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The Codependency Conspiracy How to Break the Recovery Habit and Take Charge of Your Life
This explosive program redefines addiction, codependency, and self-help. Using the author's clinical experiences, it shows how self-help methods can actually promote dependency, and offers options as well as positive, proven strategies for finding helpful therapies.
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First published March 1, 1991
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November 26, 2025
On the one hand, I do think it points out a lot of fairly accurate problems about 12-step programs. The analysis isn't exactly identical to my own, and it's definitely sounding kind of dated, but it's looking in the right direction.
On the other hand, it gives the impression the authors did their research about 12-step recovery from a place of wanting to dislike it. I think the argument would be a lot stronger if the authors offered some caveats about what the programs aspire to be, which far exceeds what they ultimately are. I think there is also a bit of hyperbole regarding what Melody Beattie, Bill W and Dr Bob, and their ilk claim to cover.
There are some interesting exercises offered up that I'm sure could be helpful to a great many people, and well I suppose they're intended to be instead of the 12 steps, I don't know that they're necessarily in conflict with the program. I think the authors underestimate The emphasis on personal responsibility within the program. but I do appreciate the solution-oriented approach of this book.
On the other hand, it gives the impression the authors did their research about 12-step recovery from a place of wanting to dislike it. I think the argument would be a lot stronger if the authors offered some caveats about what the programs aspire to be, which far exceeds what they ultimately are. I think there is also a bit of hyperbole regarding what Melody Beattie, Bill W and Dr Bob, and their ilk claim to cover.
There are some interesting exercises offered up that I'm sure could be helpful to a great many people, and well I suppose they're intended to be instead of the 12 steps, I don't know that they're necessarily in conflict with the program. I think the authors underestimate The emphasis on personal responsibility within the program. but I do appreciate the solution-oriented approach of this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review