UNDERSTANDING ALCOHOLISM

The above privately subsidized charitable foundation has issued pamphlets for years on the problem with which it deals, here rather loosely harnessed in book form: there are case histories, excerpts from studies, extracts from addresses, etc. The opening chapter is a condensation of Dr. Jellinek's Disease Concept of Alcoholism (1960) and his systematized varieties of drinkers: later chapters deal with controlled drinking, physiological aspects (neglected), and the alcoholic's relationship with his family and the law. There are useful appendices and referrals, but the presentation is not very alluring and the number of books extant on the subject will lower the tolerance.