A stunning debut novel about a short but intense friendship between two girls that ends in tragedy, Marlena pinpoints both what it feels like to be the addict and what it’s like to be the friend of one. It is easy to use addiction as a crutch, a way to build plot or signal “here’s a bad dude,” but it is much harder to accurately and humanely depict the life-warping pain of struggling with alcoholism. The books which do it books about alcoholism best, in my opinion, are often not consciously “about” addiction at all, but show its effects lingering in the corners of every page. I am, probably, by way of my history, more attuned to picking up on it than others.
Dry: A Memoir
- In college, my friends and I joked that it’s not alcoholism until you graduate.
- Below, we’ve compiled a list of 12 books about alcohol and sobriety — including feminist cultural commentary, fact-filled guidebooks, and stirring memoirs — that will challenge the way you think about drinking.
- Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
- This was the first book I read on this subject, and I instantly could relate to her feelings.
However, I found that it offered subtle applications for combating groupthink of any kind. If you want to transcend alcoholism once and for all, it’s groupthink – whether around alcohol, or around defective mainstream recovery – that you will have to challenge and rise above on your own. The premise of this book is that every living creature has evolved to seek mind-alteration from the natural world around us. To deny the fact that we do so is to deny an essential part of our nature, not simply as human beings, but as evolutionary creatures with fundamental needs. Siegel makes a compelling and ridiculously well-researched case to stop the war on our intrinsic nature and to find safer alternatives to the toxic drugs that kill so many of us. When you quit drinking for a year or more, you’ll find that you have the energy to move forward and tackle new projects.
Can you ever drink again if you’re an alcoholic?
- For more books about alcoholism and addiction, check out this list of 100 must-read books about addiction.
- There are many reasons for why a person might develop an attachment to drinking that leads to physical dependence.
Julie Buntin’s Marlena is a stunning look at alcoholism, addiction, and bad decisions, and how they haunt us forever. 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. In this book, he combines personal stories with scientific evidence to provide positive support and solutions regarding addiction. As the title denotes, the no-nonsense guide will help you understand the causes of addiction.
Addict in the House: a No-Nonsense Family Guide Through Addiction & Recovery by Robin Barnett
This book serves as a guide for anyone starting their journey with a 30 day sobriety challenge. 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. This book offers inspiration for alcohol-free drinks and activities, and tangible tips on how to navigate a month (or beyond!) without alcohol. Employing an integrative, 7-step program for addiction, The Addiction Recovery Skills Workbook helps readers to better understand the roots of their substance misuse issues. A powerful tool when used in conjunction with treatment, the concept pairs motivational techniques, cognitive behavior therapy, and mindfulness strategies. Pairing scientific research with real-life stories of addiction, the author and world-renowned trauma expert provides a holistic explanation of addiction.
You’ll find some exercises in the book that you can practice, along with clinically proven strategies to help you get your loved one sober. These books offer a range of perspectives on Substance Abuse, covering various aspects and approaches to the subject. I was not sure about it first but I went ahead and started the treatment from them anyways and so far it’s been a dream. Sarah Hepola started drinking at a young age; from taking sips from her parents’ drinks to increasing her intake in adolescence, her desire for alcohol grew as she became an adult and gained independence. If you believe you’re dealing with substance Substance abuse use disorder and think you’d benefit from medical treatment, take our online assessment.
Alcoholics Best Books to Read – The 2024 Edition
He delves into the reasons behind why that first sip can feel so rewarding, how casual drinks can gradually spiral into dependence, and the many ways alcohol impacts our mental and physical well-being. In this fascinating book, she lays out a compelling, detailed argument on how food choices affect your body’s desire to consume alcohol. She reviews the worst food choices that often exacerbate alcohol cravings, as well as some simple food options that help to steady blood sugar and thus reduce alcohol cravings. Her book also sheds light on the reasons why the GLP-1 drugs might offer new hope for those struggling with addiction. As an Addiction Psychiatrist, I thought I knew all there was to know about alcohol’s effect on the body- boy was I wrong. Brooke offers a whole new toolbox of simple ways to lower vulnerability to alcohol.