Why Don't They Just Quit?

By: Joe Herzanek

Narrated by: J. D. Hart

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

New! Revised updated edition. (Contains valuable new insights, resource info and first-person accounts from parents who have struggled and won!)

Real-life solutions to help you now! Watching a loved one immersed in an intense battle with alcohol and drug abuse may be the most difficult, complex, and harrowing experience you'll ever have. This book offers a message of hope to families and friends, giving practical solutions so they can help anyone struggling with addiction to begin the road to recovery.

You will learn:

• Why a person doesn't have to hit rock-bottom before getting help
• When helping is actually hurting
• Why quitting is not the same as recovering
• How to deal with a relapse
• How to receive 50 percent or more off the cost of treatment
• Why a parent would leave their child due to their addiction
• Why effective intervention doesn't have to be a surprise attack

Answers to over 30 common, and not so common questions. Inspiring first-hand recovery stories from real people!

©2007, 2010 Changing Lives Foundation (P)2012 Changing Lives Foundation

Solutions for the most insidious affliction

What made the experience of listening to Why Don't They Just Quit? the most enjoyable?

This book offers practical help for the addict and the families involved with this deadly disease. The solutions and advice are much more meaningful and useful coming from an author who has remained in recovery himself for 30 years. If you're struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, the power to change is just a listen away.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Anyone close to an addict should listen to this.

If you could sum up Why Don't They Just Quit? in three words, what would they be?

Practical advice, Candid, Full of answers

What was one of the most memorable moments of Why Don't They Just Quit??

For me, one of the most memorable moments in this audio book is the section on "Raising the Bottom." Joe uses real-life examples from his own experiences to illustrate this point.

A friend who had read the book mentioned this particular part to me and said "I hit a 'Thank you, Lord' moment when reading about raising the bottom. I've wondered about that idea for some time now but couldn't seem to find professionals nor support groups who I felt were smart enough to answer my questions."

Another important section is the one about "Siblings: the forgotten ones. How siblings get hurt" (vital information that every family member should know about). Joe's Mother, Gladys gives her account of how she ultimately intervened; his former wife candidly reveals how his addiction affected her and their young daughter and Joe's daughter Jami speaks about her feelings as she struggled to come to terms with being "left behind."

What about J. D. Hart’s performance did you like?

I particularly like the friendliness, clarity and down-to-earth quality of J.D.'s voice as I listened. I almost felt as though I was sitting down at his kitchen table over a cup of coffee and having a "heart-to-heart" talk.

The addition of a woman's voice to the narration also added authenticity and warmth to the sections from Joe's Mom, former wife and daughter.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Why Don't They Just Quit??

The main insight I received from listening to this book is that no matter how "impossible" a person's situation may seem, there are solutions and there is hope.

I also learned that families have much more power than they realize. The more information we have, as family members and friends--the more likely it will be that we can help the person we care about--and also learn to take care of ourselves and our family members in the meantime.

Any additional comments?

After listening to this book I have a greater understanding of this topic of addiction and recovery and how it affects the entire family. Practical solutions are explained in terms anyone can understand.

I believe that people who listen to this will save themselves many, many days of suffering and stress.

I also think that this format (listening to the book via an audio download) is a great way for a spouse or family member to gain insight and information on the topic of addiction without the addicted family member knowing (no "hiding the book under the mattress!").

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Thank you!

I wish I would have found this book sooner, like 20 years ago sooner! Im glad I stumbled a crossed it 2 days ago. I’ve listened to it for the past two days and it’s been helpful. It’s been very enlightening and I have a clearer path as to what boundaries I need to put in place. Its made me hopeful that my loved one can still lead a clean and sober life when they are ready. I will do the right thing no matter how hard it is! Thank you for writing this book Joe Herzanek, I will definitely recommend it to those that I think may need it.