After failed attempts at sobriety, she found a combination of treatments—attending meetings, sharing her story and the 12-step AA program—that worked for her. Despite being published less than a year ago, Jamison’s memoir is a gritty and honest must-read. 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. Knapp writes elegantly about her 20+ years of ‘high-functioning drinking’. Winning career accolades by day and drinking at night, Knapp brings you to the netherworld of alcohol use disorder.
“This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life”
It introduces the idea that cutting back on alcohol (or giving it up completely) is all about reprogramming your thoughts so your perspective on alcohol changes. “It explains how it’s not the person that’s the problem, it’s the alcohol that’s addictive. I found this really enlightening because there’s so much shame around alcohol addiction and it completely removed the shame for me,” says Buffery. “This book completely changed my mindset around unhelpful drinking habits,” she says. “And it was something I understood and could get on board with. Before this, I didn’t think there was any other way other an AA Alcoholics Anonymous. Having been to an AA meeting and hating it, this wasn’t the path I wanted to go down.” How to be a Mindful Drinker by the Club Soda Community is the perfect how-to guide for those looking to try mindful drinking and cut back on their alcohol consumption. I chose Atlas of the Heart because it touches on the important theme of second chances.
Dry is a heartbreaking memoir of Augusten Burrough’s story of addiction, beginning with an intervention organized by his coworkers and boss and his first bout of sobriety. Whether you drink often, are newly sober, or anywhere in between, it can be deeply inspiring to hear a story from someone who’s experienced exactly best alcoholic memoirs what you’re going through. Cupcake Brown was 11 when she was orphaned and placed into foster care. She grew up with a tragic journey, running away and becoming exposed to alcohol, drugs, and sex at a young age, and leaning on those vices to get by. A Piece of Cake is her gripping tale of crashing down to the bottom and crawling back to the top. Burroughs thought he was managing to keep it all together as a suit-wearing, hard-partying Manhattanite until he landed in rehab at the bequest of his employers.
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola
Now, it’s up to Kan herself to reach for the dreams society told her she could never achieve. If the saying “laugh to keep from crying” is true, then it’s no wonder that Tiffany Haddish became a comedian. Her biography recounts plenty of opportunities for a reasonable person to break down in tears, from Haddish’s experience in foster care to her encounter with sexual abuse.
“Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol”
Quit Like a Woman takes a groundbreaking look at America’s obsession with alcohol. Quit lit books and addiction memoirs are powerful ways to connect with other people who have been exactly where you are. You can learn more about addiction and relate to authors through their stories, reminding yourself that you aren’t alone in your journey. “If my life wasn’t funny it would just be true, and that is unacceptable.” Yes, it’s a celebrity memoir.
- Whether you’re sober curious yourself or simply want to learn more about how alcohol affects your mind and body, you’ll find something of value on this list.
- Weaving together poems, historical documents, and photos, this is an essential book about, among many other things, alcoholism and survival.
- It challenges the reader to embrace imperfection and find meaning in the imperfect moments of life.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
This book reads like a conversation, and teaches us to get curious. Gilbert helps us understand the noisy voice in our head, which can often be our greatest critic. She offers generous vulnerability in her lessons and encourages you to find your gift within. A life of recovery is an awakened life of purpose, service, and meaning. I chose Atlas of the Heart because it touches on the important theme of second chances.
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: Discovering a Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Alcohol-Free Life by Catherine Gray
This ethical dimension (or an aesthetic impurity) is a distinctive aspect of addiction memoir as a literary form. Looking for a gripping read that delves into the world of alcoholism? Whether you’re seeking personal insight or a compelling story, these 20 books on alcoholics are sure to captivate you. From memoirs to fiction, these titles offer raw and honest portrayals of addiction, recovery, and the human experience. Get ready to be moved and inspired by these powerful narratives that shed light on the complexities of alcoholism.
- Bainbridge combines unique ingredients with detailed preparation to create thoughtful and flavorful non-alcoholic beverages.
- Ever the feminist, she found that women and other oppressed people don’t need the tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous, but a deeper understanding of their own identities.
- Subtitled “Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget,” Hepola’s debut memoir is a vulnerable story about refocusing her attention from finding her next drink to learning how to love herself without liquid enhancements.
This book offers a collection of elegant, complex, and sophisticated recipes that prove there’s so much more to zero proof beverages than overly sweet ‘mocktails’. Bainbridge combines unique ingredients with detailed preparation to create thoughtful and flavorful non-alcoholic beverages. This is more than a cookbook – it’s a captivating read and a gorgeous coffee table book to peruse over and over again. Plus, it’s sure to impress your guests at your next dinner party. Interestingly, Russell Brand was fourteen years sober at the time of writing Recovery.
I’d like Sober living house to think Jerry Stahl’s Permanent Midnight influenced me, too, particularly by encouraging me to try and be harrowing and funny at once. Reading We are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen can quite possibly save your life. Get therapy and medical care—just $25 with insurance, no hidden fees— for alcohol recovery, depression, everyday illnesses, and more. For more resources in sobriety, online alcohol treatment programs like Ria Health can help as well.
The result is a new, science-based approach to treating and managing addiction. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor has always had a complicated relationship with alcohol. Join A Sober Girls Guide Membership for our full reading list, exclusive author prizes and giveaways, and community discussions around these life-changing books.