Coping with / advice about drug and alcohol problems Books

Book SynopsisREAD THIS BOOK AND BECOME A HAPPY NON-DRINKER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Allen Carr established himself as the world''s greatest authority on helping people stop smoking, and his internationally best-selling Easy Way to Stop Smoking has been published in over 40 languages and sold more than 10 million copies.In this classic guide, Allen applies his revolutionary method to drinking. With startling insight into why we drink and clear, simple, step-by-step instructions, he shows you the way to escape from the ''alcohol trap'' in the time it takes to read this book.• A UNIQUE METHOD THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE WILLPOWER• STOP EASILY, IMMEDIATELY AND PAINLESSLY• REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFEWhat people say about Allen Carr''s Easyway method:"The Allen Carr program was... nothing short of a miracle."Anjelica Huston"It was such a revelation that instantly I was freed from addiction."Sir Anthony Hopkins"His skill is in removing the psychological dependence."The Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo heal addiction, you have to go back to the start…Featured on Russell Brand’s podcast Under the Skin Dr Gabor Maté is one of the world’s most revered thinkers on the psychology of addiction. His radical findings – based on decades of work with patients challenged by catastrophic drug addiction and mental illness – are reframing how we view all human development.In this award-winning modern classic, Gabor Maté takes a holistic and compassionate approach to addiction, whether to alcohol, drugs, sex, money or anything self-destructive. He presents it not as a discrete phenomenon confined to a weak-willed few, but as a continuum that runs through (and even underpins) our society; not as a medical ‘condition’, but rather the result of a complex interplay of personal history, emotional development and brain chemistry.Distilling cutting-edge research from around the world, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts avoids glib self-help remedies, instead promoting self-understanding as the first key to healing and wellness. Blending personal stories and science with positive solutions, and written in spellbinding prose, it is a must-read that will change how you see yourself, others and the world.10th anniversary edition, updated with new chapter on the Opiod crisisTrade ReviewGabor Maté’s connections—between the intensely personal and the global, the spiritual and the medical, the psychological and the political—are bold, wise and deeply moral. He is a healer to be cherished and this exciting book arrives at just the right time * Naomi Klein, author of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine *Gabor Maté is one of the most important, wise and compassionate voices in the world on addiction. Everyone should read this profound book * Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs *I recommend this wonderful book for anyone struggling with the heartache of addiction personally or professionally. Gabor Maté makes the thought-provoking and powerful arguments that human connections heal; and that the poverty of relationships in the modern world contribute to our vulnerability to unhealthy addictions of all manner. His uniquely humane perspective—all too absent from much of the ‘modern’ approach to addictions—should be a part of the training of all therapists, social workers, and physicians * Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, Child Trauma Academy Houston, and co-author of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog *With unparalleled sympathy for the human condition, Gabor Maté depicts the suffocation of the spirit by addictive urges, and holds up a dark mirror to our society. This is a powerful narrative of the realm of human nature where confused and conflicted emotions underlie our pretensions to rational thought * Dr Jaak Panksepp, author of Affective Neuroscience *In its sheer force, originality and deep scholarship, this book represents a landmark in the theory, treatment and prevention of addictive disorders. No-one seriously interested in this subject can afford not to be aware of what it says about addiction and how we should respond to it * Nick Heather PhD, Northumbria University, UK *

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NOW A MAJOR FILM, STARRING STEVE CARELL AND BAFTA AND GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATED TIMOTHEE CHALAMET ‘What had happened to my beautiful boy? To our family? What did I do wrong?’ Those are the wrenching questions that haunted every moment of David Sheff’s journey through his son Nic’s addiction to drugs and tentative steps toward recovery. Before Nic Sheff became addicted to crystal meth, he was a charming boy, joyous and funny, a varsity athlete and honor student adored by his two younger siblings. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who lied, stole, and lived on the streets.With haunting candour, David Sheff traces the first subtle warning signs: the denial, the 3am phone calls (is it Nic? the police? the hospital?), the attempts at rehab. His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself, and tTrade Review'Both takes on this story are riveting, brilliantly written, thoughtful, searingly honest and equally essential. They should be mandatory reading for every teenager and every parent of one.' * Daily Mail *'My generation experimented with drugs and, now that we are parents, we're caught off guard: we never contemplated having to face what David Sheff has faced. He writes with candour, courage and grace of his family's harrowing – and sadly not atypical – story. Beautiful Boy is an important book. It is moving, timely and startlingly beautiful.' -- Sir Richard Branson, chairman, Virgin Group'Those of us who love an addict – or are addicts ourselves – will find Beautiful Boy a revelation. David Sheff knows all too well what must be endured with faith, and his extraordinary book describes it better than anything else I've read. While painfully candid, Beautiful Boy is equally optimistic and powerful.' -- Martin Sheen, actor'An honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic.' * Publishers Weekly *'An excellent book that all parents can relate to whatever their children's situation.' * Library Journal *'Moving, painfully honest, very revealing, it tells a story which just never gets told and which is extraordinarily important.' -- Rosie Boycott'A brilliant, harrowing, heartbreaking, fascinating story, full of beautiful moments and hard-won wisdom. This book will save a lot of lives and heal a lot of hearts.' -- Anne Lamott'Beautiful Boy is so beautifully written that it will come as a welcome balm to millions of parents and loved ones who thought they were making this journey alone.' -- Armistead Maupin

