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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Such an important read, and so well crafted with history and research intertwined with Fisher’s personal experience with alcoholism as well as his patients.
Like many Americans, I have close family members who have battled for control over addiction (to varying degrees). Better understanding our loved ones is always effort well spent. That said, this book is so dry. I’d have preferred a straight memoir of Fisher’s experiences or a history of addiction, rather a mix of both, but no one asked me, and rightfully so. Still, it’s a worthwhile companion to Dopesick, Empire of Pain, and the like.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Between 3 and 4 stars. Decided on 4 because I felt that this was highly educational. Delves into the history of addiction in America with well-researched thoughtfulness and demonstrates how historical attitudes and politicking impact modern treatments. The author speaks from a unique perspective of someone in recovery and someone who is a doctor helping others through recovery. He talks about his own biases to acknowledge their existence, which was awesome. Overall, engaging and informative, and leaves me feeling better able to understand drug use and to be compassionate around the issue.
Fisher skillfully intertwines his own experiences with addiction with a comprehensive history of its presence in culturally distinct societies. A good read, especially in the age of the opioid epidemic and our country's attempts to deal with it.
informative
medium-paced
This book is billed as a history book, but it seems like the author can’t decide if he wants it to be a history book, sociology book, memoir, or commentary essay. He seems to have educated himself thoroughly on the aspects of addiction he talks about in this book, and then he sat down to write with no outline or forethought of what he wanted to say and why. It’s not bad but it’s also definitely not good.
The book is factually accurate on all fronts, but it does a poor job of communicating those facts across the board and relating those facts to each other in any logical way. It’s not driving any particular point home for me, nor am I sure what point it was supposed to drive home. It’s inferior in structure and and writing style to books like Dopesick or Drug Dealer MD, and it’s inferior in empathy, storytelling, and understanding to a more “traditional” (for lack of a better word) addiction memoir.
The book is factually accurate on all fronts, but it does a poor job of communicating those facts across the board and relating those facts to each other in any logical way. It’s not driving any particular point home for me, nor am I sure what point it was supposed to drive home. It’s inferior in structure and and writing style to books like Dopesick or Drug Dealer MD, and it’s inferior in empathy, storytelling, and understanding to a more “traditional” (for lack of a better word) addiction memoir.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Excellent history of how addiction has been viewed throughout history while sharing his own story of addiction. I have a difficult time of accepting ADDICTION as a "disease" and not a symptom of other problems. It is all about individual brain chemistry and some of us ARE more inclined to become addicted than others. BUT so much of that is dependent on circumstances. He also touches on harm reduction which is CRUCIAL for some to combat the severe withdrawal symptoms.
Highly recommend this along with [b:Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear|53481723|Drug Use for Grown-Ups Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear|Carl L. Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590445068l/53481723._SY75_.jpg|83658799]
Highly recommend this along with [b:Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear|53481723|Drug Use for Grown-Ups Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear|Carl L. Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590445068l/53481723._SY75_.jpg|83658799]