Description
It is common knowledge that for most alcoholics and addicts recovery programmes like AA seem to hold out the best hope of conquering their addiction. Most of us also know that such programmes usually stress reliance on some sort of "higher power". This book shows that in fact spiritual development is the central factor in the recovery of a significant percentage of substance abusers, and that spirituality is the lynchpin of many if not most recovery programmes in this country. Journalist Christopher Ringwald visited many treatment centres and interviewed hundreds of recovering alcoholics and addicts, counsellors, and family members, many of whose voices are heard in this book. Ringwald's purpose was to find out just how spirituality figures in the individual's recovery and how it is deployed by the treatment programmes. He explores the differences among a wide range of programmes : 12-step, Christian, Muslim, Native American, and those based in Eastern religions. Vividly written and thoroughly researched, this book is the first to focus on this intruiging phenomenon--an all but hidden, yet thriving new spiritual movement in our midst.
About the Author
Christopher D. Ringwald is a journalist who has written on mental health, religion, books, law and social policy for The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Commonweal and Governing. He was named the 2002 Albany Author of the Year, won a first place award from the Catholic Press Association, and is author of Faith in Words. Ringwald directs the Faith & Society Project at The Sage Colleges in Albany, N.Y., and is a senior writer at Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. He may be reached via email at ringwc@sage.edu or by phone at (518) 292-1727
Reviews
"An impressive, straightforward synthesis of diverse and controversial issues."--Library Journal "An encouraging, well-researched book on an important topic."--Publishers Weekly "A sober and well-documented look at some of the unquestioned claims of the burgeoning recovery movement. What makes 'The Soul of Recovery' stand out from the pack is the way Ringwald approaches the recovery movement as a journalist, not as an evangelist or protagonist. He understands the power of spirituality in treating substance abuse, yet still asks some hard questions."--San Francisco Chronicle "Ringwald's book is a paradigm shifter, his clear presentation, and extraordinary research can't help but have the reader "thinking outside the box." If anyone is questioning the role that faith plays in the life of an addict this book is for you."--Counselor Magazine "An articulate and extremely well-reported exploration of how nurturing spiritual beliefs can help addicts recover. As such, The Soul to Recovery is a much-needed and welcome antidote to the prevailing medical paradigm that chalks up troubled human behavior to 'abnormal brain chemistry,' amenable to a pharmaceutical solution. Ringwald shows that the paths to addiction are many, and that the most successful treatment programs are those that help heal the mind and soul."--Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill "The unqualified best among recent 'recovery' books. Eminently readable."--Ernest Kurtz, Historian "The Soul of Recovery captures beautifully the role of spirituality in the treatment and recovery of people with addictions. Not only is it immensely informative, but the writing style is captivating, passionate and powerful."--Harold G. Koenig, co-author of the Handbook of Religion and Health "A sober and well-documented look at some of the unquestioned claims of the burgeoning recovery movement. What makes 'The Soul of Recovery' stand out from the pack is the way Ringwald approaches the recovery movement as a journalist, not as an evangelist or protagonist. He understands the power of spirituality in treating substance abuse, yet still asks some hard questions."--San Francisco Chronicle "An impressive, straightforward synthesis of diverse and controversial issues."--Library Journal "An encouraging, well-researched book on an important topic."--Publishers Weekly "An important contribution to the necessary task of bringing a discussion of the spiritual dimension of the human into the marketplace."--America "Ringwald's book is a paradigm shifter, his clear presentation, and extraordinary research can't help but have the reader "thinking outside the box." If anyone is questioning the role that faith plays in the life of an addict this book is for you. The author presents spirituality (and religion) in treatment and recovery in a broad array of modalities, and also discusses more secular approaches, which have little or no spirituality or faith-based components. In the process he has written a primer on the varieties of addiction treatment available, clearly describing what a participant in a specific treatment may be experiencing, and then just to make sure you have a clear picture of it all, he offers numerous case presentations that personalize the process."--Counselor Magazine "The Soul of Recovery captures beautifully the role of spirituality in the treatment and recovery of people with addictions. Not only is it immensely informative, but the writing style is captivating, passionate and powerful."--Harold G. Koenig, co-author of the Handbook of Religion and Health "An articulate and extremely well-reported exploration of how nurturing spiritual beliefs can help addicts recover. As such, The Soul to Recovery is a much-needed and welcome antidote to the prevailing medical paradigm that chalks up troubled human behavior to 'abnormal brain chemistry,' amenable to a pharmaceutical solution. Ringwald shows that the paths to addiction are many, and that the most successful treatment programs are those that help heal the mind and soul."--Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill
