When Society Becomes an Addict

I first heard of Anne Wilson Schaef, when I read an article she wrote in The Village Voice over 30 years ago. I was floored by her insights and both the level of research she did, as well as the amount of research. In this book, Anne depicts the nation--and to a large extent, the world--as one humongous addict eating through all of its resources. Anyone who knows addiction will either recognize themselves or the people around them in this vivid depiction.

This book is not new, but its themes fit right in with our social issues today. I read this first in the 70s, and thought it was genius then. Today, everything the author predicted has happened. If society seems crazy to you, and you are overwhelmed with the dysfunctional politics, this book will explain it all.

This book is absolutely enlightening and provides a framework for a person to free him or herself from the bondage of a society and system that is diseased and unable to love. Certainly there are aspects of the book or specific anecdotes that don't resonate fully with me, but those tiny throwaways pale in comparison to the overall shift in perception Anne is offering here. I think the message within couldn't be more timely or relevant than it is today. When one is able to truly see the world as it is, then he or she can intentionally create a new way of living and loving.

i agree with another reviewer that she is full of herself and that the information is dated. I stopped reading it even though it was recommended by a naturopathic doctor as a good read on addiction. The book reveals so much about the personality of the author. There is a story she tells about inviting someone to dinner and assigning a meal preparation task--"preparing tomatoes for the tacos." She berates the guest for slicing them and arranging them artfully on a plate when she should have known "that's not the way tomatoes should be prepared; they need to be chopped." It's this kind of section in the book that caused me to put the book on hold to try to read at a later date.

So often we are left to wonder, "How did our world become this way?" Well, Schael has explored, through her research and personal experience, how society itself becomes the addicted system in which addicts and alcoholics perpetuate their behavior. Where codependents continue their cycles, where those with power, hunger for more and go after it at all costs. Society itself plays a large role in maintaining the system, and now we have a better understanding of why.

Why do there seem to be so many addicts of so many types all around ? This book points to the elephant in the living room: our society is built on addiction, makes it easy to become addicted and rewards addiction. Can't make a buck when people have a clear view of their own good and the ability to say "no". If you are an addict, or know one, here's a big picture of what you're going through. No substitute for a good 12-step program, but this book will give you a bigger perspective.

and excellent introduction to the process of addicition and alcoholisms and how to recover. Essential for counselors and addicts alike.

The best book ever on addictions, even more pertinent now than when it was written, which makes it a classic!

First of all this book is very easy to read. It is devoid of perplexing terminology and therefore accessible to the layperson.Unlike other books on addiction, this one argues that the abnormal beliefs, thinking and behaviour of the individual addict are derived from processes within western societies as a whole. That the system we live in actively encourages and nurtures addictions.Addiction as mentioned by the reviewer before me, is explored in it's many facets, process addictions (behaviours like excessive shopping, sexual compulsions, gambling) and ingestive addictions such as alcohol, drug or food abuse. Politicians and their addiction to power are also mentioned...Scheaf illustrates how our contemporary capitalist system is one of 'non-living'. That is to say that we are actively encouraged to disregard our authentic selves and their attendant emotions and instead search outside for solutions to emotional issues. This leads to an inner emotional death, whereby we lose our humanity and our souls.Following from this we edge closer to physical death in attempting to satiate our insane compulsions. In a nutshell addiction will continue to increase and become as increasing social problem until we learn to champion our authentic real selves and cultivate nurturing healthy relationships.She examines the relationship between the illusion of omnipotent and constant control and how we create stress and addiction through holding on to these misconceptions. If nothing else these revelations are tools for de-stressing.Utilising some fundamentals from twelve step recovery programs, the author lucidly draws attention to many destructive beliefs and modes of thinking within our system as a whole. In doing so she is showing how we need to move away from these and push for reform in order to eradicate addiction(s) at the source.As a recovering addict, reading this book confirmed many of the misgivings I have felt but not been able to express until now. It has given me a different perspective on my addictions altogether. It has given me further food for thought on where I need to be and what I need to avoid in order to stay well.The book offers a nice straight forward explanation of co-dependency alongside addiction and how one usually coexists with the other.Very easy to read yet containing profound insights and concepts, this book is ideal for sociologists, social psychologists, addicts, co-dependents and anyone wanting to understand the processes that contribute to all addictions.

One of the characteristics of a strong society is the strong people who live and work there. Have we become a society of care-takers who somehow believe that we and others must be safe at all costs? It isn't working, and Anne Wilson Schaef is challenging us to look at our beliefs, practices, parenting, expectations, etc.

Fantastic book. Voices my own realisations. Thank you

Excellent true book

A very self serving book, largely drawing on the author's own previous book. Full of weird claims - 96% of people are in a co-dependency state, 83% of nurses have an alcoholic parent... A very simplistic and distorted view of reality.