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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A great summary on the history of addiction, which is really a history of drugs in society that deals extraordinarily well with the nuances of addiction busts many myths (e.g. alcoholism and genetics is much messier than it seems). He doesn't boil the ocean here with too much history and intersperses the history with his own personal history. I appreciated his vulnerability here to give addiction a face and name and help it feel real for the reader.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5 great information and the writers experience brings a enlightened and nuanced perspective.
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
I quite liked this book, it was informative and yet still very personal. The book was written from two perspectives, the recovering phycologist and the history side of addiction. I enjoyed the personal side of recovery with history about addiction of various substances. I thought it was provocative and informative, I found the personal story of recovery to be as methodical and important as the rest of the book. The exploration of addiction couldn't have been said to be happy, but the overall knowledge provided in this book was overall hopeful. If you've ever wondered about addiction and recovery through the years, this is a great start!
emotional
informative
medium-paced
this book was at times dense and information overload, but i enjoyed it. it was nice to learn about the history of addiction and how its perception and treatment has changed over the years. i also enjoyed how the author peppered his personal story with addiction & recovery throughout - it added a nice touch. i was also really happy at how inclusive and socially aware this book was - it was inclusive of experienced poc have with addiction, how their treatment differs, struggles they face that white counterparts seeking treatment for addiction don’t have to deal with, and how women also have different experiences. very pleasantly surprised by that. overall, a good read.
This was really interesting. While the narrative felt a little disjointed and repetitive at times, I appreciated the author including his own experiences and struggles with addiction. Regulation of drug use could do with a more empathetic and evidence-based focus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use
Moderate: Racism
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced