For some time, I’ve wanted to make a list of the best books for alcoholism. Here I’m going to share with you the books that helped me remold my mind after nearly a decade of severe addiction. The Empathy Exams author’s stunning book juxtaposes her own relationship to addiction with stories of literary legends like Raymond Carver, and imbues it with rich cultural history.
Julie Buntin’s Marlena is a stunning look at alcoholism, addiction, and bad decisions, and how they haunt us forever. Ann Dowsett Johnston combines in-depth research and her own story of recovery in this important book about the relationship between women and alcohol. Drink brings to light the increase in DUIs, “drunkorexia” (limiting eating to get drunker), and other health problems among young women in the United States. Former “20/20” anchor Elizabeth Vargas shares her story of anxiety and alcohol use disorder in this compelling memoir.
What counts as a drinking problem?
With this book she breaks her anonymity, describing the jarring moment of waking into trauma and victimhood, and the onerous emotional and legal battle that followed. This book shows better than any I’ve read the effects of sexual assault and the possibility of forging a new freedom in its aftermath. Prior to getting sober, memoir author Sarah Hepola often drank until she blacked out. Blackout reveals how sobriety helped best alcohol recovery books her discover the confidence, intimacy, and creativity within her—all of which she previously thought could only be found at the bottom of a bottle. You can personalize the app to serve your needs by adding goals, receiving daily inspirational messages, or keeping track of any relapses that may occur. If you do not have a specific goal yet, the app has plenty you can choose from to track and share your progress.
- In this book you can get inspired by the success stories of other people who have walked the same path.
- At around 100 pages, this is the shortest book that I will have to re-read because of Jung’s deep, aphoristic style.
- Macy gives you the lowdown on this opioid crisis from start to finish, showing how big pharma misled doctors into believing these painkillers were not addictive.
- A captivating story of a highly accomplished well-known professional in the spotlight who was brave enough to share her story.
- I read this book before I became a personal trainer, and it brought my physique to the next level.
- Anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure or genuine passion, is a real problem for people who quit drinking.
- There’s a long, beautiful history of writers chronicling how they’ve dealt with alcoholism and addiction.
While this book is not explicitly about recovering from drinking, the information is very relevant for people who want to repair their brains and bodies after conquering acute withdrawal. Mainstream recovery culture has become insular, circular, and stale. The rest were invaluable resources for me after I quit drinking when I still needed guidance for repairing my brain, rebuilding my body, and resurrecting my spirit. She wasn’t self-medicating and was able to truly feel her feelings and live honestly. We Are the Luckiest is a life-changing memoir about recovery—without any sugarcoating. She started sneaking sips from her parents’ wine glasses as a kid, and went through adolescence drinking more and more.
Best Books About Alcohol Recovery
They wonder throughout whether they’re overdoing it … and order another round anyway. When the cycle of druggy nights and hardcore hangovers starts getting to Laura, their bond must be reevaluated. Ms. McKowen, a podcaster who founded the community The Luckiest Club, sees sobriety “as being free,” Ms. Kearns said.
Because drinking is a ritualized practice in Judaism, alcohol consumption is seen as more “instrumental,” as it’s often part of a religious ceremony, he explained. In his book, he tries to reconcile AA’s ethos with his own religious culture, although relying on his faith during the recovery journey didn’t always come naturally, he explained. For a long time, Binyamin was ashamed of his addiction to alcohol, a taboo topic in the Jewish community. By combining traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the gold standard in addiction treatment, with high-quality nutritional services, and an on-site gym, we aim to support the healing of the mind and body. Brand’s participated in all the major 12-step recovery programs, and has now started his own men’s group.
Best funny sobriety book
No matter where you are on your journey to recovery, it helps to have stories from peer groups who understand what you are going through. This is also helpful for friends and family members as they support you through the recovery process. For more books about alcoholism and addiction, check out this list of 100 must-read books about addiction. I recently came to terms with my own problematic relationship with alcohol, and my one solace has been in books. I’ve dug into memoir after memoir, tiptoed into the hard science books, and enjoyed the fiction from afar. The following are a smattering of the books about alcoholism I’ve found meaningful.
These coaches have gotten sober themselves and have undergone over 500 hours of training in their respective states. Although this is not a replacement for professional treatment, it can help you set goals, monitor your progress, and provide support via hearing their story and struggles. Punch Me Up to the Gods is a beautifully written series of personal essays that describe Brian Broome’s experience growing up Black and queer in Ohio, and the effect early substance use had on his upbringing. This book tells an incredible story of not only recovery, but also how it connects to race and sexual identity.
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction
This book functions as daily devotional with reflective meditations and modern day translations on how to improve your mental health. This book is for everyone, but learning to ‘tame the inner dragon’ is especially helpful to people in recovery. I am not sure I’d be sober today if it weren’t for Tired of Thinking About Drinking. The Dry Challenge can be especially helpful for people who drink socially, and are looking to take a structured step back to re-evaluate their habits.
Every prompt is an invitation to meditate on the stories and reflect on how those stories echo their experiences as recovering alcoholics. Contact Findlay Recovery Center today to see how we can https://ecosoberhouse.com/ support you on the path to sobriety. Reading We are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen can quite possibly save your life. For anyone hiding in the shadows of shame, this book is a guiding light.