Longmeadow Press Description: This 226-page book is primarily a self-help book geared for men who were victims
of childhood abuse. The focus is on suggestions for healing and the book does
not deal with currently popular concepts such as recovered memories, amnesia,
and dissociation. There is no discussion of criminal or civil litigation. Discussion: This simple and readable book is marred by a feminist perspective and assumptions about males that are not always supported. It also gives more reliance on experts and therapists than may be warranted. There are some unrealistic recommendations that involve high cost and insurance coverage and, for the perpetrator, issues involving confessing to a crime. However, its sections on "making peace with your abuser" and "making peace with yourself" provide an unusual and valuable perspective. "Forgiving," rather than litigation, is presented as therapeutic. The author's focus on helpful suggestions and getting on with one's life as well as an avoidance of victimization rhetoric is to be commended. We can no longer make the mistakes of the past as we enter the second wave of research and practice concerning childhood abuse. This book may be a start. Reviewed by LeRoy Schultz, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, West Virginia University.
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