I am reading this book on the advice of my counselor. I checked it out of the library first because I didn't want to buy it if I didn't like it. When I found myself wanting to write in and highlight the passages of the library's copy, I knew I needed a copy of my own. The Resilient Self is singularly the most difficult book to read that I own. I read a chapter and put it down for a while. The thing that makes it difficult is that Dr. Wolin seems to see right through me. I think he was a fly on the wall at home in my family of origin. How could he possibly know what happened to me and how I feel about it unless he was there? I like the book because it tells me that it is not me that is flawed. I have strength and character of my own, something my counselor has been trying to tell me for five months. I also learned that there is no such thing as a perfect family. They all have troubles and challenges to overcome. We do the best we can with what we have. My advice: if you think your family of origin had problems, read this book.

As a professional who works with young adults who have survived challenging childhoods, and as an adult who has experienced these challenges, I can only say, "Bravo!" We've all heard quite enough about the damage done, and not near enough about our incredibly well honed survival skills - what the Wolins named "resiliencies". The resilience model gives us a language to use; naming the resiliencies evidenced by a young person is incredibly powerful. Reveiwing my own childhood through this lense is an affirmation and an honor to the child I was and the adult I have grown to be.

Resilient Self focuses on case histories (all fascinating)of people who came from devastating childhoods, and yet are now leading happy and productive lives. The best part of this book is that the Wolins (husband and wife team)also point out what these people did to change their lives around, that you can apply to your own life. This book is the most uplifting book that I have read. I've loaned it to most of my friends who are trying futiley to change their lives despite a crazy childhood. It is excellent and a fast read. Oh, by the way, the authors' suggestions really work!

Steinglass' work is an excellent example of how Murray Bowen's family systems theory can be applied to the need to understand how alcohol becomes the central organizing princple in a family. The volume is written more for those who assist families and those in recovery, rather than the patients and family members themselves, that is, for any person in the helping professions who has a working knowledge of system's theory. Well-written, well-researched and quickly understood, it would be a good resource for anyone who deals with alcoholics, their families and adult children's issues. Again,the only drawback is that it is not for the general public but for helping agents and that is not a drawback as long as one is aware of that up front.