The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease

Through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the disease model of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery.

The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the Western world have branded addiction a brain disease. But in The Biology of Desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing.

Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what it's supposed to do-seek pleasure and relief-in a world that's not cooperating. As a result, most treatment based on the disease model fails. Lewis shows how treatment can be retooled to achieve lasting recovery. This is enlightening and optimistic reading for anyone who has wrestled with addiction either personally or professionally.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Published: 07/14/2015
ISBN: 9781610394376
Pages: 256
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.10w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 05/25/2015
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2015
Library Journal 06/15/2015 pg. 103
Quill & Quire 09/01/2015 pg. 24