On 2009-09-17 ramdom, everywhere wrote: This is a well meaning book. But from reading it, and even the opening
dedication, it seems that Peele hasn´t personally experienced
addiction (i.e., hasn´t been addicted to a substance), or gone through
addiction treatment (many counselors allegedly do this0. A lot of the
statements he makes are rather superficial and don´t deal with the
reality of the problem.
People don´t want to become addicts. They get into that situation
through whatever means and then have to get out of it. At some point
the addiction is so strong that persons values, strength, etc. are so
sapped that they can´t ´quit´ the addiction on their own and need
help.
It would be great if an addict could read what Peele writes and then
follow the logic. But addicts (humans) are not rational. If they were,
they wouldn´t become addicts! Addicts are far from rational.
Also, ´quitting´ addictions is easy. Staying ´quit´ is the hard
part. Once a serious addiction has been established, the brain rewires
itself to respond to environment cues such as stress as ´needing a
fix´ (this is no different from the obsessions Peele talks about). The
things Peele talks about to overcome addiction are of course on the
mark, but how does an addict who has insulted his body/brain/mind
marshall the resources to lead such a righteous life? Even nonaddicts
would have a hard time doing so.
I have said the same thing Peele has said. But it´s not true for some
addicts. If it were as easy as reading a book and following it, there
would be few addicts. Addicts go to AA/treatment/etc. after repeated
failures. Even before they enter treatment, they have failed
repeatedly to quit using several methods. They have fallen far in
their abuse, so much so that some can´t even read a book.
Peele´s wrong in stating that the government or AA´s message is that
people are lifetime slaves to addiction. This is highly disingeneous
at worst or totally ignorant at best. The AA book title is ´Alcoholics
Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have
Recovered from Alcoholism´. Note the word used ´recovered´ (not
´recovery´). In the book and elsewhere, there´s note of a permanent
sobreity, an overcoming of the addictive obsessive and craving.
Finally, Peele´s message is actually not that different from those
advocated by AA, etc. The ´seven tools´ essentially a form of the ´12
steps´. ´Values´ is what AA calls ´spirituality´ for example. The
notion of ´´higher goals´ is about ´service´. etc.
There are many ways to fight addiction and they don´t need to be
mutually exclusive. Peele unnecessarily makes it so. I think this
quote in the Wikipedia entry about his book, which I think describes
what´s going on:
´With these and other issues treated in cavalier fashion, with
referencing highly incomplete and crucial work often ignored, one
begins to feel that this is a book where polemic and scholarship
have become inextricably and unhappily mixed. ´
--Griffith Edwards, Review of The Meaning of Addiction.[14]
. And summed up by saying {eele hasn´t experienced addiction.... Currently 7 Tools to Beat Addiction has an overall rating of 8 over 10.
7 Tools to Beat Addiction can also be found in the following searches:
Three Rivers Press claimed DO YOU WANT A LIFE WITHOUT ADDICTION?Whether you are battling drugs, nicotine, alcohol, food, shopping, sex, or gambling, 7 Tools to Beat Addiction is a hands-on, practical guide to overcoming addiction of any kind. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction but do not find that twelve-step or other treatment programs work for you, this book can help.In , internationally recognized expert Dr. Stanton Peele presents a program for addiction recovery based on research and clinical study and grounded in science. His program utilizes proven methods that people actually use to overcome addiction, with or without treatment. 7 Tools to Beat Addiction offers in-depth, interactive exercises that show you how to outgrow destructive habits by putting together the building blocks for a balanced, fulfilling, responsible life. Dr. Peele’s approach is founded on the following tools:•Values •Motivation •Rewards •Resources•Support•Maturity •Higher GoalsThis no-nonsense guide will put you in charge of your own recovery.
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