It's a classic for a reason. I recommend this for everyone. ( )

Solid content in straightforward writing. This is not about prose, it's about understanding oneself and life. Only sad that I didn't find it years ago when it came out. But then again, we're only ready when we're ready.

On my nightstand permanently. ( )

helpful for the journey from darkness to light
COGMAN CRISIS COLLECTION ( )

I have attended groups for codependents for several years, and this book always came highly recommended. I think that due to my experience in the groups, I knew a lot of what was already stated in the book. I found it really broad, and skimmed pages halfway through, looking for new information. I'm still a codependent and there's room for improvement, but--the exercises she lists are not part of my life. It's no one person, right now. She sings the praises of twelve-step groups, which are a narrow slice of what can be done to battle addiction and codependency. This was Codependents 101, and I'm past that. She tries to joke, and the jokes come off as mean-spirited due to the tone of the rest of the book and the seriousness of its content (or what it tries to achieve, anyway). If readers don't believe in the divinity of Jesus or the existence, feel free to skip several chapters and paragraphs. One of the author's answers to codependency is literally to pray it away, especially to Jesus or a male, Christianized figure because she does and therefore it should fix everyone's life. I am an observant Jew who doesn't believe that, and was annoyed at her preaching. She tried and failed to hide her utter lack of respect for atheists or agnostics. A book where an author tries to fix every codependent ever in a narrow way is not a place to show disdain for people who don't believe what the author does, yet here readers are.
So, this is a beginner's guide for devout Christians. I am not that, so I didn't get much out of the book. The checklist at the beginning was long but informative, and the stories did help to contextualize. That's why I gave the book three stars. I intend to read at least a dozen other books on codependency, and am hoping for other viewpoints. ( )

I'm not the target audience for this. But! This book is for people who, for whatever reason, are attracted people with problems. I call them "fixers." Again, not me (I'm too lazy) but soooo many people I know. And, therefore, this book was fascinating.

It was told partially from the author's (a recovering codependent) point of view and that helped me understand the logic and the reasoning behind the problem. And it's so logical. So helpful and interesting. ( )