When AA Doesn't Work For You: Rational Steps to Quitting Alcohol by Albert Ellis PhD

by Albert Ellis

The first book that applies the insights of rational-emotive therapy to the recovery from problem drinking.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Albert Ellis was an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). He held M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University and American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He also founded and was the President of the New York City-based Albert Ellis Institute for decades.
He is generally considered to be one of the originators of the cognitive revolutionary paradigm shift in psychotherapy and the founder of cognitive-behavioral therapies. Based on a 1982 professional survey of USA and Canadian psychologists, he was considered as the second most influential psychotherapist in history (Carl Rogers ranked first in the survey; Sigmund Freud was ranked third).

Reviews

[Kristy Shimp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful for those that need to supplement AA or want to recover but don’t jive with AA

Rational Emotive Therapy is an excellent tool for those committed to changing their thinking and behaviors and are willing to work. Ellis and the coauthor do a great job at offering anecdotes as well as exercises that are doable.

[Jeffrey Bradt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did not strike me as the absolute best book on recovery from alcohol, but it shows what Ellis was thinking around the time he started SMART Recovery, which is now (2019) in its 25th year.

[Dan Lurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive and redundant to his other books on REBT, but specifically targeted at alcoholism(although any valid for any substance abuse.)

[Carlton Duff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this 2 stars instead of the 1 it deserves, because I got a few laughs out of it.

Just awful.

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

alternative to 12 step-good for the humanist client