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Addiction Research and Theory August 2003, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 287–288 Book Review MILESTONE, SIGNPOST OR TOMBSTONE? International Handbook of Alcohol Dependence and Problems, Eds. Nick Heather, Timothy J. Peters and Tim Stockwell; Chichester, John Wiley, 892pp., £95.00, hardback This book is huge: it is the size of a brick. It contains, I estimate, about half a million words on its 892 pages. It has 42 chapters written either singly or jointly by the 3 editors and the 65 other contributors, and is divided into 6 parts, Alcohol and People, Clinical Pathology, Antecedents of Drinking, Alcohol Problems and Dependence, Drinking Patterns and Types of Alcohol Problem, Treatment and Recovery, and Prevention of Alcohol Problems. Each of these sections contains between 70 and 170 pages, starting with an editor’s introduction. At £95.00 (UK) it is also not cheap. So what do purchas- ers get for their money? In a way they get six books in one, though the first on Alcohol and People, discussing perception of alcohol use and its problems, including a historical view, is the briefest and would better be described as a monograph. The authors of all chapters are acknowledged experts in their field but were ‘‘asked not to attempt a theoretical or research ‘‘cutting edge’’ of their topics... . Rather they were requested to compile a general, up to date summary of knowledge in their respective areas, making decisions about what is of major importance and essential to include in such a summary...’’ (Preface p. xvi). So the book is a series of expert reviews of the state of knowledge in the world of alcohol use and problems at a point in time, and that time, given the inevi- table delay in publication, would be effective at the end of the twentieth century. The book is almost big enough to stand as such a milestone. And my goodness, are there not here many themes which display the reification of knowledge over that century? The coming of age, the death and the rebirth of ‘‘alcoholism’’; the invention of ‘‘alcohol dependence’’, which concept is carried in the title; the internalisation and externalisa- tion of the control of alcohol problems; major advances in our understanding of the biochemistry of alcohol use and in ‘‘the science’’ of treatment. As a reviewer, I did not feel it would be right to go through my particular likes and dislikes chapter by chapter. For it is built in to a book such as this that the authors are expressing their own views and prejudices about what is or is not important from their particular standpoint. That has led to some notable omissions, such as family therapy, but not many. Of course the reader is likely to enjoy more those chapters nearer to and more reflecting their own interests and prejudices. But this reviewer, who is medical, and has a degree in physiology as well, did find Part II, the Clinical Pathology, generally rather hard going and lacking the clarity of the other parts. I suspect that non-medical readers will find that part not far from incomprehensible. The book is meant to be accessible to a wide range of disciplines: not all of it is. ISSN 1606-6359 print: ISSN 1476-7392 online ß 2003 Taylor & Francis Ltd DOI: 10.1080/1606635031000135668 Addict Res Theory Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by CDL-UC Santa Cruz on 11/05/14 For personal use only.

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Page 1: Milestone, Signpost or Tombstone?

Addiction Research and TheoryAugust 2003, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 287–288

Book Review

MILESTONE, SIGNPOST OR TOMBSTONE?

International Handbook of Alcohol Dependence and Problems, Eds. Nick Heather,Timothy J. Peters and Tim Stockwell; Chichester, John Wiley, 892pp., £95.00, hardback

This book is huge: it is the size of a brick. It contains, I estimate, about half a millionwords on its 892 pages. It has 42 chapters written either singly or jointly by the 3 editorsand the 65 other contributors, and is divided into 6 parts, Alcohol and People, ClinicalPathology, Antecedents of Drinking, Alcohol Problems and Dependence, DrinkingPatterns and Types of Alcohol Problem, Treatment and Recovery, and Prevention ofAlcohol Problems. Each of these sections contains between 70 and 170 pages, startingwith an editor’s introduction. At £95.00 (UK) it is also not cheap. So what do purchas-ers get for their money?

In a way they get six books in one, though the first on Alcohol and People, discussingperception of alcohol use and its problems, including a historical view, is the briefestand would better be described as a monograph. The authors of all chapters areacknowledged experts in their field but were ‘‘asked not to attempt a theoretical orresearch ‘‘cutting edge’’ of their topics. . . . Rather they were requested to compilea general, up to date summary of knowledge in their respective areas, making decisionsabout what is of major importance and essential to include in such a summary. . .’’(Preface p. xvi). So the book is a series of expert reviews of the state of knowledge inthe world of alcohol use and problems at a point in time, and that time, given the inevi-table delay in publication, would be effective at the end of the twentieth century. Thebook is almost big enough to stand as such a milestone. And my goodness, are therenot here many themes which display the reification of knowledge over that century?The coming of age, the death and the rebirth of ‘‘alcoholism’’; the invention of ‘‘alcoholdependence’’, which concept is carried in the title; the internalisation and externalisa-tion of the control of alcohol problems; major advances in our understanding of thebiochemistry of alcohol use and in ‘‘the science’’ of treatment.

As a reviewer, I did not feel it would be right to go through my particular likes anddislikes chapter by chapter. For it is built in to a book such as this that the authors areexpressing their own views and prejudices about what is or is not important from theirparticular standpoint. That has led to some notable omissions, such as family therapy,but not many. Of course the reader is likely to enjoy more those chapters nearer to andmore reflecting their own interests and prejudices. But this reviewer, who is medical,and has a degree in physiology as well, did find Part II, the Clinical Pathology,generally rather hard going and lacking the clarity of the other parts. I suspect thatnon-medical readers will find that part not far from incomprehensible. The book ismeant to be accessible to a wide range of disciplines: not all of it is.

ISSN 1606-6359 print: ISSN 1476-7392 online � 2003 Taylor & Francis Ltd

DOI: 10.1080/1606635031000135668

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Page 2: Milestone, Signpost or Tombstone?

But this book is not meant to be read from cover to cover. It is meant to be consulted,to be dipped in to. It is designed to give up to date overviews, and to give guidanceon where to look next. By topping and tailing each chapter with a Synopsis at thebeginning and Key Works And Suggestions For Further Reading before the referencesat the end, that process is facilitated. So the book is a cross between a milestone anda signpost. It is a good place to start on a new journey of exploration, and a goodplace to revise before starting off on a more familiar trail. In that respect, it couldbe used like I have used that wonderful series of books produced out of that muchlamented body, The Addiction Research Foundation in Canada. But that was a seriesof books, more detailed, covering specific topics and building up over many yearsinto a compendium of knowledge nearer the leading edge.

There are no current competitors to this huge single volume, and I confess towondering why not. Is it because the amount of work involved in its production isso great as to be almost beyond the capacity of anyone with a full-time job? Is itbecause its size guarantees that its cost will be high, beyond that of many an individualbook-buyer? Is it because the days of such publications are over, to be replaced by moreinstantly updated electronic communications? Whatever the reason, this mighty tomedeserves to be widely read. It may be the last of its kind.

Douglas CameronSenior Lecturer (Clinical) in Substance Misuse

University of Leicester,Leicester, UK.

288 BOOK REVIEW

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