These books, stories and articles have been meaningful to me.
Memoirs/Non-fiction (in order of impact)
- Sarah Hepola, Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget
(added 9/21/15)
- Caroline Knapp, Drinking: A Love Story
(Knapp’s internal experience of addiction is the story I’ve read so far that is most similar to my own.)
- Ann Dowsett Johnston, Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol
- Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint
- William Cope Moyers, Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption
- Scott, Stossel, My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind
(Although not in recovery from addiction, Stossel is my hero for unflinchingly writing his jaw-dropping truth.) (Added 6/30/14: Scott Stossel’s personal story on anxiety for The Atlantic)
- Kristen Johnston, Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster
(Added 6/30/14. Found first and last few chapters the most helpful.)
- Mary Karr, Lit: A Memoir
Fiction (in order read, first to last)
- Fiend: A Novel by Peter Stenson (Stenson is open about being recovery and I wrote about my intense experience reading Fiend here.)
- Maya’s Notebook: A Novel
by Isabel Allende
- King of Methlehem, Mark Lindquist
- Rachel’s Holiday
by Marian Keyes (added 8/5/14)
- The Good House
by Ann Leary (added 8/5/14)
- “Jack, July” by Victor Lodato in The New Yorker (added 9/16/14)
- All Fall Down: A Novel
, Jennifer Weiner (added 8/9/15)
Non-fiction/Texts (in order read)
- Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction, Maia Szalavitz (added 6/28/16)
- Addiction Is the Symptom: Heal the Cause and Prevent Relapse with 12 Steps That Really Work
, Rosemary Ellsworth Brown, Ph.D.
- Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up’s Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents
, Nina W. Brown, EdD, LPC. Brown posits substance use disorders as common among those with self-absorbed parents.
- Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy
by David Sheff
- Methland by Nick Reding
- Addiction as an Attachment Disorder
by Philip J. Flores (Read every word. Flores makes an astounding case about the how and why of addiction.)
- Inside Rehab: The Surprising Truth About Addiction Treatment–and How to Get Help That Works
by Anne Fletcher
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction
by Gabor Mate (Mate is a physician treating addicts. Brilliant insights. I’m listening to the audio version and am on Chapter 35.)
- Breaking Addiction: A 7-Step Handbook for Ending Any Addiction by Lance Dodes. Excerpts here, post here.
- The Sober Truth: Debunking the Bad Science Behind 12-Step Programs and the Rehab Industry
by Lance and Zachary Dodes. Excerpts and post here.
On Possible To-Read List
- Her Best-Kept Secret: Why Women Drink-And How They Can Regain Control
by Gabrielle Glaser
- Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety
by Sacha Scoblic
I am so grateful to those with addiction who share their stories in public, in published words, where I can read them. They help.
Last updated 6/28/2016.