Read more less

Book SynopsisREAD THIS BOOK NOW AND BECOME A HAPPY NONDRINKER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.Allen Carr''s Easyway is a global phenomenon. It has helped millions of smokers from all over the world. In The Easy Way for Women to Stop Drinking, Allen Carr''s Easyway method has been applied to problem drinking for women, acknowledging that women who want to stop drinking face particular difficulties-and tailored to their needs.By explaining why you feel the need to drink and with simple step-by-step instructions to set you free, Allen Carr shows you how to escape from the alcohol trap. This book comes with several assurances: You won''t feel like you''re being talked down to; there are no scare tactics or gimmicks; you won''t feel deprived; and you won''t miss drinking.What people say about Allen Carr''s Easyway method:"The Allen Carr program was nothing short of a miracle."Anjelica Huston"It was such a revelation that instantly I was freed from my addiction."Sir Anthony Hopkins"His skill is in removing the psychological dependence."The Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE 2017 PEN ACKERLEY PRIZEWINNER OF THE 2016 WAINWRIGHT PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 ONDAATJE PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 WELLCOME PRIZEAt the age of thirty, Amy Liptrot finds herself washed up back home on Orkney. Standing unstable on the island, she tries to come to terms with the addiction that has swallowed the last decade of her life. As she spends her mornings swimming in the bracingly cold sea, her days tracking Orkney's wildlife, and her nights searching the sky for the Merry Dancers, Amy discovers how the wild can restore life and renew hope.Trade ReviewA lyrical, brave memoir. It's Liptrot's aptitude for marrying her inner-space with wild outer-spaces that makes her such a compelling writer . . . I enjoyed this book enormously -- WILL SELF * * Guardian * *The sheer sensuality of Liptrot's prose and her steely resolve immediately put her right up there with the best of the best. Liptrot is an Orcadian warrior with the breeze in her blood and poetry in her fingers, and The Outrun may even be a future classic. Wherever she journeys next, you will want to go with her * * New Statesman * *An exhilarating memoir . . . Anyone who has ever been unhappy or unwise will find much that resonates in this powerful, beautiful writing -- CATHY RENTZENBRINK * * Stylist * *An uncompromising account of addiction and recovery played out against the blasted fields of Orkney. Liptrot's writing is strong and sure. The Outrun is a bright addition to the exploding genre of writing about place and our place in the natural world * * Observer * *Remarkable . . . a meditative interior journey which Liptrot elevates to an art * * Spectator * *An unflinching examination of trauma, addiction and the restorative power of the natural world . . . It is a wild, wind-lashed book, and you come away from reading with the taste of salt spray on your lips -- Evie Wyld * * New York Times * *Brilliant . . . one of the most scabrously honest, sassy and moving books about addiction and recovery that I have read * * Scotsman * *An astonishingly beautiful book. Amy makes most nature writing seem flat and pedestrian. Her account of her addiction and recovery is electric, sexy, immediate and raw, leaving the reader reeling in her wake . . . This is a luminous, life-affirming book, and I have no doubt that I'll be pressing it into people's hands for years to come -- OLIVIA LAINGThere is a great deal of frank, flinch-making writing in this book, but it is always balanced by a sublimity and graciousness that is rare. This is a bold-hearted and brave-minded book. It is both terribly sad and awfully affecting. I look forward to its presence on some prize lists * * Scotland on Sunday * *Clean, clear and impressive . . . a sensuous book, full of summer nights and winter water. Liptrot swims, walks, lives alone on uninhabited islands and observes. And from that comes a portrait of the natural world she is absorbed into * * Herald * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the Booker PrizeWinner of 'Book of the Year' and 'Debut of the Year' at the British Book AwardsThe Million-Copy Bestseller'An amazingly intimate, compassionate, gripping portrait of addiction, courage and love.' – The judges of the Booker Prize'Douglas Stuart has written a first novel of rare and lasting beauty.' – ObserverIt is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life, dreaming of greater things. But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and as she descends deeper into drink, the children try their best to save her, yet one by one they must abandon her to save themselves.It is her son Shuggie who holds out hope the longest. Shuggie is different, he is clearly no’ right. But Shuggie believes that if he tries his hardest, he can be normal like the other boys and help his mother escape this hopeless place.Shuggie Bain lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty, the limits of love, and the hollowness of pride. For readers of A Little Life and Angela's Ashes, it is a heartbreaking novel by a brilliant writer with a powerful and important story to tell.'A heartbreaking novel' – The Times'Tender and unsentimental . . . The Billy Elliot-ish character of Shuggie . . . leaps off the page.' – Daily