Reviewed by Alice H. for Readers' Favorite

"In How to Defeat Harmful Habits", author June Hunt has formulated a theory that addictive habits are behaviors that have been learned, practiced and over-practiced in maladaptive ways such that they become obsessions and compulsions. Alcohol addiction is viewed as a refusal to refrain from drinking while anorexia and bulimia are manifestations of the depth of internal despair. Compulsive gambling is seen as a result of the insatiable need to take risks while compulsive over-eating is the result of emotional hunger and sexual addiction is seen as caused by childhood sexual abuse combined with a 'non-nurturing mother and overexposure to sensual images."

The author takes each addiction and finds a Biblical verse which demonstrates that each of these addictions is really the result of yielding to sinful behavior. The recovery process from an addiction is seen as having the addicted person seek appropriate counseling combined with a return to the morals and principles laid out in the Bible. The Twelve Step process to recovery is laid out along with tips on how others can support the addicted individual without becoming themselves dependent upon the maladaptive behaviors of the addicted.

This is a book which will appeal to those receptive to responding to a higher authority figure in order to overcome maladaptive behaviors. At times, the Bible references appear to be a stretch to the conclusions being made and it is doubtful whether every addictive individual could respond to a single recovery plan. But nevertheless, the book appears well-researched and credible in its particular viewpoint. There is ample information regarding the criteria for the diagnosis of each addictive behavior which appears to be taken from already available books in various professional fields. However, the person attempting to support the addictive personality toward recovery will find it helpful that the information is offered in a compact and readily comprehensible form.