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Summary: This is the first book that actually described my situation
Review: For years, I associated myself with avoidant personality disorder. I didn't understand why other than the fact that I was teased in school. I read this book and couldn't put it down. If your parents provided for you in terms of giving you food and shelter but you felt betrayed by them or couldn't tell them your feelings because they didn't care, then this book is the book for you.
The book offers some superficial solutions to get over the problems created by the Narcissitic Family, which I am not sure will work, but other than that, I recommend the book highly.
The strongest point I picked up from the book is that I trust no one because I couldn't trust my parents. I never realized this but it all makes sense. This book points you in the right direction; it is up to you to take the road to recovery.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best
Review: I bought this book a few years ago and I've read other books since then about narcissism. This book is hands down the best book I've ever read to describe how narcissism affects a family. As the child of two narcissistic parents, this book helped me to understand things that hadn't made sense and accept some difficult truths. It is unique in that it deals with a narcissistic family system rather than focusing just on the narcissist. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
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Summary: very helpful and insightful
Review: I have found this book to be of enormous help for people trying to make sense out of why they feel the way they do and why they do what they do. As one client said, "Now I have a name for things and I understand myself and can quit feeling bad or crazy." It also gives ideas about what to do in the future, so it helps develop hope. I too find it somewhat expensive but worth it as it is so readable and to the point.
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Summary: TRULY AN AMAZING BOOK
Review: I ordered this book as part of my ongoing attempt to understand my husband and his family dynamics. By page two or three, I suddenly realized it was about MY family and MY childhood. I could not stop reading and highlighting. My copy looks like a rainbow now.Now, after all these years of trying to understand my reactions (& non-reactions) and my inability to express emotions and feelings until long after the fact, I have answers and workable solutions. I wish I'd found this book long ago, but perhaps now I can do some productive work. Hopefully, I will be able to get my husband to read it as well.
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Summary: RISE ABOVE YOUR RAISING - THE FUNCTIONAL DYSFUNCTIONALS
Review: I strongly recommend this book for anyone seeking to find help with mood disorders, any type of addiction, identity issues, self-esteem issues, reoccurring unresolved anger and troubling relationship issues. Excellent compliments to this book are: The Angry Heart: Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders by Joseph Santoro and Ronald Cohen; Treating Attachment Disorders: From Theory to Therapy by Karl Heinz Brisch and Kenneth Kronenberg; Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man by Scott Wetzler; Emotional Blackmail: When People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier; Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson; Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up's Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents by Nina Brown; Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job by Alan Cavaiola and Neil Lavender. And if you want to pursue the subject even further, you may be interested in reading The Narcissistic / Borderline Couple: A Psychoanalytic Perspective On Marital Treatment; Addicted to Unhappiness: Free yourself from the moods and behaviors that undermine relationships, work and the life you want by Martha Heineman Pieper and William Pieper; Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility by Jim Fay and Foster Cline.
Rating:
Summary: A clearly written and insightful book.
Review: I'm adding this to my small, but growing collection of books on Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families. This book is expensive compared to many of the $10-$15 books on the market, but I think it is so clearly written and helpful that it is well worth the extra price. I also liked that the author is kindly. Also, her patients make big strides in recovery and that is definitely inspirational.
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Summary: Wow...the answer I've searched years for...
Review: I've read many books on the symptoms of depression (people-pleasing, anxiety attacks, passive-aggressive behavior, emotional unavailablity, anger, shame, etc.), but this book finally exposes the root of my depression. It's very difficult and painful to come to the realization that one's parents are not emotionally available to their children (especially after having had a "wonderful childhood"). But as the writers explain through several helpful examples, blame is completely unnecessary for one's own healing to take place. Until I read this book I can honestly say I was completely unable to see my family's dysfunction. The examples given were like manna from heaven on something I could never quite put my finger on, but knew in my heart wasn't quite right. The writers also do a superb job on managing future expectations for those of us who come from these families in the section titled "going back to the well." It is with great joy and a tremendous sense of relief at having many of the pieces put together for me after having found this book.
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Summary: You are a Treasure
Review: It is rare to find a book that speaks so clearly and powerfully. I place it as one of my top ten books of all time--it is that good. The book is a framework to understand and make some sense of many puzzling, seemingly unrelated events. It has enabled me to put together the many pieces of a lifelong puzzle. The authors spoke to me and I thank them. What a find!
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Summary: Boundary Foundation
Review: Prior to reading this book, I had been saying, for two years running, "this is the year of learning to set boundaries," but to no avail. Perhaps there were many reasons I was unable to implement the solution to so many of the problems that I had. But, unquestionably, after reading this book, I finally was able to start setting boundaries like a black belt! What difference did this book make? It explained why I felt so reluctant, so unjustified, in setting boundaries. I didn't own and respect my feelings, my gut responses, because, virtually for my entire life, I've been suppressing my feelings and redirecting them at the behest -- real or imagined -- of a narcissistic parent or partner. Today, because of my reading of this book, I make no apologies for the way I feel. And, because of that, I am swift and unapologetic in setting boundaries. Needless to say, my social circles have changed. But, undoubtedly, for the better. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!!
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Summary: The Book to Start With
Review: Read It! If you come from an emotionally dysfunctional family of any degree, this is the book to read. You will gain insights into why you carry feelings of worthlessness, why intimacy alludes you, why you feel driven . . . You will be given alternative ways to view yourself, to communicate with others, and to experience life. By the end of the book you will have the framework to realize the unique treasure that you truly are. The book is written (and priced) for professionals, but is very readable and user friendly. I wish I had come across it sooner. It would have saved me agonizing hours spent trying to pigeonhole my family's particular dysfunction(s). the Narcissistic family is the one with the parental system that for what ever reason - job streee, alcoholism, mental illness, sel-centered immaturity - centers around meeting the needs of the adults. It is the family that to some degree or another most of us grew up in. By reading Pressman's book and following the exercises, you can begin to fill the holes whether great or small in your own childhoood experience and begin to enjoy a fulfilling adult life.
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