Toxic Love

The chilling true story of romantic obsession and murder by cancer from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Search for the Green River Killer. Omaha, Nebraska, 1978. Sandy Johnson was in shock. Her husband, Duane, and young daughter, Sherrie, were violently ill when word arrived that her infant nephew just died of mysterious causes. Days earlier, the entire family was happy, healthy, and living the American dream. Now they were at the center of a terrifying medical crisis. Duane soon died in a condition unlike anything the doctors had ever seen. As they raced to discover what disease or toxin could have done so much damage so quickly, Lt. Foster Burchard of the Omaha police began to suspect foul play. Sandy herself became a primary suspect, as did her ex-boyfriend Steven Harper—a man prone to violence who never got over their breakup. In Toxic Love, investigative reporter and true crime author Tomás Guillén offers a detailed and vivid account of this baffling case from the day of the poisoning to the harrowing trial and the murderer’s eventual suicide on death row.

“This eloquent, elegant book thoughtfully plumbs the . . . consequences of our dependence on plastics” (The Boston Globe, A Best Nonfiction Book of 2011). From pacemakers to disposable bags, plastic built the modern world. But a century into our love affair, we’re starting to realize it’s not such a healthy relationship. As journalist Susan Freinkel points out in this eye-opening book, we’re at a crisis point. Plastics draw on dwindling fossil fuels, leach harmful chemicals, litter landscapes, and destroy marine life. We’re drowning in the stuff, and we need to start making some hard choices. Freinkel tells her story through eight familiar plastic objects: a comb, a chair, a Frisbee, an IV bag, a disposable lighter, a grocery bag, a soda bottle, and a credit card. With a blend of lively anecdotes and analysis, she sifts through scientific studies and economic data, reporting from China and across the United States to assess the real impact of plastic on our lives. Her conclusion is severe, but not without hope. Plastic points the way toward a new creative partnership with the material we love, hate, and can’t seem to live without. “When you write about something so ubiquitous as plastic, you must be prepared to write in several modes, and Freinkel rises to this task. . . . She manages to render the most dull chemical reaction into vigorous, breathless sentences.” —SF Gate “Freinkel’s smart, well-written analysis of this love-hate relationship is likely to make plastic lovers take pause, plastic haters reluctantly realize its value, and all of us understand the importance of individual action, political will, and technological innovation in weaning us off our addiction to synthetics.” —Publishers Weekly “A compulsively interesting story. Buy it (with cash).” —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature “What a great read—rigorous, smart, inspiring, and as seductive as plastic itself.” —Karim Rashid, designer

Grace wants out. Out of her house, where her stepfather wields fear like a weapon and her mother makes her scrub imaginary dirt off the floors. Out of her California town, too small to contain her big city dreams. Out of her life, and into the role of Parisian artist, New York director—anything but scared and alone. Enter Gavin: charming, talented, adored. Controlling. Dangerous. When Grace and Gavin fall in love, Grace is sure it's too good to be true. She has no idea their relationship will become a prison she's unable to escape. Deeply affecting and unflinchingly honest, this is a story about spiraling into darkness—and emerging into the light again.

Toxic love describes a set of negative relationship dynamics including insecurity, anxiety, and denial. An individual in a toxic romance longs for the brief exhilarating highs, but mostly endures sharply painful lows. You don't have to live like this anymore. In Toxic Love: 5 Steps-How to Identify Toxic-Love Patterns and Find Fulfilling Attachments, clinical psychologist Jill Weber, PhD, teaches you how to identify the root causes of toxic love, break the pattern of emotional self-destruction, and move on to trusting, mutually rewarding relationships. Break free from the cycle of toxic love, and discover the joy of emotional stability, mutual intimacy, and your inherent self-worth.

