"Who makes himself a donkey, is dragging the sacks," the donkey Benjamin is reading, as he makes his way into a new life overcoming dependency and destructive relationships. Angelika Kaufmann, educationalist and sociologist, demonstrates the psychosocial phenomenon of codependency, by passing on her experience from projects with addicts and their families by means on the story of the donkey Benjamin, who needs to take a long journey which becomes a practical test. Experiencing his own limitations, he is finally able to grow out of fear of abandonment and learns to love himself. "Benjamin" is used in more than 300 self/help groups of rural adult education in the Department of Health and self/help and puts the focus on family members of addicts who reappraise their personal situation. This is a book to help people to help themselves, and seek ways to let the vortex of addiction, violence and dependence behind. " Benjamin 'is a companion on a path of perceived loneliness, pressure and strain to self (re) discovery and joy of life." (Erwin Vartmann / LEB Department Health and self/help)