Jay Haley begins with a brief overview of Erickson's ideas on alcoholics followed by a discussion with Erickson on a number of cases highlighting his interventions. Erickson describes one case where he helped an alcoholic's wife feel less helpless by instructing her to take a sum of money equal to the amount her husband spent on liquor and using it for herself.

The four cases covered include: The Liquor Deposit; An Alcoholic Pilot; Hiding the Liquor; and The Alcoholic Who Hates Her Mother.

Previously published with the title Milton H. Erickson, MD: In His Own Voice Problem Drinkers under ISBN: 9780931513107.