Shame: The Human Nemesis

by David F. Allen, Curt Ashburn (Epilogue)

Shame is now recognized as the Master Emotion. Left unchecked, It is a force that de-humanizes individuals, families, churches, communities, and nations. David F. Allen, MD, MPH, is an internationally recognized authority on addictions. He is credited with identifying the coming crack cocaine epidemic as early as 1984.Now, in his private practice and the treatment clinics that he established in Nassau, Bahamas and Washington, DC, he has seen a "shame epidemic". Shame is not just at the center of substance abuse, it is at the center of anger, arrogance, failure in families, finances, and relationships. Shame is the source of our self-destructive behaviors, i.e., those things we do that we do not understand, do not want to do, but feel compelled to do.Through personal stories from his professional practice as a psychoanalyst and his deep knowledge of the Scriptures, Dr. Allen lays out the scope and depth of shame. But more importantly, he identifies "shame-busting" techniques that can be used in every day life to silence the shame voices that haunt us.Dr. Allen's moving re-telling of biblical stories from King David and how he overcame the shame of failure to the shame cross of Jesus Christ who had no shame of his own, but carried our shame for us, will give the reader hope. His invitation to stillness in silence will arm the hurting person with the "shame-busting" power of contemplation.Life is wounded and, like Adam and Eve, we try to cover our shame with the fig leaves of our Ego Addictive False Self. Deep compassion, a powerful intellect, thirty years of treating others, his own battles with shame and his incarnational faith in God leads the reader into the presence of "the Face that never turns away and the Love that never let's us go."

298 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2010

Reviews

[Sukhuma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of this book is really good. It was written in a very clear and understandable language. However, many of the examples are from the Bible. If you have, like me,came from different Faith or believe, you may not be able to relate to the examples. However, the general concept is very good and the author is very insightful.