rumjal 2007-03-26
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
All of the Amazon reader and newspaper reviews of this book (and I have used the Book Review Index to find all of the book reviews) fail to do justice to this book, and the explanation is to be found in the book itself. This book is one of the most original and most important books ever written on addictions. The reason appears on pages xii, 393, and 378-9 of the Tichnor & Fields hardcover First Edition:
This book began by request: Kasl started working with groups of women and found that some brought copies of marginally useful books on sex addiction to group. Seeing the need for a book, Kasl began writing something for her group and had it copied for them. Then the grassfire began. She handed out seven copies of her book bound in a red binding (hence her book's first title prior to commercial publication "The Red Book"). Several days later, forty women wanted copies and demand continued. A few months and a few bookstores later, thousands of copies were sold. Then the magic began: the groups changed her book and added to it because she listened to their voices.
I first got this book at a library and found that I had to buy a copy. Kasl says that her groups all found that the book is so packed with information that you want to read it a little at a time and think about it: not for nothing did so many women give Kasl feedback about her book.
I hope Kasl will publish future editions of this book with what used to be called in the nineteenth century an Analytical Table of Contents at the back of the book. Sally Vincent in her 25 May 1990 Psychology Today (page 36) book review entitled "Nymphos or Doormats" goes through the book adequately but an analytical table of contents would do a better job. And yes, as Vincent notes, about a third of the book deals with trying to readjust the self after all the abuse. But her review fails to convey the originality of the book and why it must be read.
Kasl asks readers--both women and men (there is a chapter on men because the book was written for women)--to write to her regarding their reactions to her book. I hope that someone will submit a book review that adequately summarizes this book, because I do not think that one can be written which conveys how good this book is. I have two copies of this book and expect to have my first copy rebound soon because I have worn the binding out with use. I am sure that you will have the same experience. Consider purchasing extra copies to give to friends, as I have: they will appreciate it.
