Recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction is a lifelong process that requires making healthy choices every day. Achieving lasting sobriety takes vigilance, commitment, and motivation. In times of discouragement, it can feel especially helpful to hear the stories of others who are in recovery. To that end, we offer below a selection of books written about addiction and recovery that can be sources of inspiration.
A Booklist for People in Addiction Recovery
Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions by Russell Brand
Movie star and comedian Russell Brand uses a mix of humor, compassion, and honesty to share his advice on addiction and recovery. After struggling with addictions to drugs and alcohol, Brand has been sober since 2003. He writes of how the process of staying sober is a daily activity. He shares his recovery plan and explains the importance of the 12-Step program and how it has helped him in his recovery journey.
I Love You, More: Short Stories of Addiction, Recovery, and Loss From the Family’s Perspective by Blake Cohen
A compilation of three powerful fictional short stories, this book shows how addiction affects not only the person with the substance use disorder but also their families. Often, family members do not know where to turn to for guidance, help, or support. The book offers emotional support and education to families affected by addiction and tries to remove the stigma associated with it. The book is a quick, easy read that allows the reader to see the world through the eyes of the substance user and their family.
Addicted to the Monkey Mind: Change the Programming That Sabotages Your Life by J.F. Benoist
Benoist uses the stories of two very relatable people to show how you can break the harmful pattern of negative self-talk by developing a new mindset. The book provides practical skills to change the self-sabotaging way a person thinks using four actionable steps.
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction by Gabor Maté M.D.
Maté uses his twenty years of experience and the work he did in Vancouver working with the severely addicted on skid row as the basis for the book. It contains many personal stories of addiction, including his own. Dr. Maté views addiction and recovery from a holistic perspective and promotes compassionate self-understanding as the first step toward healing.
Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff
Sheff chronicles his son Nic’s recovery journey from an addiction to crystal meth. Before his addiction to crystal meth, Nic was an honor student and a varsity athlete. He was funny, charming, and filled with life. The book details Sheff’s emotional journey as he saw his son go from a happy, beautiful boy to someone living on the streets, stealing and lying to get his next fix. He struggles with the questions parents ask themselves when their child becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. What happened to my child? And what did I do wrong? What happened to our family?
Permanent Midnight by Jerry Stahl
The writer of the comedy television show Alf, Stahl tells his story of heroin addiction and his journey to recovery. Permanent Midnight is both intense and humorous. Stahl describes his out-of-control behavior to get drugs, such as driving at midnight from his luxury home in Los Angeles to the worst neighborhoods in the city with his daughter in her car seat. He shares the hurdles he overcame to find a lasting sobriety.
BACK ON TRACKmarks: From Hopeless to Dopeless by Matt Peterson
The son of a southern Baptist preacher, Peterson shares his story of addiction and recovery. He describes how his social use of opiate painkillers turned into active addiction. He went from taking painkillers to using heroin. The drugs caused Peterson to lose everything. He was homeless and running from the police. He even attempted suicide before turning his life around and finding recovery. The book shows that anyone can become addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Do You Need Help?
Addiction is a disease that can affect anyone. If you or a loved one struggles with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, help is available. You are not alone. At Anabranch Recovery Center, located in Terre Haute, Indiana, our team of dedicated caring professionals will help you regain your sobriety. Now is the time to take the first step toward living a life in recovery. Call us today.
