Book Being Reviewed:
May, G. G. (1988). Addiction and grace: Love and spirituality in the healing of addiction. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Reviewer:
Danielle Richards

Genre:
Spirituality

Subject Headings:
Codependency, Substance abuse alcohol, Substance abuse drugs, Spiritual journey

Review:
Dr. Gerald May’s book gives an excellent overview of the nature and process of addiction. May provides the reader with a foundational understanding of the psychological, physiological, behavioral and social components of substance and non-substance addictions. May utilizes his experiences in working with chemically dependent clients as a basis for his writings. A spiritual perspective on addiction is also provided. This book is an excellent resource for clients who are in the recovery phase of addiction or for family members and friends who are close to someone struggling with addiction.

It is an informative book that is also uplifting and inspiring. For clients who are involved in the AA community, it may be of particular relevance since the relationship between addiction and spirituality is explored. The spiritual perspectives in this book are offered primarily from a Christian perspective. However, May does an adequate job of drawing parallels between major world religions. I would recommend this as reading for individuals who wish to know more about the process of attachment in addiction, as well as for those looking for spiritual resources regarding recovery.