Read in 2013 - 18: Craving

This is a double première on my blog: not only is it the first time that I was invited to review a work of non-fiction, but my review will also include the author's own comments.
So, without further ado, here is my review of "Craving":

Some time ago, I was approached via my blog by the author of this book, Omar Manejwala, M.D., asking whether I'd like to review it. Now, this post wouldn't be here if I had said no, would it! Please note that I am merely stating my personal opinion of the book here. Yours may differ from it – that's fine, and no matter whether you agree with me or not, I'd like to hear from you. Therefore, please feel free to comment, whether you've read it or not.

„Craving“ is a good, informative read which taught me quite a few things about addiction that I had not known until then.

Most importantly for me, I now understand a lot better how much of addictive behaviour is actually the addict's „fault“, i.e. their conscious, deliberate decision, and how much of it is due to addiction mechanisms and behavioral patterns they can't help at that moment. This was something I have been struggling with for many years, having gained more experience with alcoholism in my immediate proximity than I ever asked for. So, this book helped to reconcile me with some of the things I witnessed in the past, and to view these situations from a different perspective in hindsight. Thank you, Omar! 

Everyone who'll read „Craving“ will, I hope, learn something from it – either for themselves, if they suffer an addiction, or in order to be better able to understand and help an addict in their family or among their friends.

Omar Manejwala writes in a manner that makes you imagine you sit in comfortable surroundings with him, listen to him talking and answering your questions, in a clear manner that makes you really understand what he is on about, without you having studied neurology and psychology – or studied anything at all. Don't get me wrong, he is never condescending, but manages very well to get even rather complex matters across. Sometimes, it is maybe this very wish to make everyone understand that leads him to repeat things. In some chapters (but not throughout the book), I kept reading and thought „he's already said that“ and „yeah, I get the idea“. That does not take away from how useful and fascinating the book is.

Its ten chapters are outlined in the introduction (which, in itself, is a little on the long side). They cover the basic facts of brain science in terms of craving and decision making, the role of bias in preventing us from always making rational choices, what all sorts of different addictions (gambling, food, sex, alcohol, drugs, internet, to name but a few) have in common, how thoughts, actions and experiences can change one's way of thinking (and actually, one's brain itself), why groups can be so helpful in addiction treatment; joy, hope and recovery, and much more. 

There are several pages at the back with useful practical advice for addicts (where to find help) and tips on how to deal with specific cravings, and many exact source notes that facilitate further reading.

To make it easier to use this book as some sort of reference work (although it is not intended as such, I think), a register would have been helpful. 

Something I find a bit confusing is the very frequent mentioning of Twelve Step Programs; the first time this term is used is as early as page 4, but either I have simply overlooked it or there really isn't an explanation/definition of what a Twelve Step Program is anywhere in the book.
Also, I don't really know what a halfway house is; do you? (I guessed the meaning from the context.) 

Again, let me emphasize my opinion that „Craving“ is a book that should not be missed if you are an addict yourself or in close contact with addicts. Very clearly, it says that it is not intended as a substitute for the advice of health care professionals. But it can point you or someone you care about into the right direction and change their (and your) life for the better.

To end with a quote from the book: "Recovery is about 5 percent what you stop doing and 95 percent what you start doing."

Here is Omar's reply:

Hi Meike,

Thanks for your kind words about Craving. I’m delighted you enjoyed it so much, and I hope your readers will appreciate the book as well.  Since everyone craves, I think it’s a very relevant topic.  Over the last 30 years, obesity rates have doubled in the U.S., and although Germany is doing better than we are, over half of Germans are obese or overweight.  Since cravings are at the heart of overeating, I think nearly everyone (not just addicts) can benefit by increasing their understanding of this complicated, pervasive phenomenon and what we know about how to manage it.

I’ve never been invited to respond to a review before, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to share a few thoughts on your take on the book.  I agree with you that a key insight is the understanding that addictive behavior is not the addicts “fault” but certainly is their responsibility.  The parts of the brain involved in decision-making, planning, habits, thoughts, memories, feelings are all affected by cravings. 

You can imagine that writing a book that explains something as complex as cravings is very difficult, because cravings are psychological, genetic, biological, social, and are affected by environment, trauma, cues, stress, upbringing…all of this needs to be covered if readers are to have an accurate, practical understanding of cravings and how to manage them effectively.  I’m glad you appreciated the manner in which Craving clarifies and simplifies these ideas without dumbing them down.  There are enough oversimplified books based on junk science, and I couldn’t in good conscience add another.

I really appreciate that you consider Craving to be a book that “that should not be missed if you are an addict yourself or in close contact with addicts.”  I hope that the affected and afflicted among your readers will check it out and participate in the conversation here on your blog as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

Best,

Omar Manejwala, M.D.

www.CravingBook.com