The Addictive Personality

Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior, Second Edition

By: Craig Nakken

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

For over two decades, The Addictive Personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Now, through this second edition, author Craig Nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. Going beyond the definition that limits dependency to the realm of alcohol and other drugs, Nakken uncovers the common denominator of all addiction and describes how the process is progressive.

Through research and practical experience, Nakken sheds new light on:

• Genetic factors tied to addiction
• Cultural influences on addictive behaviors
• The progressive nature of the disease
• Steps to a successful recovery

The author examines how addictions start, how society pushes people toward addiction, and what happens inside those who become addicted. This new edition will help anyone seeking a better understanding of the addictive process and its impact on our lives.

©1996 Craig Nakken (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

This book spoke to me!

I loved everything in this book. Extremely helpful and insightful, coming from a recovering alcoholic and addict.

Enlightening

As an addict, this book helped me really understand my personality. It provided a clear connection with the nature of my addiction that enabled me to better deal with the roots of the problem. Highly recommend.

sister of addict

This completely opened my mind to what my brother is going through. The book was suggested to me by a man who leads a local Celebrate Recovery.

Excellent book!

The insights in here are spot-on! Learning about the addictive process weather one suffers from the addiction or when is witness to the addiction is enormously helpful! This book is very easy to understand and helped me tremendously in understanding my loved ones and myself!

Good info for addicts & their families

What did you love best about The Addictive Personality?

The last part, which focused on the prevalence of shame in the alcoholic family.

What other book might you compare The Addictive Personality to and why?

A different, but not wholly inconsistent, view appears in "The Heart of Addiction" by Lance Dodes, MD, a psychiatrist. While "The Addictive Personality" appears to be completely consistent with the AA philosophy, Dr. Dodes' book shines the light on the feelings of the addict during the moments before he succumbs to his desire to act out his addiction. Both views are helpful and even necessary.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last part, which highlights the shame that accompanies addiction and that exists in the families of addicts.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last part hit me between the eyes.

Any additional comments?

A meaningful read.

Great read

For anyone looking to educate their self about addiction and recovery. The why for people that don’t understand

Extremely Informational

Great narration, easy to listen and understand. There is something for ALL to take away from this read, regardless your perception of addiction.

Incredible explanations I've never heard before

This book is absolutely amazing. Connected many dots for me. It does a great job of explaining spirituality without becoming preachy. It defines, "spirituality is the ability to extract meaning from one's own experience" and relates how addictive behavior cuts one off from the world. So many good parts to this book.

An Excellent book that can change lives!

Explains a lot of misunderstood behavior and thinking and it goes explaining it in perfect details!

The best Explanation of Addiction I have ever hear

The Best of how to help ourselves and others who still suffer with addiction.