Crush Your Vice Reading Discussion

Man holds dominion over mind, body, and circumstance.

Often times one feels powerless when suffering from what many view as a helpless condition called addiction. However addiction can be mastered and for convenience we will not say it does not exist.

This thread is a reading discussion, however one need not read the suggested readings to participate. I will list books each week. You do not have to read them to participate of course & I will share my reflections on them each week. You can also read them and share yours too if you please. Or just talk about things listed from each book, I will list things from them on Mondays in here.

The title for this week or the rest of it will be What Is Addiction?

https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/what-addiction

We can view it as a brain disease or a psychological mechanism that is not technically a disease. Either way we should understand it for what it is enough to obliterate it from our mind and body forever.

Exercises will be suggested along the way.

Everything about this thread is for improving. Reading one book per week is for self-improvement purposes as well as for acquiring knowledge quickly that we may not have already.

“The truth is often one's best shield.” ― James Rollins, The Devil Colony

“The horn that wakes the sleepers! The shield that guard the realms of men!” ― George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

I suppose knowledge can be both a sword and shield. I only aim to increase it in this discussion. I know the enemy is waiting to breach and launch an onslaught. Without being on guard daily, the fortress can be overtaken by a blindside that will cause pain of a kind that is nauseating to think about.

 

Points for Reflection from What Is Addiction?

Scientific research on addiction is still in its infancy. Even 8 years later (book from 2010).
Executive brain function. Delayed gratification. Seeing the bigger picture down the road. "Addicts" tend to suck at these things.
Addiction is a silly term.

Look I didn't plan on doing this until late so let me skip these key points this week and just share my afterthoughts on Sunday of it.

Well then this book appears as unbiased as they get. Also very informative. A sciencey reading.

Exercise to improve reading focus and retention for this week is daily meditation. No sense in stopping, ever. Meditation can be a lifelong practice. If you are new to it and want some motivation to keep you on track might I direct you here:
Meditation Challenge - 60 days

Be back in here Sunday to jot down anything important and share next week's title.

 

I have to leave this discussion, however I think I will continue scanning and speed reading books on addiction (not a speed reader so if you are don't make fun of me).

I wish there was a better way we could do this.

I realize not everyone will be able to get a chosen book on time each week.

I suppose making a reading challenge each month in the challenge section will work better. Starting a new one there.

Btw my most important afterthought from What Is Addiction? is that "addicts" are generally given that title due to their vices causing harm to others, their vice becomes a detriment to not only themselves.

Surely there are harmless vices and people indulge with "keeping it together".

Porn happens to be incredibly harmful however. See you around.