Habits that Handicap


Lu par LibriVox Volunteers

(4.1 stars; 10 reviews)

Habits that Handicap is one of three novels about alcoholism and drug addiction written by Charles B. Towns. Towns was an expert on alcoholism and drug addiction who helped draft drug control legislation in the United States during the early 20th century. He also founded the Towns Hospital in New York City, which aimed at drying out the well-to-do patient. (Summary by Guero and Wikipedia.) (6 hr 42 min)

Chapitres

00 - Prefaces and Introduction 10:43 Lu par Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
01 - The Peril of the Drug Habit 30:07 Lu par MaryAnn
02 - The Need of Adequate Specific Treatment for the Drug-Taker 25:01 Lu par Esther
03 - The Drug-Taker and the Physician 18:43 Lu par Esther
04 - Psychology and Drugs 22:25 Lu par John Kooz
05 - Alcoholics 13:23 Lu par TriciaG
06 - Help for the Hard Drinker 35:57 Lu par Esther
07 - Classification of Alcoholics 37:13 Lu par Esther
08 - The Injuriousness of Tobacco 28:50 Lu par Esther
09 - Tobacco and the Future of the Race 15:28 Lu par TriciaG
10 - The Sanatorium 25:23 Lu par Ann Boulais
11 - Preventive Measures for the Drug Evil 25:55 Lu par Ann Boulais
12 - Classification of Habit-Forming Drugs 15:20 Lu par Ann Boulais
13 - Psychology of Addiction 20:46 Lu par Guero
14 - Relation of Drugs and Alcohol to Insanity 29:11 Lu par Guero
15 - Appendix - The Relation of Alcohol to Disease 47:49 Lu par John Kooz

Critiques

Have to agree with previous review...


(4 stars)

I really have to agree with the previous post. The audio book is a terrific insight towards understanding how early 20th century medicine viewed excess and addiction. With this said, the reader for section 15 especially is an almost comical caricature of himself. From over emoting almost every third word, to his ridiculous attempt- seemingly, to add various (British? 1800's's intelligentsia?) accents to his speech are mind numbingly annoying to say the least. Do yourself a favor and download and listen to chapters 1 thru 14 and ignore the pretentious bore.

Insightful History, Some Still Relevant


(4 stars)

A very eye-opening look into the attitude towards addicts and alcoholics in the 1910's, before prohibition. Much of the content seems relevant today, although some is definitely outdated. The author repeats himself throughout the book, but only a few times - consider it an amusing quirk. Readers were all good except the reader of sections 4 and 15. In 15 he sounds like he's trying to voice-act a pompous, emotive scientist. It gets old really fast - I got tired of the theatrics and had a hard time concentrating on the content.

better than the AA big book


(5 stars)

old school but still useful, better than the AA big book because they have an ax to grind and this talks about habits on general rather than specific vices like alcohol