Published: Nov. 17, 1999

NEWS TIP SHEET

Leslie Irvine, professor of sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and author of a new book, "Codependent Forevermore: The Invention of Self in a Twelve Step Group," will speak at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Rocky Mountain Book Festival. The festival is being held at the Denver Merchandize Mart.

Irvine spent a year and a half attending more than 200 meetings of a 12-step program called Codependents Anonymous at various locations in New York City and on Long Island. The group differs from Alcoholics Anonymous by focusing on family issues rather than on substance abuse. Her book discusses why self-help groups work for so many people and how people use such groups to invent and reinvent themselves. For more information contact Irvine at (303) 527-3768.