Methamphetamine is a highly destructive drug, and he does not mince words when conveying the ruination that it brought to his life. His raw and graphic accounts of youthful experimentation with drugs and alcohol segues quickly into an out of control addiction. Sheff’s ability to convey the pain and loneliness that both causes and fuels addiction inspires simultaneous sympathy and fury within the reader. His descriptions perfectly capture the out of control life of a youth growing up with addiction, yet his story ultimately yields hope for the future. This article was written and published in partnership with Monument/Tempest. This is one of the most compelling books on recovery and humanity ever written.
“The Sober Lush: A Hedonist’s Guide to Living a Decadent, Adventurous, Soulful Life–Alcohol Free”
Straightforward and to the point, Carr helps you examine the reasons you drink in the first place in The Easy Way to Control Alcohol. For example, he explains why stating alcohol is poison and repeating the tagline “Never Question the Decision” can help you change your unconscious thoughts about alcohol, and shift your mindset. This book is a great place to start if you’ve been feeling sober curious. For more resources in sobriety, online alcohol treatment programs like Ria Health can help as well. Ria Health is a smartphone-based program that assists people in reaching their unique alcohol-related goals, whether that means cutting back or quitting for good.
Best Addiction and Sobriety Books
Unwilling to call himself an alcoholic, he tries everything to curb his drinking without success. Determined to get clean, Beck develops a unique approach to sobriety that changes the trajectory of his life. Part memoir and part how-to, many former drinkers credit Alcohol Lied to Me with helping them to finally beat the bottle. From moving memoirs to self-help guides, these are some of the best listens on addiction and recovery we’ve found. Shortly after the birth of her son, Bydlowska relapses after three years of sobriety. She felt like a God, so she thought, why not keep that feeling going.
The Recovering: Intoxication and its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison
This book has helped thousands of people change their relationship with alcohol and quit for good. Published by Alcoholics Anonymous, this work does not offer advice on how to get sober; instead, best memoirs about alcoholism it offers information on how to maintain sobriety on a day-to-day basis. Countless people in recovery have found the simple advice to be a comfort when faced with cravings, helping them to avoid a potentially disastrous relapse. One of the most important messages that resounds throughout this work is that sobriety is more than just not drinking, it is a daily practice of commitment to healthy and engaged living. Living Sober is a recommended read for anyone using the 12 step method.
- He offers a compassionate perspective that advocates for empathy and holistic approaches to healing over punishment or stigma.
- This book takes a different approach to help those who love an addict.
- Her story is a beautiful reminder of how safety and support can lead the way to incredible healing.
Fast forward a bit and she’s sneaking drinks at the grocery store, waking up in a hotel with no panties on after a blackout. After the book published, Bydlowska was celebrated for her bravery. But the truth is, whatever the book does for people was never intentional.” Her initial motivation was only to write it.
- While this listen might appear to be autobiographical, it’s actually a work of fiction that’s meant to be experienced as if it were a memoir.
- Ann’s book is such a unique and insightful combination of personal experience and scientific research.
- Self Recovery is a private, science-based, online addiction recovery program.
- While our episode only covered nonfiction, I have many fiction books that have inspired me over the years to include too.
Who Says I’m an Addict? by David Smallwood
The marketing strategies employed to sell booze to women are as alarming as the skyrocketing number of women who qualify as having alcohol use disorders. Ann’s book is such a unique and insightful combination of personal experience and scientific research. As a mother, I relate to her story so deeply—our children were the same young age when we stopped drinking. She’s an iconic, witty literary voice, an engrossing storyteller, and this book too is what is Oxford House a great study in memoir.
There’s a long, beautiful history of writers chronicling how they’ve dealt with alcoholism and addiction. Writer, comedian, and TV personality Dave Holmes takes that notion to heart in his memoir, where he writes about growing up Catholic and closeted in Missouri and how he “accidentally” became an MTV VJ. There’s a plethora of references to ʼ80s and ʼ90s music and self-deprecating humor that strikes the perfect balance. What sets Gad’s memoir apart is its celebration of vulnerability and perseverance in the face of absurdity, which balances out the existential dread. (Can’t we all relate?) Whether you’re a fan of his voice, his stage presence, or just want to know what it’s like to survive rejection and still believe in the magic, this “tell-some” is a joyride worth taking. This book is both a tribute and a revelation, offering a rare glimpse into the family life behind her public persona.