14 Lifechanging Books on Addiction & Recovery
Through his introspective narrative, Carr provides a unique perspective on the challenges of addiction and the possibility of redemption [4]. When I stopped drinking alcohol, I was desperate to know the stories of other people who’d also taken this road less traveled. During the most unsettling time of my life, I craved all the messy, tragic, complex, wonderful stories that could show me what was on the other side. Nobody in my real life could meet that need, so I turned—as I always do when I need comfort, encouragement, or inspiration—to books. Sorrentino shared a story about the day that made him realize he needed help. He had lost his lawyer for his tax evasion case because he could not pay him, he was broke, and he was driving around with friends to get drugs.
- The following books offer powerful narratives of individuals who have faced their demons and triumphed over addiction.
- Sarah’s writing is sharp and relatable; a more recent, modern voice in the recovery space.
- Prolific, brilliant memoirist Mary Karr shines a light on the dark years she spent descending into alcoholism and drug use as a young writer, wife, and mother.
Books by Matt Rowland Hill
A car accident, the slow and painful unraveling of her marriage, a stay in a mental hospital and an eventual spiritual awakening finally free Karr from the substance that nearly took her life. Stefanie best addiction memoirs Wilder-Taylor has always had a complicated relationship with alcohol. He comes from the book publishing world and, again, was someone who was successful and smart, but in active addiction.
The best books and drinking and recovery from alcohol addiction
At that moment, he was offered heroin for the first time and knew that it would be a dangerous step for him to take and his girlfriend at the time, who is now his wife Lauren Sorrentino, was at home when he went to be alone. There, he thought he’d try a little heroin and, at the time, his mother called to check on him and his now wife started banging on the door. It was the wake-up call that he needed, and he has been sober since 2015. Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were forced to Auschwitz concentration camp. Night is a brutal reminder of what evil looks like — and one of the most influential memoirs of human history. It’s the first in a trilogy, with Dawn and Day following, was translated into 30 languages, and is one of the most iconic works of Holocaust literature.
The Most Influential Memoirs
They encourage you to embrace the sober “Irish exit,” leaving the party early to enjoy a starlit stroll home. It includes recipes for zero-proof cocktails for all seasons and https://ecosoberhouse.com/ has tips for navigating the dating scene while completely sober. If you’re feeling down about “missing out” on life if you cut back on alcohol or got sober, read this book.
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There are the manic episodes, during which he felt burdened with saving the world, juxtaposed against the real-world responsibilities of running a pediatric practice. “When thirty-year-old, award-winning human rights journalist Mac McClelland left Haiti after reporting on the devastating earthquake of 2010, she never imagined how the assignment would irrevocably affect her own life. Back home in California, McClelland cannot stop reliving vivid scenes of violence. She is plagued by waking terrors, violent fantasies, and crippling emotional breakdowns. Her life in shambles, it becomes clear that she is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- These influential memoirs reflect on poverty, mental illness, racism, and more, and they’ve indelibly changed the culture.
- “At seventeen Lori Schiller was the perfect child-the only daughter of an affluent, close-knit family.
- But seriously, I hope at least one of these memoirs speaks to you.
- Terry achieved long-term sobriety at one time, and she helped many women.
- In her feminist memoir Motherlike, Katherine Leyton blends her personal experiences as a new mother with cultural commentary and historical research.
- Beck is a loving husband, father, and respected business owner who drinks two bottles of wine a night.
The pleasures we expect from the form range from the edifying (empathy, inspiration) to the unseemly (voyeurism, vicarious transgression) to mention just a few. But many readers —like the one I was during my time in rehab in 2015—also come to it seeking something often considered antithetical to art. I mean help, whether in the form of identification, solace or instruction. I said this convention concerned reading more directly than writing, but—since all good writing involves deep sensitivity to the reader’s experience—the two things are ultimately inseparable. For one kind of author, helping the reader is the whole point of writing an addiction memoir; for another, even to consider doing so would be aesthetically fatal.
We have a handful of interviews devoted to books about addiction. Memoirs about addiction are recommended by Matt Rowland Hill, an expert on the genre (he read dozens of them while undergoing rehab himself) and author of Original Sins. Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence in adults. Suboxone should not be taken by individuals who have been shown to be hypersensitive to buprenorphine or naloxone as serious adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported. Taking Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause breathing problems that can lead to coma and death.
Macpherson told The Australian Women’s Weekly this month that the choice she ultimately made was to not undergo chemotherapy. Cancer experts have branded Elle Macpherson’s decision to shun chemotherapy for breast cancer in favour of “holistic” treatment as “incredibly irresponsible”. An Olympic gold medallist, Sinclair was a long-time forward and the captain of Canada’s national soccer team.
The Best Addiction Memoirs for the Sober Curious
The simplicity of this idea makes so much sense and is often forgotten in everything from AA to drug law. You don’t need to agree with all of Gabor Maté’s theories to see that he has brought a level of hope and humanity to the conversation surrounding addiction. Here are some of the best books related to drug and alcohol use disorders. Beck is a loving husband, father, and respected business owner who drinks two bottles of wine a night. Unwilling to call himself an alcoholic, he tries everything to curb his drinking without success.
Supporting a Loved One: Medication & Recovery
Discussing alcohol’s impact on our health and minds, author Catherine Gray illustrates how a sober life can truly be intoxicating. This powerful book narrates his ups and downs, setbacks, and unimaginable challenges in recovery. Ultimately, Augusten tells the story of how his most difficult experiences led him to getting clean and helping others. Interestingly, Russell Brand was fourteen years sober at the time of writing Recovery. Overall, this book is perfect for anyone who’d enjoy an entertaining and surprisingly uplifting story about ending the cycle of addiction. In this tale, author Catherine Gray describes the surprising joys you can experience when you ditch drinking.