Strung Out: A Memoir of Overcoming Addiction

best addiction memoirs

Don Birnam in The Lost Weekend (1944) is really its creator, Charles R. Jackson. One hint that the author and protagonist of A Fan’s Notes (1968) are really the same person is that they best books for alcoholics are both called Frederick Exley. All these books might have been published as memoir in a less stigmatising age.

best addiction memoirs

“Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol”

  • Shortly after the birth of her son, Bydlowska relapses after three years of sobriety.
  • In and out of rehab, he falls into relapse, engaging in toxic relationships and other self-destructive behaviors that threaten to undo the hard-won progress he’s made.
  • A 1996 bestseller, Caroline Knapp paints a vivid picture of substance use and recovery that every reader can appreciate, whether you struggle with substance use or not.
  • High Price is a captivating book on addiction nonfiction that takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through the complexities of drugs and society.
  • The social historian argues London is an intrinsically addictive city.

Dry is a New York Times best-selling memoir, Augusten Burroughs exposes the frightening roots of addiction. Burroughs talks about being hooked on “Bewitched” as a child, a show that exhibited an alcoholic husband among other things. In this much-anticipated follow-up to the memoir Tweak, Nick Scheff tells all about his rocky recovery from heroin and crystal meth. It’s a theory Szalavitz, a science writer and former cocaine and heroin addict, is uniquely equipped to advance and one that may reframe addiction entirely for you. Nina Renata Aron’s relationship with her boyfriend is a passionate fairy tale, right up to the day he relapses.

The Murderers: The Shocking Story of the Narcotic Gangs

best addiction memoirs

Everything from inpatient rehab and sober living facilities to peer-support groups and outpatient care can move you or your loved one another step closer to long-term recovery. “Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman’s coming of age on the Seabird Island Band in the Pacific Northwest. From the challenges of sober holidays to confronting the replacement of one addiction with another, her story goes beyond the conventional rehabilitation narrative, making it utterly compelling. Journalist and bestselling author Bryony Gordon courageously share her two-decade battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol in this page-turning memoir. In honor of today’s topic, Emily and I share our favorite books on addiction and recovery. While our episode only covered nonfiction, I have many fiction books that have inspired me over the years to include too.

Incredible Books on Sobriety That Helped Me Quit For Good

  • From the initial allure of alcohol to its devastating consequences, she paints a vivid portrait with personal stories of the relentless grip of addiction and the profound impact it had on her relationships, career, and sense of self.
  • In addition to authoring two books (her second comes out March 2023), McKowen hosts the Tell Me Something True podcast.
  • This compelling addiction nonfiction book offers a raw and honest portrayal of the author’s battle with alcoholism and her quest for solace and redemption.
  • The basic premise of this book is that she is letting us peek into her diary during her first year of sobriety.

The author, Kristi Coulter, engages the reader with her deep insight and quick wit. This combination makes her story heartening, funny, and thought-provoking at the same time. Coulter shares her struggles with alcohol use and also the challenges of getting sober. In the literature world, you can find books about addiction and recovery in a genre known as “quit lit.” Quit lit is full of authors sharing their personal experiences and resources to help others who are where they’ve been.

best addiction memoirs

wishful Drinking By Carrie Fisher

We tailor outpatient addiction treatment to the needs of each patient. Alcohol Use Disorder In addition to medication assisted treatment, a patient’s care can include substance abuse counseling, mental health therapy and psychiatry. Kao Kalia Yang’s The Late Homecomer, detailing her family’s escape from war in Laos, holds a place on my list of all-time favorite memoirs. The Song Poet focused on the story of her father, a song poet and Hmong refugee.

best addiction memoirs

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America

These relationships can greatly shape one’s understanding of faith and purpose, offering valuable insights into personal growth. Additionally, consider memoirs that investigate themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Such examples demonstrate how faith can transform conflicts and foster healing within communities. Choosing the right Christian memoir can greatly enhance your understanding of spiritual transformation. When seeking out these narratives, consider the author’s journey through challenges and adversity.

best addiction memoirs

  • She’s a successful, privileged woman and, at the same time, fundamentally flawed and messy.
  • It’s a tough book to read due to the descriptions of horrific traumas people have experienced, however it’s inspirational in its message of hope.
  • I appreciated how clearly I could hear Jennifer Romolini’s voice as I read this book.
  • Raw and real, Pond’s bok shows how he uncovers a new path to recovery outside the traditional abstinence-based programs with the help of his partner, Maureen Palmer.
  • Memoirs often reflect the emotional and psychological impacts of faith, making their accounts relatable and encouraging you to examine your own spiritual path.

Luckily, there’s a whole genre of books that prove you are not the only one who has battled addiction. Jerry Stahl was a writer with significant and successful screenwriting credits — Dr. Caligari, Twin Peaks, Moonlighting, and more. But despite that success, Stahl’s heroin habit began to consume him, derailing his career and destroying his health until one final, intense crisis inspired him to get clean. 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.

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