Top 5 Books for Recovery Reading

Have you ever tried typing “books on addiction” in the Amazon search field? I did. Items one through 16 of over 10,000 results appeared on my screen. On reflection, I’m not sure how helpful that was. Where are we supposed to start? At result number 1? 2? 16? 3,462?

Whether you are struggling with addiction or know someone who is, helpful resources can be life-changing. Yet, a search for good reads yields so many results! It can be overwhelming, to say the least. If you’re looking for some expert input, personal experience, or helpful advice, the following are a few top picks that cover a full range of addiction topics.

Here’s a Quick List to Narrow Your Options

• Recover To Live
  Are you trying to gain a better understanding of conditions and activities related to behavioral addictions? Recover to Live, by Christopher Kennedy Lawford, who is over 25 years in recovery, offers a collection of expert opinions from leaders in the field regarding addiction and what you can do to overcome it. The book covers a wide range of addiction manifestations, including drugs, alcohol, gambling, smoking, eating disorders, hoarding, sex, and porn addiction. The content is designed as a self-treatment guide for those struggling with any of these behaviors.
• Living Sober
  The anonymous author of Living Sober views sobriety as the first step in recovery. The focus of the content is the healthy day-to-day living that comes after a person gives up alcohol or other drugs. According to the writer, it is during these challenging times that real recovery occurs. This book offers tools to use when facing these times and is closely tied with the 12-Steps tradition.
• Under the Influence
  In print for several decades now, Under the Influence, by James Robert Milam and Katherine Ketcham, is a helpful resource on alcoholism. The authors seek to dispel the myths surrounding alcoholism and offer assistance for those struggling with alcoholism or an addicted loved one. The book covers how to help someone with alcoholism, how to tell if a loved one has alcoholism, and how to increase chances of recovery.
• Why Don’t They Just Quit?
  If your family member is struggling with addiction, you’ve probably asked this question. Why Don’t They Just Quit, by Joe Herzanek, offers insight into addiction, co-dependence, relapse, interventions, and other related topics. It’s a good resource for anyone with questions about addiction and the recovery process.
• Recovery and Renewal
  Many addictions start with a legal, doctor-approved prescription. With this in mind, Recovery and Renewal by Baylissa Frederick, focuses on addiction issues related to prescription drugs, specifically benzos. It looks at the side effects and withdrawal that can occur when taking sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and other tranquilizers.