Book Review: Questions and Answers on Gaming Addiction

I just finished reading an excellent book that I recommend highly. "Questions and Answers on Addiction", by Howard Wetsman, MD. It's a small paperback, only 88 pages long, with large print and double-spacing, a very quick read. In this book, Dr. Wetsman explains what we know about the biology and neurochemistry of addiction and how it explains the behaviors, the withdrawal symptoms, the cravings, the relapses, and why 12-step programs work. He even explains near the end how video gaming can be an addiction. He includes clear simple diagrams and explanations in plain language sprinkled with a sense of humor. It really helped me to understand some of the things I have seen in my son. I purchased it from Amazon.com for $12.95.

I have also recently read another book titled "Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop?" Hardcover, longer, and more expensive ($17.13 at Amazon.com). It too was an interesting book on addiction in general. It contains a lot of good stories illustrating how persistent the problem can become, and a lot of good information on resources for help, though they pertain more to drug and alcohol addiction, of course.

Of the two books, i got much more out of the first one.