Almost Alcoholic: Is My (or My Loved One's) Drinking a Problem?

by Joseph Nowinski, Robert Doyle M.D.

Determine if your drinking is a problem, develop strategies for curbing your intake, and measure your progress with this practical, engaging guide to taking care of yourself.

Every day, millions of people drink a beer or two while watching a game, shake a cocktail at a party with friends, or enjoy a glass of wine with a good meal. For more than 30 percent of these drinkers, alcohol has begun to have a negative impact on their everyday lives. Yet, only a small number are true alcoholics--people who have completely lost control over their drinking and who need alcohol to function. The great majority are what Dr. Doyle and Dr. Nowinski call "Almost Alcoholics," a growing number of people whose excessive drinking contributes to a variety of problems in their lives.

In Almost Alcoholic , Dr. Doyle and Dr. Nowinski give the facts and guidance needed to address this often unrecognized and devastating condition. They provide the tools identify and assess your patterns of alcohol use; evaluate its impact on your relationships, work, and personal well-being; develop strategies and goals for changing the amount and frequency of alcohol use; measure the results of applying these strategies; and make informed decisions about your next steps.

Genres: Health

250 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

Joseph Nowinski is a psychologist at the University of Connecticut Health Center. The founder of the Institute of Interpersonal Sensitivity, he also has a private practice in Tolland, Connecticut, where he lives.

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of a new series about continuums of behaviour, and one I had high hopes for. I found the writing dry (hey, see what I did there?) and the constant repetition of the title description maddening. This book reminded me a lot of an extended Cosmo or Woman's Day article with its relentless parade of anecdotes- it felt like the authors were wanting to make sure there was someone for every reader to identify with-so they included more stories than science. That's my other problem with this book, it promises science and fails to deliver. I tend to agree with the authors that behaviour (compulsive or no) occurs along a continuum, and awareness is terribly important. But I could have done without the breathless true-life examples, and the final chapter which was an undisguised plug for AA for everybody, alcoholic or no. I don't know if I'll go on with the series, even though the concept intrigues me.

[Rebecca Renea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something that should be written about more. People always assume that if you have a drinking problem then you are a full blown alcoholic but that is not the case. It was decent overall in the sense of reading about other people and their stories. The ending abruptly goes to being completely sober whereas the rest of the book talked about limiting and getting help so that threw me off.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you feel the need to have a drink as a way to calm your nerves or handle stress, then you NEED this book! It really helped me to move past using alcohol as a way to avoid situations that I didn't know how to deal with.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book made me want to have a drink.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly useful. Although repetitive at times it conveys its message rather well, you don’t have to be an alcoholic to have a drinking problem. Living in the UK I see problematic drinking everywhere and recognised myself and some people in my life in the case studies that scattered the book. I’ve been alcohol-free for nearly two years now and am considering myself lucky to have dabbled in some pretty epic drinking and surviving it. I don’t know if this book alone would have helped me but I can tell that it answers some relevant questions, like why do people drink to almost alcoholic levels? What constitutes a deleterious effect? How can these be mitigated and how to work up a good refusal technique without losing social connections. I know that a few reviewers bemoaned the mentioning of AA but it has worked for a lot of people and it would be remiss not to mention it at all. Overall this is a very good self-help read for those who wonder if they are dicing with risky drinking and those who love them.

[Danielle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first in a series about "almost" diseases. As an example, an almost alcoholic falls somewhere in the grey area between "normal social drinker" and "full blown alcoholic". The first part of the book talks about the differences between the three and gives real life examples of almost alcoholism. The second part is more of a self help section for people who self identify as almost alcoholics.

[Benjamin Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great topic to discuss but personally I found the book a little dry. And I guess I would have liked if it were framed as a research topic more than a collection of people who had these problems. Also, it mostly is used for self-help which isn't something I'm really interested in.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book that I've read in a series. I've read one on psychopathy, as well. Good info, but fairly basic. Written more for a lay person. I doubt that I'll finish the series.

[Gailnic2000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great content. A little dry and repetitive—like maybe it was written by medical doctors versus literary giants.

[jay walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad this book exists for those who don’t identify as the stereotypical alcoholic. The anecdotes are relatable. But the AA plug as the solution at the end seemed random and cheapened the whole thing. That’s the grand finale? A person would be reading this book because they don’t see themselves as the people who go to AA...ALCOHOLICS.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful book that explores an option that people may be borderline alcoholic and how to recognize the signs. I think it's always been either a person is or isn't an alcoholic. I think this is an important area for medical professionals to further explore.

[Rinku · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book and a good resource if you know of someone who has a drinking problem.

[Lisa Dicosimo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good, but not what I expected. It was to clinical.