It aims to educate its readers without trying to control or outsmart them. The Goodreads reviews highlight how safe and held the readers felt with his book and how much they appreciated the shared experiences of the author since they helped them to trust him with the subject. By experiencing alcoholism from a young age and beating it during adulthood, Porter breaks down the chemistry behind alcoholism in an easy-to-understand format.
How a Sober App Can Strengthen Recovery and Build Lasting Community
Annie’s book offers a great mix of practical advice and scientific research, which I’ve always found helpful. I want to know what the science says but also how other people have applied that knowledge in ways that actually helped them quit. Drink is not an addiction memoir so much as an investigative look into why women, specifically, drink and despite my mindset at the time of reading it, I did marijuana addiction find it fascinating.

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When I first stopped drinking, books were one of the most useful tools in my sobriety toolbox. Shortly after accepting she had a problem with alcohol, she thought a lot about how some people are lucky enough to be able to drink normally without it controlling their life. Clare Pooley left her position at one of the world’s largest advertising agencies to focus on raising her three children. What was meant to be a positive and happy change led to depression, which she self-medicated with drinking, eventually consuming over a bottle of wine a day.
Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance use, help is available. Always consult with a qualified health provider for medical advice regarding addiction treatment. Reach out to a healthcare provider, call a recovery helpline, or attend a local AA meeting to begin your recovery journey today. The path of recovery is deeply personal, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Let these books serve as companions and guides as you discover your own way of working the steps and building a purposeful life of meaningful sobriety.

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
A memoir penned in the 1970’s, this book documents the the adolescent years of musician Jim Carroll. His writing is startling in its earnest simplicity, drawing a vivid picture of his descent into heroin use and addiction. His inner tumult seems to reflect the paranoia and uproar of the 60’s era, creating an intense portrayal of his formative years. The Basketball Diaries exemplifies the euphemistic fall from grace that an addiction can cause, as well as the devastation that relapses can wreak upon an addict’s life. When you’re an alcoholic or addict, getting sober is not enough.
“The Mountain Is You” by Brianna Wiest is a self-help book about why we self-sabotage, how to stop self-sabotaging and how to step into our potential. This motivational work can help you learn about damaging habits, release past trauma and overcome your biggest challenges. If you’re a sober writer, we invite you to contribute! Sarah invites us to ride shotgun as she attempts (and sometimes fails) to become a person who stops hiding behind alcohol and actually deals with her life. It can even erase entire nights when you are on a binge.
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- Sarah Rusbatch’s “Beyond Booze” is a comprehensive guide that combines practical sobriety coaching with elements that beautifully complement 12-step work.
- What they get is recovery and the more they do, the stronger that recovery becomes.
- From a very human yet hilarious perspective, Kristi tells how giving up a habit is like giving up a debilitating habit that leaves space for other things.
- Learning how to socialize without drinking is like learning a whole new language, say Spanish.
This book helps readers understand the relationship with alcohol and why it persists despite the psychological and physiological effects on the body and mind. With the latest scientific research, the author explains the neurological nature of alcoholism and ways to treat it correctly. The book includes steps to take for an intervention and psychological approaches to the need for spiritual perspectives and new insights to prevent relapse. James went to my college, Denison University, and is friends with many of my friends, so I loved reading the parts that took place (“fictionally”) in Granville, Ohio. This is one of the first books I read about addiction ever, before I realized I had a problem. Blackout is another raw and honest recovery memoir by Sarah Hepola.
There are countless books that have been written about addiction and recovery. The following list recounts 10 of the most notable books on this subject. Remember that recovery literature works best when it’s discussed and shared. Consider reading these books with your sponsor, bringing them to step study http://p3plvcpnl478326.prod.phx3.secureserver.net/how-to-taper-off-alcohol-in-a-safe-effective-way/ meetings, or forming a book club with other people in recovery. The 12-step program is fundamentally about connection and community, and your reading should reflect that collaborative spirit. For those dealing with mental health challenges alongside addiction recovery, books that address the dual nature of these conditions can be particularly helpful.
- The book features thoughtful vignettes and discussion prompts, making it an excellent read for couples seeking practical guidance on transitioning from shared drinking to shared recovery.
- This is one of the first books I read about addiction ever, before I realized I had a problem.
- Addiction and recovery memoirs are great reminders that you are not alone and that many, many others have gone down the difficult road to sobriety.
“The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober” by Catherine Gray
At the age of 15, Cat Marnell began to unknowingly “murder her life” when she became hooked on the ADHD medication prescribed to her by her psychiatrist father. A Xanax dependence led to cocaine, ecstasy, and a tumbling rabbit hole of prescription drug abuse as she manipulated doctors, lied to loved ones, and struggled to maintain her high-profile job at Condé Nast amidst the highs and lows of addiction. I read this book before I became a parent and was floored, but have thought about it even more since. It is the heartbreaking and astute account of Sheff’s experience of his son, Nic’s, addiction and eventual recovery. He viscerally paints the picture of the hope-tainted despair, anguish, and havoc that addiction wreaks on an entire family.
“God and Starbucks: An NBA Superstar’s Journey Through Addiction and Recovery”
I want to hear your best alcohol recovery books recovery story, and see how you made over your soul. Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fisher, is a one-woman show converted into a memoir. It’s meant as entertainment, poking fun at the spectacle and chaos that came with being the child of celebrities. While it zips along like a monologue punched up with relentless jokes, the heart of the story is Carrie’s love for her mother and daughter.