Talk, Trust, and Feel

Codependency, according to Beattie ( Beyond Codependency ), is an addictive behavior pattern in which a person ``lets another's behavior affect him or her, and . . . is obsessed with controlling that person's behavior.'' These essays are directed at anyone caught in such a relationship: effectively they form a ``greatest hits'' collection of Hazelden codependency self-help pamphlets. Beattie's piece discusses relapses into codependency, which she calls ``recycling.'' Schneider ( Back from Betrayal ) provides insights into how to apply 12-step recovery programs, like Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous, to codependency. Hough and Hardy ( Against The Wall: Men's Reality in a Codependent Culture ) contribute a thoughtful article on how societal norms make codependency appear a female problem when, in reality, its symptoms are different in men and in women. Despite the abundance of checklists, case histories and personal stories, this volume is burdened by having to offer generalized advice to readers with specific problems. (Dec.)