Books
Wiers published 3 popular science books in Dutch, the last one he translated and adapted to English (2024 Routledge): A new approach to addiction and choice: akrasia and the nature of free will. The book provides a novel examination of the nature of addiction, suggesting that by exploring akrasia—the tendency to act against one’s better judgement—we can better understand our addictive behaviors. It offers an alternative to the dominant biomedical model of addiction as a chronic brain disease by looking at the nature of how we make decisions and proposing the idea that biased choice is central to addiction.
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The book looks at both classic substance use disorders and newer “addictions” to smartphones, meat and fossil fuels. It discusses current perspectives on free will in philosophy, psychology and neuroscience, and the questions surrounding free will versus determinism, including our ability to steer our behaviors guided by the promise of future outcomes. Different perspectives on addiction and choice are presented in an eloquent style, and illustrated by personal stories.
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Earlier books (in Dutch):
2007 Slaaf van het onbewuste. Over emotie, bewustzijn en verslaving. Amsterdam: Bert Bakker.
2013 Grip op je problemen. Cognitief trainen bij verslaving en angst. Amsterdam: Bert Bakker.
1991 Donker bewaren. (short stories). Amsterdam: Prometheus.
Edited books:
Wiers, R.W. & Stacy, A.W. (2006). Handbook of Implicit Cognition and Addiction. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Franken, I.H.A., Witkiewitz, K. & Wiers, R.W. (2024). Sage Handbook of Addiction Psychology. Thousand Oaks: Sage.