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Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions
Every day millions of people do things they hide from friends and gambling, shopping, adultery, eating disorders, drug use, and more. In fact, about one in fifteen people is living a secret life. That means somebody close to you may be a Secret Keeper. Or it could be you.
For three decades, author and counselor John Howard Prin lived as a Secret Keeper, and his secret addictions escalated to near catastrophe. Since breaking the habit, he has directly experienced the rewards of successful recovery — whole-mindedness and renewed integrity. In these pages, he offers compelling true stories and practical exercises to empower anyone to break secret-keeping habits or help a loved one caught in a web of deception.
The first half of the book explores the human tendency to keep secrets, profiling a variety of Secret Keepers from all walks of life. The second half provides a clear, step-by-step approach to healing, rebuilding self-esteem, and living a healthy, secret-free life.
For three decades, author and counselor John Howard Prin lived as a Secret Keeper, and his secret addictions escalated to near catastrophe. Since breaking the habit, he has directly experienced the rewards of successful recovery — whole-mindedness and renewed integrity. In these pages, he offers compelling true stories and practical exercises to empower anyone to break secret-keeping habits or help a loved one caught in a web of deception.
The first half of the book explores the human tendency to keep secrets, profiling a variety of Secret Keepers from all walks of life. The second half provides a clear, step-by-step approach to healing, rebuilding self-esteem, and living a healthy, secret-free life.
- GenresNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 14, 2007
Informative, well written, helpful.
March 19, 2012
Informative. I recommend it for anyone who is/knows/lives or works with a 'secret keeper'. Good for support group leaders.
October 20, 2013
AMAZING!!!
May 23, 2026
Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions is a candid and compassionate exploration of secrecy, addiction, and personal recovery. Drawing from decades of personal experience as well as counseling insight, John Howard Prin presents a thoughtful and emotionally honest discussion about the hidden struggles many people face and the possibility of meaningful transformation.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its openness and authenticity. The author approaches the subject with empathy and realism, creating a supportive tone that encourages reflection rather than judgment. By exploring the emotional and psychological patterns behind secret keeping behaviors, the book helps readers better understand the impact of hidden habits on personal wellbeing, relationships, and self esteem.
The inclusion of true stories and practical exercises adds depth and accessibility to the material. The first half of the book thoughtfully examines the many forms secret keeping can take, while the second half provides readers with structured guidance toward healing, honesty, and healthier emotional habits. This balance between reflection and practical application makes the book both engaging and useful.
What makes Secret Keeping especially compelling is its message of hope and restoration. Honest, insightful, and emotionally grounded, the book offers readers a compassionate roadmap toward self awareness, accountability, and emotional healing.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its openness and authenticity. The author approaches the subject with empathy and realism, creating a supportive tone that encourages reflection rather than judgment. By exploring the emotional and psychological patterns behind secret keeping behaviors, the book helps readers better understand the impact of hidden habits on personal wellbeing, relationships, and self esteem.
The inclusion of true stories and practical exercises adds depth and accessibility to the material. The first half of the book thoughtfully examines the many forms secret keeping can take, while the second half provides readers with structured guidance toward healing, honesty, and healthier emotional habits. This balance between reflection and practical application makes the book both engaging and useful.
What makes Secret Keeping especially compelling is its message of hope and restoration. Honest, insightful, and emotionally grounded, the book offers readers a compassionate roadmap toward self awareness, accountability, and emotional healing.
March 14, 2009
kind of therapylike but I saw a lot of myself in this and it led me to search for some of the answers to when certain behaviors began.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews