Authors: Donal F.Sweeney, M.D. with Robert A. Liston
Publisher: Mnemosyne Press, Santa Barbara
 ISBN: 0-9747943-0-9

The following review was contributed by: S.V. SWAMY:  CLICK TO VIEW S.V. Swamy's Reviews

What happens when one consumes alcohol? Several things can happen. A sense of
euphoria, a high, then loss of coordination, blackout, passout etc. All other
stages except blackout are well understood and are well documented. Common
people also are aware of almost all these stages but when it comes to blackout,
it seems that the knowledge and awareness is rather low. Dr. Donal F. Sweeney,
M.D., a board certified doctor of internal medicine, chest disease and addiction
medicine, set out in this book to fill this gap in the knowledge. Together with
Robert A. Liston, a former newspaperman and magazine journalist, Dr.Sweeney
deals with a complex subject in a faily clear and cogent manner.

The authors define what is a blackout and explain what factors probably cause
the blackout, the difference between a blackout and a fadeout, the difference
between a blackout and a passout, the probable mechanism of a blackout and its
implications in the legal systems of a country. They forcefully argue the need
for further research into a subject that is not well undestood by the community
of scientists (including doctors and psycologists, psychiatrists etc.), lawyers,
police and the judges. A good number of cases involving alcohol induced blackout
are presented. The difference between immediate memory and short term memory is
crucial in understanding the phenomenon of alcohol blackout. The case of Henry,
who was operated for epileptic seizures and was left with only immediate memory
and no short term memory made interesting reading. The parallel between alcohol
blackout and Henry is really striking. The comparison between drug induced
blackout and alcohol blackout is also interesting, esp. because of the
difference in terms of the type of memory and duration affected.

While the treatment of memory and its formation and the description of brain
anatomy and the role of neurotransmitters etc., may need rereading and or
additional reading (for which the authors do supplement the book with a list of
resources), the subject matter and its treatment is not beyond the understanding
capacity of an educated layman.

Dr.Sweeney is frank and forthright in his views on the subject and while he is
no lawyer, his analysis of Paul Cox's case, made me think that he could have
made an excellent lawyer or detective if he ever wanted! I feel that he would
make an excellent expert witness now for many cases of alcohol blackout related
crimes.

The print quality is average and the editing could be better. You will be able
to check out the contents, excerpts etc., at a local book store or at Amazon and
similar on-line bookstores and so will be able to make a fairly quick decision
to buy the book or not.

I would strongly recommend this book to you if you need to deal with the problem
of alcohol blackout in any capacity, including as a friend, a policeman, a
lawyer etc.