What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Author Description
Alcoholics Anonymous has two million members worldwide; yet this fellowship remains a mystery to most people, and is even viewed by some as a cult or a religion. Written by an award-winning psychiatrist and educator in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse, What Is Alcoholics Anonymous? provides the most in-depth overview to date of this popular and established yet poorly understood recovery movement. Author Dr. Marc Galanter integrates findings from the latest research in psychology, cultural history, and clinical science with a diverse range of first-person experiences with AA. The result is a thorough, objective, and accessible investigation into what AA is, how it works, and how the organization might be considered and used by both healthcare professionals and anyone affected by pursuit of recovery.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the operational mechanisms, cultural significance, and clinical efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous to clarify its role in modern addiction recovery. Dr. Marc Galanter, a psychiatrist and educator specializing in substance abuse, synthesizes clinical data with sociological inquiry to demystify the fellowship. He examines the organization's structure, its historical development, and its psychological impact on members to provide a comprehensive overview for both professionals and the public.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the 12-step recovery model and its psychological underpinnings
- Integration of clinical science and cultural history regarding recovery movements
- Examination of the fellowship's social structure and group dynamics
- First-person accounts of members navigating the recovery process
Scope Limits
- Does not serve as a clinical manual for practitioners to implement AA programs
- Does not provide an exhaustive history of every regional variation of the organization
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and clinicians frequently cite this work as a balanced, objective resource for understanding the complexities of the AA fellowship. Readers note that the prose remains accessible while maintaining the academic rigor expected of a psychiatric professional.
Page Count:
280
Publication Date:
2016-05-30
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190276568
ISBN-13:
9780190276560
Health
Non-Fiction
Psychology
Self-help
Alcoholism
Sociology
Addiction Recovery
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