Books: I’m going to keep an ongoing list of sex addiction and related books and will provide brief reviews if I have read them. If I post them here please comment on what your thoughts are if you’ve also read them. They are not in any specific order.
Best Book I’ve read yet… Untangling the WEb: Sex, Porn & Fantasy Obsession in the Internet Age Patrick Weiss & Jen SChneider. If you’re an online addict or a partner to one I can’t say enough about this book. The clarity is amazing and you’ll sit there and think …ahhh, yes, I get it.
Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction by Patrick Carnes
From Amazon: Sexual addiction takes many forms, from obsessions with pornography and masturbation to engaging in voyeurism, cybersex, affairs, sex with strangers, incest, and rape. Though solitary forms of this addition may not be overtly risky, they can be part of a pattern of distorted thinking and identity conflict that can escalate to involve harming the self and others. The defining elements of this kind of addiction are its secrecy and escalating nature, often resulting in diminished judgment and self-control.
My take: for my situation the brief chapter on cybersex really wasn’t enough. It is a good book, but Carnes has others which I feel to be more valuable.
Contrary to Love: Helping the Sexual Addict by Parick Carnes
From Amazon: This book is very thorough in its explanation of sex addiction. As the spouse of a sex addict, I found it very comforting to understand the why and how of the addiction. During my dark hours when I was feeling hurt, rejected and making the addiction about me it was so healing to read this clinical analysis to create some distance and offer me some perspective. I really liked how he explained the benefits of the 12 step program and how effective it is in treatment. He brings a poetry and spirituality to the program that I think you don’t find in most literature. He really explains from beginning to end the cycle of addiction, the role of the co-addict and what is required for long term addiction recovery. This truly is a must read for addicts and anyone touched by the disease of sex addiction.
My Take: This is by far the best book I have read so far on sex addiction. It’s written more for therapists, but it does explain things well. A definite must read by sex addicts and their significant others!
Great list of sex addiction books on the SASH site for sex addicts, partners and relationships.
There was a great article in the NY Times today about Sex Addiction. It is really worth the read.
Modern Love column- Facing My Obsession, in the Flesh by Benoit Denizet-Lewis