I read almost every day parents that come on the forum and they’re heartbroken and petrified that they’re going to lose their precious child. My prompts will help you dig deep and sustain change from the inside out. I like to take my copy to meetings with me so that when people are reading excerpts, I can read along with them. I often make pencil notes as I go along, and turn the corners of certain pages over so I can visit them again and again. But not everyone likes to read, which is why I made a point of including at least one book in my shortlist that’s also available as an audiobook. It’s my number one pick, the Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition, the official “Big Book” from Alcoholic Anonymous.
Listen
From open-bar weddings to after-work happy hours, booze is woven into the fabric of our social lives. Drinking is so normalized that we forget alcohol is an addictive substance. This subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for support, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit.

Must-Read Books for Families of Drug Addicts
It teaches the reader that there is always hope and that you can find the strength to believe in a higher power, and have faith in your future. It’s very refreshing to read a https://www.perthcancercare.com/sober-living/alcohol-and-mental-health/ history of the beginnings of AA written from another perspective, since most AA history books are taken from Bill W’s point of view rather than from Dr Bob’s. Belief in a higher power is an important part of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and admittedly it’s something that a lot of people struggle with.
Healing Neen: One Woman’s Path to Salvation from Trauma and Addiction by Tonier Cain
It isn’t preachy, and it’s not trying to sell Christianity or any other specific religion. So you can go through the book one step at a time, just like with AA itself. It’s perfect as a reference book, you can just look up what you’re going through and see what Bill W has to say about it.
Families often increase the addiction problem and may or may not believe the help they provide will one day pay off. Addiction best books for alcoholics does not improve by providing the affected person with resources, housing, food, comfort, and other forms of counterproductive support. Another note to consider is families, friends, and some members of society often feel the substance user is a hopeless victim when they believe the disease model of addiction.
7 Weeks To Sobriety

A book that has sparked a worldwide movement and has changed millions of lives. Due Twelve-step program to regular editing of different editions of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, you are unlikely to find these particular stories in whatever edition of the Big Book you’re able to get your hands on. But in my view, they offer just as much value as the stories that are included in the Big Book. This is quite a large book of over 400 pages, and as you may imagine from the size of the tome, it does go into some detail. It even includes accounts of Bill W using LSD and the founders using ouija boards. These articles span a 26-year period from 1944 through to 1970, so you can examine how Bill’s thought process changed over time.
- First off, I love that it’s in large print, because it means that I don’t have to look everywhere for my reading glasses to read it.
- To select the most suitable book, consider your specific interests and goals.
- This is one of the most compelling books on recovery and humanity ever written.
- 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.
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
Finding a book that best meets your needs can also be aided by reviewing it and book summaries. But in my case, these texts helped me to transcend addiction once and for all. In fact, I just returned from a trip overseas in which the bartender and I bonded over free non-alcoholic cocktails and had a delightful hour-long conversation about kratom. Michael Matthews has a knack for making complex subjects easy to understand. This book (and its female audience counterpart, Thinner, Leaner, Stronger) can help you avoid the layers of marketing BS that plague fitness magazines and start a fitness regimen that actually works. This is really a book about how to discipline your mind and pursue your goals.
This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
And the other great thing about this book is that it’s also available as an audiobook, which means that you can listen to it on your commute or just about anywhere. It’s a great book for those who are passionate about Alcoholics Anonymous history because it features photos and such, and really brings the topic to life. There were times when the Alcoholics Anonymous movement needed rescuing, and this book tells of how Bill W saved it again and again. It’s very readable, and very well written, and it documents an interesting and exciting time as the AA is founded and starts to take off. This is a great book for anyone wanting to learn more about the very beginnings of the early AA. It’s written as an early biography from the point of view of Dr Bob, AKA Robert Holbrook Smith, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Living Sober: How to Stop Drinking and Recover from Alcoholism
It can provide ongoing reminders of why you’re making a change, and give you new tools to incorporate as you continue on your journey. Plus, you’ll get to read beautiful writing, and expand your worldview and perspectives. If you’re looking for more sobriety resources, check out Monument’s therapist-moderated alcohol support groups and anonymous online forum. Through the power of literature, we embark on an expedition that navigates the path to healing, hope, and reclaiming a life free from alcohol’s grasp. I often say that recovery from addiction requires effort in two primary areas – biochemical and cognitive.