Biblioholism The Literary Addiction

This book I found very interesting. I really had no idea some people could be so addicted to books. I am a biblioholic but I found a lot of the content to be irrelevant to me because it focused a lot on the book buying aspect. I will buy books at yard sales, salvo, book sales, and bookstores but I won't go very extreme and have to buy books at bookstores all the time, or getting books and not reading them. But I can hoard books to a point. I am addicted to going into libraries, and most likely signing out too many books but I know how to control it. I do love to smell books, read too late, want to read at work, sometimes feel like I don't have enough time in a day to get reading done, given up a book before starting it, got a book because I liked the cover, look at books first at a yard sale, read during commercial breaks, read on the toilet, panic when I forgot my book while waiting, found a topic I was really interested in and got several books from the library on it, and usually have at least 3-6 books by my bed at all times. I found the parts in the book relevant to me funny. Great read for anyone who loves to read books.

The Hobbit or, There and Back Again

I have found a new author that I have become somewhat obsessed with. This was a fantastic book with plenty of danger and adventure. It surprised me because it was something I don't normally read or would find attractive even though I like fantasy but I really enjoyed it and now goes on my favorite books list.
       It followed the adventure of Bilbo Baggins a hobbit that lives in the shire, who through reading this book I have now become most fond of. He was visited by Gandalf the Grey and 13 dwarves to help them on their quest to reclaim the lonely mountain from Smag the evil dragon. They battled wargs, Orcs, goblins. elves, trolls, huge spiders, and a dragon. Smag the dragon was eventually defeated, they reclaimed the mountain, had a huge battle, and lived out the rest of their days peacefully. Unfortunately Thorin, Fili, and Kili were killed. Thorin didn't get to be the king under the mountain but his memory didn't fade.
        It was weird how the movie added in they were being hunted by Orcs because they were not in the book. That was really the only major thing they changed from page to script. The book I chose came with beautiful illustrations which added a little more magic to the experience.

Tweak Growing Up on Methamphetamines

This was the sequel to the Beautiful Boy book only from Nic's perspective. I found this book just as great as Beautiful Boy. I really got to see what goes on in an addict's head and what they go through. I understand a little better why it's so hard for an addict to keep from not relapsing. It was very insightful and it was great seeing his side of the story.

Soaring Above Co-Addiction Helping your Loved One Get Clean, While Creating the Life of Your Dreams

This was a very great book that gave you insight to what an addict lover goes through. I thought it was very good. It was told from the perspective of a woman who is married to an addict and is still with him to this day and how she supported him. It gave practical tips on how to recover from the grips of co-addiction and how to create a better life. I would recommend it to anyone who is in an relationship with an addict.

Understanding the 12 Steps an Interpretation and Guide for Recovering People

I read this for the sole purpose of research. I really enjoyed this book because it explained the 12 steps in deeper detail. It help me to understand the mind of the addict by providing tips and real life stories. It even had exercises to try.
     Before it talked about the 12 steps and what you had to do to work through the steps it had a couple chapters on what a 12 steps program was, the approach, and what happens at 12 step meetings. I would recommend this to all recovering addicts and anyone who wants to know more about what an addict goes through by working the steps.

Addictive Thinking Understanding Self-Deception

Addicts often experience low self-esteem, feel incompetent, feel worthless, have inferiority, inability to use will, have delusions of grandeur, have lots of anger, are always right, life is unfair, self-centered, self-righteous, can be jealous, hypercritical, obnoxious, inconsiderate, feel cheated, and expect to be put down, criticized, and rejected. Often time’s addicts believe that disaster is inevitable and they can sabotage themselves.

       Often times an addict may suffer from a mental illness too. What may be normal to a person that is a non-mentally ill may be viewed different for someone who is mentally ill. They have irrational thinking and can often reject rational arguments. They also have a different concept of time, they don't want a delay, and the concept of the future doesn't apply. Since their thinking is distorted they take drugs to feel justified and complete. Addicts are like people who get sunburned , they can be withdrawn, clingy, possessive, provocative, don't often believe in God because they feel they are God and experience omnipotence which is the feeling of having unlimited power.
        Denial, rationalization, and projection are the 3 most common traits seen among addicts. Denial is not lying necessarily because lying is conscious while denial is unconscious or willful so often they don't know they are doing it because of the irrational thinking. Rationalization means they have good reasons instead of true reasons, divert attention from the truth, and preserve the status quo which it's often why addicts don't think they have a problem. Projection is placing the blame on someone else.
        They can feel guilt and no shame. Guilt is what they have done; shame is who they are which can lead to corrective action. Guilt can be undone by making amends but amends can't change defective material that they feel they are made of. This can be helped by support from counseling; people who have had similar experiences, and people they care about. They can feel futile to change, don't want to be powerless, must believe they are adequate person, but can become a constructive person if they have they love and support from their family. This will add color to their life.

The 3 C's for an Addict's Family

• You didn't cause it
• You cannot control it
• You cannot cure it

Beat Your Addiction a Complete Program for Overcoming Your Addiction

I read this book for research purposes only. This book was very interesting. It was a self help book mostly but I still learned some stuff about drug addiction and other addictions too. Each chapter it explained and simplified the 12 steps. It gave tips and exercises to try per chapter. It was really good and I would recommend it to anyone who wants help getting over any addiction.