Herbert Fingarette, a distinguished professor at the University of California, has been a consultant on alcoholism
and addiction to the World Health Organization, and a Fellow of the Stanford Center for Advanced Studies in the
Behavioral Sciences. His work has had a significant influence on the U.S. Supreme Court, state supreme courts,
and current national policy makers on substance abuse.
Review
"Herbert Fingarette is at the forefront of a social counterrevolution that could redefine how the United
States views alcoholism."
- Curtis J. Sitomer, Christian Science Monitor
"Social and political responses to alcohol problems are neglected and research programmes are misdirected,
because the disease model prevails so strongly. Fingarette is having a tough time bringing this truth to the American
public, but his book is a triumph of clarity and brevity and must help."
- Richard Smith, British Medical Journal, The British Medical Association
"[Fingarette] writes with the words and touch of a kind and gentle man. . . . This is a solid book, and
one that is sure to create controversy, and if you want to hate it, agree with it or disagree with it, you ought
to read it first."
- Robert H. Williams, Washington Post
"A formidable critique of alcoholism as a disease."
- Robert Wright, The New Republic
"The message of this book is important and will no doubt elicit violent reactions from both sides of the
disease-concept controversy. Although hardly the last word, the book should be read by anyone interested in the
broader picture of alcoholism, its treatment and social implications."
- Lawrence Miller, Psychology Today
"This enlightening and challenging book is a call to compassion for heavy drinkers. . . . Given the brevity
of this clearly reasoned and well-researched book, and the ease with which both professionals and laypeople are
able to grasp the issues presented, Heavy Drinking will no doubt become a seminal volume in the field of
alcohol treatment."
- James Alsdurf, Christianity Today
University Of California Press Web Site
March, 2000
Summary
Heavy Drinking informs the general public for the first time how recent research has discredited almost every
widely held belief about alcoholism, including the very concept of alcoholism as a single disease with a unique
cause. Herbert Fingarette presents constructive approaches to heavy drinking, including new methods of helping
heavy drinkers and social policies for preventing heavy drinking and the harms associated with it.
"Herbert Fingarette is at the forefront of a social counterrevolution that could redefine how the United States
views alcoholism."
--Curtis J. Sitomer, Christian Science Monitor
"[Fingarette] writes with the words and touch of a kind and gentle man. . . . This is a solid book, and
one that is sure to create controversy, and if you want to hate it, agree with it or disagree with it, you ought
to read it first."
--Robert H. Williams, Washington Post
"This enlightening and challenging book is a call to compassion for heavy drinkers. . . . Given the brevity
of this clearly reasoned and well-researched book, and the ease with which both professionals and laypeople are
able to grasp the issues presented, Heavy Drinking will no doubt become a seminal volume in the field of alcohol
treatment."
--James Alsdurf, Christianity Today
