For nearly thirty years, author Dr. Jeff Herten was a high-functioning alcoholic—one who drinks every day, yet continues to lead a productive, successful life. Now he shares his first-hand knowledge of how alcohol can destroy lives—as it nearly destroyed his. Alcohol is the single greatest social ill in the United States. It affects us not only emotionally but physically. Alcohol may lead to deadly cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, and liver. It rots our bones, corrodes our stomach lining, erodes our memories, and suppresses our immune systems. An Uncommon Drunk explores the numerous facets of alcohol consumption in the United States, including the risks, the behaviors associated with alcohol, and the innocent victims of alcohol abuse. But it also offers hope for those wishing to become sober and recommends resources to help them turn their lives around. Frank and honest, An Uncommon Drunk is a must-read for every spouse, parent, child, employer, physician, and counselor whose life is touched by alcohol. It may be just the wake-up call you need.
Author: M.D., Jeff Herten
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Customer Reviews
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A Power of Its Own
The profound honesty and humility Dr. Herten expressed in his book, An Uncommon Drunk, has a power all of its own. Just to read it is an uplifting experience, for it takes great courage to reveal such information on a personal level. Each individual body has its own way of processing the physiological effects of any substance and what Dr. Herten knew was that he was not at his best when using alcohol. He did not achieve at the educational and professional level without effort. An Uncommon Drunk is one more example of Dr. Herten's desire to do his best. Bravo!
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Are you an Alcoholic? This book will help you decide.
What a great tool this is for helping you to decide whether or not you have a problem with alcohol. Alcoholism is a cunning, baffling and powerful disease, and the only one that tells you you don't have it! Because it can be so difficult to diagnose, it is very helpful to have books like these that can share a story and experience that you may relate to. Bottom line is that not all alcoholics have lost everything and are living in the gutter. They may be living in the house next to you driving that new car, or they could be your boss. Or they could be you. Great book to help you find out.
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<br />Michael Z, Author The Wisdom of the Rooms A Year of Weekly Reflections
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An eye-opener
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/06)
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<br />The author, Dr. Jeff Herten, writes "An Uncommon Drunk" from two main perspectives. The first is based upon his own experience as a functioning alcoholic. The second is based upon his experience and knowledge as a medical doctor. The amount of medical information that he provides about the damage that alcohol causes to our bodies is incredible. I have a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and I learned more in this book about the physiologically damaging effects of alcohol than I did during my entire program. The alcohol industry does a lot to make alcohol appear benign, but really it is a dangerous poison for our bodies.
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<br />His experience as a functioning alcoholic is scary. He indicates that there are a lot more functioning alcoholics operating in our community than we realize. These people might be medical doctors or corporate leaders. They are in positions that put us at risk. He also notes that a functioning alcoholic can easily switch into a non-functioning alcoholic role. I personally witnessed this when the President of a community hospital system in central California made the transition from being an administrator into being a homeless vagrant.
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<br />In addition to sharing his own personal experience with alcoholism, Herten also writes about other peoples experiences. It is really sad how many lives have been damaged and destroyed from addiction to this substance. Alcoholism doesn't just affect the abusers life, but also the lives of those around him. These people include spouses, children, employees, and innocent bystanders. It is really an insidious problem.
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<br />The information that I gained from reading this book really opened my eyes about an intervention that I needed to do with a functioning alcoholic that is close to me. If I carry this knowledge in me, and don't tell this person what I learned about the health problems that he has coming his way, then I continue to enable him. At 4:30am, after I caught him finishing up a Bloody Mary, I started talking about how his health problems and weight problems are being contributed to by the incredible amount of alcohol that he is consuming. Unfortunately, the response that I got was a question about what alcohol has fewer calories. I will keep referring to this book for more information to help me wake him up. He needs to realize that if you are grossly obese and can see your liver, you have a problem.
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<br />"An Uncommon Drunk" should be read by alcoholics, their families, substance abuse counselors, doctors, future parents, and students. I can't imagine anyone that would not benefit from this book, except cultures that do not drink. A person in denial would definitely have a harder time staying in denial after reading this story. A functioning alcoholic is a person that drinks frequently, yet still seems to have a good life. It is easier for a functioning alcoholic to be in denial, than non-functioning alcoholic. After they read this book, it won't be so easy.
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