Narratives of Addiction: Savage Usury

"Savage Usury" is the first book to argue that drug addiction and alcoholism are evidence of individual moral flaws, influenced by the writings of Arthur Schopenhauer and Frederick Nietzsche. It rejects the medical profession's claims that addiction is a disease and argues that it is a simple behavioral disorder. The book also evaluates the rhetoric of addiction discourse, particularly its use of simile, metaphor, and euphemism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Narratives of Addiction: Savage Usury is a groundbreaking work that challenges the widely held belief that drug addiction and alcoholism are solely indicative of individual moral shortcomings. Instead, the author presents a unique perspective that draws inspiration from the writings of nineteenth-century German philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer and Frederick Nietzsche. These philosophers argued that true morality is inherently incompatible with Christianity.

The book unfolds in a sequential manner, beginning with an exploration of addiction within the streets and progressing to rehab clinics and the meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. The central argument presented by the author is that the pursuit of pleasure rather than the numbing of pain is the primary driving force behind alcoholism and drug addiction. Throughout the book, the author vigorously rejects the medical profession's assertion that drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases and challenges their authority to define addiction as a moral failing for hundreds of millions of Americans.

Furthermore, the author questions the claims of neuroscience, psychology, and the social sciences that addictions to alcohol and drugs are solely attributable to factors within their respective disciplines. The author argues that addiction is a straightforward behavioral disorder and that the language used to discuss it is often confused and misleading. The book evaluates the rhetoric of addiction discourse, particularly its use of simile, metaphor, and euphemism, and sheds light on the complexities and nuances of this pervasive societal issue.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030884604
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021