However, beyond the book that focuses on some key ideas, including changing our beliefs and practicing abstinence, among others, Whitaker aims to change the narrative surrounding alcohol consumption. Whether you’ve been to treatment, you’re contemplating rehab, or your loved one is struggling with substance misuse, the more tools you have in your arsenal the better. 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. Jowita Bydlowska is three years into her sobriety when she becomes a mother. What was supposed to be a joyous best memoirs about addiction moment triggers a relapse when, on a whim, she has a glass of champagne to celebrate the birth of her first child. Bydlowska’s memoir is an eye-opening account of her relapse, the many ways she justifies her “mommy needs wine” moments, and her eventual second recovery.
Popular ‘wee’ bookshops owner and author Ruth Shaw returns with memoir sequel
Recovery isn’t just about quitting a substance; it’s also about reconnecting with oneself. Many books emphasize spiritual sobriety and the importance of nurturing one’s whole being—emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Titles like “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” provide a holistic approach to addiction, exploring how past trauma and emotional pain contribute to addictive behaviors.
Nicole Graev Lipson Turns to Literature to Rewrite the Societal Roles Expected of Women
The author has held acting roles on screen and stage, and made her directorial debut with the film adaptation of Mason Deaver’s I Wish You the Best. The feature film had its world premiere at the 2024 South By Southwest Film Festival and is awaiting its wide release. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
“The Sober Diaries: How One Woman Stopped Drinking and Started Living”
By the end of her drinking she is reduced to crouching on a stairwell outside her apartment, glugging whisky with her one-year-old son and failing marriage inside. But even more than how it captures the bleakness of alcoholism, what I most value in this book is how she narrates her recovery with such brutal honesty. This is no joyful, linear skip towards sobriety and redemption. She keeps showing up to 12-step meetings, even when they do nothing for her.
- The acclaimed author of Prozac Nation goes from depression to addiction with this equally devastating personal account.
- She was also criticized for her seeming disregard for her child.
- In Recovery, Russell Brand shares an amusing yet valuable story of addiction and the path to sobriety.
As her marriage dissolved and she struggled to find a reason to stay clean, Karr turned to Catholicism as a light at the end of the tunnel. At the age of 15, Cat Marnell began to unknowingly “murder her life” when she became hooked on the ADHD medication prescribed to her by her psychiatrist father. In Quit Like a Woman, author Holly Whitaker examines the drinking culture, specifically surrounding alcohol and women, marijuana addiction and gives women a step-by-step guide to quitting—or at least, changing their relationship with alcohol.
