Book Review from my blog:
Unplugged: My Journey Into The Dark World of Video Game Addiction
Dr. Ryan Van Cleave has boldly stepped out to blaze new ground with an intimate portrayal of his personal experience with video game addiction. This fresh, engaging autobiography reveals an intellectually gifted but socially isolated young man stumbling deeper and deeper into a lifestyle of heavy drinking, promiscuous sex and excessive gaming.
The memoir holds nothing back, describing his experiences and impressions in powerful, visceral language. Sexually abused by a teacher, Ryan becomes engrossed by the fantasy role playing video game she has designed. Some years later, Ryan leaves home for university, where ongoing alcohol abuse, one night stands and his console gaming experience lead to shallow friendships with fellow gamers and LAN parties in a university computer lab.
Ryan reveals the joy and sorrow present in any adult gamer's lifestyle, and gives us a window into the complex reasons he sought to end his own life in December, 2007. This book is not to be missed, especially by those of us who fit into the same demographic and have important questions about their own excessive gaming. There are no easy answers or platitudes here, just raw emotion and rigorous honesty.
Unplugged: My Journey Into The Dark World of Video Game Addiction is available for purchase starting June 1, 2010 through Amazon.com.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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This guy went to the same university my older son (not the gaming addict son) graduated from. There was an article about him in the campus newspaper recently. I've exchanged a few e-mails with him. He's a nice guy. He lives in Sarasota, FL now and speaks about video game addiction around the country. He has a website and one for the book. There is a link to OLGA on his book website. He did ask me in one of the e-mails if I thought there was anything he could do to help OLGA "spread the word" about gaming addiction, and I suggested that he might steer folks towards the Tampa Bay meeting if he runs into folks looking for help in his area. There is a schedule of speaking engagements on his website. His primary topic is "Video Game Addiction: The New Epidemic?" He will be presenting in Chicago in October. I will try to attend. I do plan to get a copy of the book when it comes out.
"Small service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun." -------William Wordsworth
Sounds like a very fine read, bgh! Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed and inviting review!
Was it you, g-mom, who had the posts maybe a few months back about this same author, along with some links?
IHS
Yeah, but it was a few weeks ago, shortly before I left on my trip.
"Small service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun." -------William Wordsworth
I have my advance copy on the desk, and I am quite impressed with Ryan's candor in presenting this memoir. It's written very much for an adult MMO gamer audience.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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see my "review" of sorts below..
Eventually he does and describes it in a ghastly detail thats sure to lead anyone who is not comitted to recovery thirsting for Azeroth.
This is not, NOT I repeat a self-help book.
"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone
Now I feel completely guilty! I gave my copy of this book to my addict 21 year old son. I really didnt know what to think of the book except I admired his raw honesty. I guess I still have that magic formula thinking that all addicts must have the same issues and I if I just found out that formula I could help my son. so I guess that's why anything that has gaming addiction on it I think it could help him. Also much of what he said about the game of WOW I could not understand so I thought somehow it would speak to my son in a way he could understand.
person
I finished it and I am glad I did ! The guy is as smart as a whip and doesn't mind telling you so. [Which is actually refreshing]
His "no holds barred, no secrets kept" was really hard for me to take, especially when I considered the real pain he put his wife and kids through. Honesty has a price for sure...
Ryan went right to the precipice and just made it out... I'm so lucky my 180 degree turn happened earlier than his.
If you can handle it and don't want to go all the way to the bottom personally I would recommend it. Second Life Addicts may not "relate" as well as the WoW crowd BUT.... still This is power prose with all CAPS.
-Tory