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The Tao of Sobriety shows how to apply eastern philosophy to enhance recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. With a few simple mental exercises, readers can learn how to quiet "The Committee," those nasty mental voices that undermine serenity and self-esteem. With leaders of the recovery movement enthusiastically endorsing this uniquely helpful book, The Tao of Sobriety is an invaluable addition to the recovery bookshelf.
| Acknowledgments | xi | |
| Foreword | 1 | |
| Chapter 1 | Introduction | 7 |
| A Word About Twelve-Step Programs | 8 | |
| What Is the Tao? | 8 | |
| Chapter 2 | Alcohol, Drugs, and You | 12 |
| Discovery 1 | Innocence in Spirit | 13 |
| Aaron's Story | 13 | |
| Reality-Altering Substances | 16 | |
| More Gain Than Pain | 18 | |
| Beyond Alcohol and Drugs | 19 | |
| Chapter 3 | I Think, Therefore I Am | 21 |
| Odd Insights About Us | 22 | |
| Who's the Boss? | 23 | |
| Journeying Deeper into Being | 25 | |
| A Practical Example | 27 | |
| Discovery 2 | Listening to the Internal Conversation | 28 |
| Who Are You? | 29 | |
| Discovery 3 | The Space That Is You | 29 |
| The One and the Other | 30 | |
| Higher Math: The One and the Many | 31 | |
| Discovery 4 | Discovering Who You Are | 32 |
| Who's Got the Power? | 32 | |
| Chapter 4 | Managing the Mind | 35 |
| Discovery 5 | Enhancing the Manager | 36 |
| Biker Stan | 36 | |
| Discovery 6 | Making a Commitment | 38 |
| Discovery 7 | Mindfulness and Detachment | 41 |
| Practice Makes Perfect | 45 | |
| Chapter 5 | Conversing with Drugs and Alcohol | 47 |
| Discovery 8 | Reflecting on Chemical Substances and You | 48 |
| A Proof of Innocence | 51 | |
| Discovery 9 | A Heart of Innocence | 52 |
| Chapter 6 | Attaining Balance | 60 |
| Chapter 7 | Revitalizing Desire | 65 |
| Discovery 10 | Identifying Mental Banditos | 67 |
| Ted's Story | 70 | |
| Chapter 8 | Reexamining Transgressions | 76 |
| Discovery 11 | Transgression Inventory | 77 |
| Laura's Story | 78 | |
| The Hopelessness Monster | 81 | |
| David's Story | 81 | |
| The Possibility of Possibility | 83 | |
| Discovery 12 | Acknowledging Possibility | 83 |
| Possibility and Patience | 84 | |
| The Pleasures of Irresponsibility | 85 | |
| Chapter 9 | Thoughts, Feelings, Actions | 87 |
| Knowing More About Your System | 88 | |
| Furthering Detachment | 91 | |
| Chapter 10 | Practicing Detachment | 95 |
| Discovery 13 | An Inch That's Greater Than a Mile | 96 |
| David's Bugs | 98 | |
| Good Self-Talk | 100 | |
| Hacking a New Path | 100 | |
| Jack's Story | 101 | |
| Discovery 14 | Practicing Self-Talk | 102 |
| Chapter 11 | Strengthening Commitment | 104 |
| The Hoax of Winning | 107 | |
| Taking the Good with the Bad | 110 | |
| Discovery 15 | Attack of the Aliens | 112 |
| Chapter 12 | Life as Theater | 115 |
| Chapter 13 | Revising the Script | 124 |
| The Power of Commitment | 127 | |
| Discovery 16 | Reflecting on Your Life as a Story | 128 |
| Discovery 17 | A Replay with the Manager in Charge | 130 |
| Discovery 18 | Self-Beliefs | 133 |
| Chapter 14 | Reality and Illusion | 135 |
| The Middle Way Revisited | 137 | |
| A Real-Life Video Game | 140 | |
| Chapter 15 | Plenty of Nothing | 143 |
| Discovery 19 | One Is the Loneliest Number | 147 |
| Bringing It Home | 149 | |
| Chapter 16 | Acceptance: Choosing Life | 151 |
| Defining Acceptance | 152 | |
| Inclusion and Exclusion | 154 | |
| The Acceptance of Suffering | 155 | |
| Discovery 20 | Expanding Acceptance | 158 |
| Avoiding a Steady State | 162 | |
| Chapter 17 | Retracing the Journey | 165 |
| The Tao of Sobriety in a Nutshell: A Handy Crib Sheet | 173 | |
| References | 175 |
Anonymous
Posted November 25, 2006
David Gregson & Jay S. Efran provide a practical guide to reviving our own inner voice of health in sobriety.
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
The Tao of Sobriety shows how to apply eastern philosophy to enhance recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. With a few simple mental exercises, readers can learn how to quiet "The Committee," those nasty mental voices that undermine serenity and self-esteem. With leaders of the recovery movement enthusiastically endorsing this uniquely helpful book, The Tao of Sobriety is an invaluable addition to the recovery bookshelf.