Toxic Loves, Impossible Futures is an homage to a constellation of women writers, feminists, and creators whose voices draw a map of our current global political-environmental crisis and the interlinked massive violence, enabled by the denigration of life and human relationships. In a world in which "a woman's voice" exists in bodies called on to occupy important positions in corporations, government, and cultural and academic institutions, to work in factories, and to join the army—but whose bodies are systematically rendered vulnerable by gender violence and by the double burden imposed on them to perform both productive and reproductive labor—Emmelhainz asks: What is the task of thought and form in contemporary feminist-situated knowledge? Toxic Loves, Impossible Futures is a collection of essays rethinking feminist issues in the current context of the production of redundant populations, the omnipresence of the technosphere and environmental devastation, toxic relationships, toxic nationalisms, and more. These reflections and dialogues are an urgent attempt to resist the present in the company of the voices of women like bell hooks, Sara Ahmed, Leslie Jamison, Lina Meruane, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Chris Kraus, Alaíde Foppa, Lorena Wolffer, Sayak Valencia, Pip Day, Veronica Gonzalez Peña, Eimear McBride, Simone de Beauvoir, Elena Poniatowska, Susan Sontag, Margaret Randall, Simone Weil, Arundhati Roy, Marta Lamas, Paul B. Preciado, Dawn Marie Paley, Raquel Gutiérrez, Sara Eliassen, and Silvia Gruner. Toxic Loves, Impossible Futures continues the discussion on how to undo misogyny and dismantle heteropatriarchy's sublimating and denigrating tricks against women, which are intrinsically linked to colonialism and violence against the Earth.

Are you a victim of domestic abuse? Or do you desire to stop abusing your intimate partner? Do you simply want to understand what motivates an abuser to reoffend? If so, this ground-breaking book is for you. With their innovative approach, clinical psychologist Indira Haracic-Novic and men's health expert Dean Quirke shed new light on the epidemic of domestic violence against women. Instead of viewing spousal or intimate partner abuse as the sole result of power and control tactics, the authors invite readers to explore the repetitive patterns of abusive behaviour - which tend to escalate in frequency and severity - within a behavioural addiction paradigm. They have consolidated their expertise in this book, assisting victims to heal from the trauma of abuse, and to prevent it from happening in future relationships. Reaching out to men who want to stop abusing their loved ones, Haracic-Novic and Quirke also provide strategies to break free from their repetitive patterns of abusive behaviour. By dismantling the dangerous aspects of the personality that may have become addicted to abusing their partners, victims and abusers become free to create healthier loving relationships.

'Toxic Love Disorder' is a groundbreaking book crafted with love by a team of reputed authors from around the globe. It offers a comprehensive guide to understanding, overcoming, and healing from toxic relationships. Love is intoxicating. So much so that we turn a blind eye to all the poison that seeps into the nooks and crannies of our mind, heart, body and soul, thanks to our toxic lover. We breathe in the toxicity to fill our hearts and as the darkness starts to engulf us, we slowly become suffocated. Struggling to breathe, ironically, we become addicted to this toxicity and accept what we have become - a desperate, codependent enabler in an abusive relationship. Yet, we ignore the red flags, silence our inner voices, tell ourselves that “this is not abuse” and try harder to make the relationship work. We keep trying harder to please our abuser. To have a little mercy. A little attention. A little validation. A little love. So that we can feel worthy. We are willing to tolerate all levels of abuse just for that little bit of love. In the intricate tapestry of unraveling toxic relationships, this book stands as a collaborative effort, woven together by the invaluable contributions of many skilled and insightful authors. Each author's unique perspective and expertise have enriched the pages within, shedding light on the complexities of toxic dynamics. Are you ready to imagine a future where you no longer settle for less, where toxic relationships are a thing of the past? 'Toxic Love Disorder' offers you the tools and guidance to make that dream a reality. This isn't just a book—it's your key to happiness and empowerment! Whether you are in a toxic relationship or know someone who is trapped in one, Toxic Love Disorder has been designed as a comprehensive encyclopedia on toxic and abusive relationships. The book allows you to take a deep dive and understand - How a seemingly healthy relationship turns toxic What toxic relationships consist of What lies at the heart of toxic relationships Why do toxic individuals abuse the people they seemingly love? Why the victim chooses to love and stay with their abuser What abuse looks like in toxic relationships How it can affect both the abuser and the abused How to deal with abuse and toxic patterns How to fix things finally, if at all What you can do to get out of a toxic relationship or help someone walk away We deconstruct the inner core of toxic relationships & delve deep into the psychology of the abuser and the abused to help everyone overcome toxic patterns and build a healthier relationship and a happier life for themselves. Dive into a journey towards transformation as you uncover the secrets to recognizing toxic patterns, fostering self-love, and building healthier connections. This book empowers you with practical strategies to break free from the chains of toxicity and discover the strength within you. May this book be a source of comfort, guidance, and inspiration to all who read it. We hope Toxic Love Disorder is everything you expect it to be and it offers you the help you need to transform your relationships and your life.