Book Information
ISBN 9780195147681
Author Christopher Ringwald
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 621g
Dimensions(mm) 164mm * 244mm * 29mm
About the Author
Christopher D. Ringwald is a journalist who has written on mental health, religion, books, law and social policy for The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Commonweal and Governing. He was named the 2002 Albany Author of the Year, won a first place award from the Catholic Press Association, and is author of Faith in Words. Ringwald directs the Faith & Society Project at The Sage Colleges in Albany, N.Y., and is a senior writer at Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. He may be reached via email at ringwc@sage.edu or by phone at (518) 292-1727
Reviews
"An impressive, straightforward synthesis of diverse and controversial issues."--Library Journal "An encouraging, well-researched book on an important topic."--Publishers Weekly "A sober and well-documented look at some of the unquestioned claims of the burgeoning recovery movement. What makes 'The Soul of Recovery' stand out from the pack is the way Ringwald approaches the recovery movement as a journalist, not as an evangelist or protagonist. He understands the power of spirituality in treating substance abuse, yet still asks some hard questions."--San Francisco Chronicle "Ringwald's book is a paradigm shifter, his clear presentation, and extraordinary research can't help but have the reader "thinking outside the box." If anyone is questioning the role that faith plays in the life of an addict this book is for you."--Counselor Magazine "An articulate and extremely well-reported exploration of how nurturing spiritual beliefs can help addicts recover. As such, The Soul to Recovery is a much-needed and welcome antidote to the prevailing medical paradigm that chalks up troubled human behavior to 'abnormal brain chemistry,' amenable to a pharmaceutical solution. Ringwald shows that the paths to addiction are many, and that the most successful treatment programs are those that help heal the mind and soul."--Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill "The unqualified best among recent 'recovery' books. Eminently readable."--Ernest Kurtz, Historian "The Soul of Recovery captures beautifully the role of spirituality in the treatment and recovery of people with addictions. Not only is it immensely informative, but the writing style is captivating, passionate and powerful."--Harold G. Koenig, co-author of the Handbook of Religion and Health "A sober and well-documented look at some of the unquestioned claims of the burgeoning recovery movement. What makes 'The Soul of Recovery' stand out from the pack is the way Ringwald approaches the recovery movement as a journalist, not as an evangelist or protagonist. He understands the power of spirituality in treating substance abuse, yet still asks some hard questions."--San Francisco Chronicle "An impressive, straightforward synthesis of diverse and controversial issues."--Library Journal "An encouraging, well-researched book on an important topic."--Publishers Weekly "An important contribution to the necessary task of bringing a discussion of the spiritual dimension of the human into the marketplace."--America "Ringwald's book is a paradigm shifter, his clear presentation, and extraordinary research can't help but have the reader "thinking outside the box." If anyone is questioning the role that faith plays in the life of an addict this book is for you. The author presents spirituality (and religion) in treatment and recovery in a broad array of modalities, and also discusses more secular approaches, which have little or no spirituality or faith-based components. In the process he has written a primer on the varieties of addiction treatment available, clearly describing what a participant in a specific treatment may be experiencing, and then just to make sure you have a clear picture of it all, he offers numerous case presentations that personalize the process."--Counselor Magazine "The Soul of Recovery captures beautifully the role of spirituality in the treatment and recovery of people with addictions. Not only is it immensely informative, but the writing style is captivating, passionate and powerful."--Harold G. Koenig, co-author of the Handbook of Religion and Health "An articulate and extremely well-reported exploration of how nurturing spiritual beliefs can help addicts recover. As such, The Soul to Recovery is a much-needed and welcome antidote to the prevailing medical paradigm that chalks up troubled human behavior to 'abnormal brain chemistry,' amenable to a pharmaceutical solution. Ringwald shows that the paths to addiction are many, and that the most successful treatment programs are those that help heal the mind and soul."--Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill
Book Information
ISBN 9780195147681
Author Christopher Ringwald
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 621g
Dimensions(mm) 164mm * 244mm * 29mm
