your step work, exercise, help another addict, use phrases...all alternative habits to learn and distract yourself.) Most cravings last about 15 minutes maximum if you just wait it out and concentrate on other stuff... according to studies as of late (and yest studies do change) But learning you are not helpless is a bigger start. After all, if the drug was that powerful don't you think it could do something to stop you from going to a meeting...like calling a pizza delivery guy or something to stand in your way?)
Rating:
Summary: Keep Coming Back and You'll Never Get Away!
Review: I have known people to sober up with 12 Step Programs. And without them. I have been sober for over 20 years and I did not avail myself of AA. According to AA, this is not possible. But AA does not see those of us who simply didn't buy into the disease model - one that oddly enough finds treatment in peer groups - disparaged by one 12 stepper below. Umm - 12 step programs ARE peer groups - nothing more happens than listening and talking - both of which can be quite magical. I just am living proof that you don't need Bill W. to do it. I didn't want to "keep coming back" to rooms of people who only had my "disease" in common. So I surrounded myself with "healthy" people. It was hard. I didn't have the excuse of "my disease talking" because I had to take responsibility for the garbage coming from my mouth. I had to take responsibility for my actions. And I did it all at once. Stanton Peele is not against AA - if it works for you. But there is precious little scientific evidence pertaining to AA (it IS an anonymous program, after all) and when a friend started in AA and worried about the "sick and suffering alcoholics" who left the program, I sought them out and found more than a few - NOT drinking. They were busy holding jobs and being in families and friendships and pursuing interests and did not want AA to be one of those interests. Of course, that is just anecdotal evidence. But it's mine and good enough for me. Just like the AA "evidence" is anecdotal. Good to see somebody not just blinding swallowing the party line.
Rating:
Summary: A LANDMARK BOOK- Except...
Review: Peele's book, as well as Ragge's book are great- they debunk much of the nonsense rampant in the 12 Step psychosis that grips much of America. My problem though is that they don't go far enough and call a spade a spade. Namely, how much of what we call addiction is really just the ol' placebo effect coupled with behavorial indoctrination? (The indoctrinees into the "spiritual disease" theory are exhibit A.)
Rating: 
Summary: Stanton Peele Speaks Rubbish Re 12-Step Programs!
Review: Please, please get your facts straight Dr. Peele. To say that a problem drinker or alcoholic can magically sober up due to good peer friendships is pretty silly in my opinion. And it smacks of codependency. The woman who wrote to you was describing intimacy problems and her sex and alcohol addiction and you ignored all of this and told her she could drink safely. As for her falling into bed with strangers while drunk, you gave pretty nebulous suggestions...You obviously do NOT understand what happens when someone is in the death grip of addictions! Not so easy to control my dear Stanton. Please GET REAL! AA SAVES LIVES, and enables many many people to lead happy and productive lives, WITHOUT BOOZE. Are you in denial, or WHAT! There is no email address so I had to use this ....Thanks Athena.
Rating:
Summary: Death to Sacred Cows: AA, War on Drugs, Blaming Your Genes
Review: Stanton Peele has a controversial view of addictions, be it to substances or behaviors. The question he asks of those who believe that the drug itself hooks people is, "Even if the substance is incredibly euphoric or blocks pain, what makes the person favor that experience over other rewarding experiences?" He strongly disputes that addiction is biological disease and that the 12 Steps are the only treatment - indeed they may be worse than no treatment at all. I've always disputed that things like sex, food, and shopping could be addictions, without denying that people can clearly go overboard with such things to ignore inner turmoil or avoid responsibilities they can't cope with, or because they lack relationship skills. Peele's view is that this characterizes *all* addiction, and treatment should involve learning coping, communication and interpersonal skills. The biggest controversy surrounding Peele, however, is his assertion that most people gain life skills naturally as they mature -- when people get jobs or find something they care for and have better things to do then get smashed -- making clinical treatment unnecessary for addictions in young people. He sites sociological studies that show that most drug users "mature out" of drug use, even if the drug use involved drug binges or other obvious addictive behavior. Still think that some drugs are just more "addictive" than others? Is it the drug or the person taking them? What makes a person take a hard-hitting drug to begin with? I had never really thought before what it meant that crack was more "addictive" than cocaine. As crack is mostly consumed in poor, degraded environments leading most into dead-end lives, what motivation - what opportunity - does one have to put down the pipe get a life? This book makes a strong case for looking at environment, sociological and psychological factors in addiction, not brain chemistry. This book also opened my eyes to what happens to people who don't go through therapy or drug treatment. I only looked at the statistics that evaluated people *in* treatment, not those who never went! When you consider how most therapy, especially the 12-steps do not address life skills and in fact hinder them with their rhetoric of powerlessness and doomed childhood, its not really a surprise that untreated people have the same or better outcome as people in treatment.
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