MailTrade ReviewA heartbreaking novel, a book both beautiful and brutal . . . All that grief and sadness and misery has been turned into something tough, tender and beautifully sad. * The Times *Leaves us gutted and marvelling: Life may be short, but it takes forever. * New York Times *I think it’s the best first book I’ve read in many years. -- Karl Ove Knausgård * Guardian *Rarely does a debut novel establish its world with such sure-footedness, and Stuart’s prose is lithe, lyrical and full of revelatory descriptive insights. -- Alex Preston * Observer *An astonishing portrait, drawn from life, of a society left to die . . . Shuggie Bain has been longlisted for the Booker Prize. In a just world, it would win. * Daily Telegraph *Shuggie Bain comes from a deep understanding of the relationship between a child and a substance-abusing parent, showing a world rarely portrayed in literary fiction . . . Admirable and important. -- Sarah Moss * Guardian *This is a dysfunctional love story . . . between a boy and his mother . . . what makes his book a worthy contender for the Booker is his portrayal of their bond, together with all its perpetual damage. * Financial Times *Douglas Stuart’s startling Glasgow-set debut novel creates a world of poverty and suffering offset by pure, heart-filling, love . . . It’s a novel that deserves, and will surely often get, a second reading. -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *Shuggie Bain is a novel that aims for the heart and finds it. -- John Self * The Times *Tender and unsentimental . . . and the Billy Elliot-ish character of Shuggie . . . leaps off the page. * Daily Mail *Beautiful and bleak but with enough warmth and optimism to carry the reader through. -- Graham Norton (via Twitter)A boy's heartbreaking love for his mother . . . as intense and excruciating to read as any novel I have ever held in my hand . . . The book’s evocative power arises out of the author’s talent for conjuring a place, a time, and the texture of emotion . . . brilliantly written. * Newsday *An outstanding book . . . Magnificently done . . . Wonderful. -- Lee Child * Sunday Post *A debut novel that reads like a masterpiece, Shuggie Bain gives voice to the kind of helpless, hopeless love that children can feel toward broken parents. * Washington Post *This heartfelt and harrowing debut novel – which has been compared to the work of Édouard Louis, Frank McCourt, and Hanya Yanagihara, and which Kirkus has already called “a masterpiece” . . . is rightly being heralded for its visceral, emotionally nuanced portrayal of working class Scottish life and its blazingly intimate exploration of a mother-son relationship. * LitHub *A formidable story, lyrically told, about intimacy, family, and love. -- 12 Best Books of 2020 So Far * ELLE (US) *The way Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting carved a permanent place in our heads and hearts for the junkies of late-1980s Edinburgh, the language, imagery, and story of fashion designer Stuart's debut novel apotheosizes the life of the Bain family of Glasgow… Readers may get through the whole novel without breaking down—then read the first sentence of the acknowledgements and lose it. The emotional truth embodied here will crack you open. You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece. -- Kirkus Reviews starred reviewA rare and haunting ode to 1980s Glasgow and its struggling communities, Shuggie Bain tells the story of a collapsing family that is lashed together by love alone. Douglas Stuart writes with startling, searing intimacy. I fell hard for these characters; when they have nothing left, they cling maddeningly—irresistibly—to humor, pride and hope * Chia-Chia Lin *Shuggie Bain is an intimate and frighteningly acute exploration of a mother-son relationship and a masterful portrait of alcoholism in Scottish working class life, rendered with old-school lyrical realism . . . I kept being reminded of Joyce's Dubliners. -- Sandra Newman, author of The HeavensThere’s no way to fake the life experience that forms the bedrock of Douglas Stuart’s wonderful Shuggie Bain. No way to fake the talent either. Shuggie will knock you sideways * Richard Russo *A dark shining work. Raw, formidable, bursting with tenderness and frailty. The effect is remarkable, it will make you cry. -- Karl Geary, author of Montpelier ParadeEvery now and then a novel comes along that feels necessary and inevitable. I’ll never forget Shuggie and Agnes or the incredibly detailed Glasgow they inhabit. This is the rare contemporary novel that reads like an instant classic. I’ll be thinking and talking about Shuggie Bain - and teaching it - for quite some time. -- Garrard Conley, New York Times-bestselling author of Boy ErasedGlasgow, Scotland, in the 1980s is the backdrop for this story of the fraught bond between a young boy and his mother. -- ‘The 22 Best Books to Read This Winter’ * Vogue (US) *Compulsively readable… As [the novel] beautifully and shockingly illustrates how Shuggie ends up alone, this novel offers a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Very highly recommended -- Library Journal starred review

Read more less

Book SynopsisControl Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your LifeBrilliant' Stella DuffyMillions of people worry that drinking is affecting their health, yet are unwilling to seek change because of the misery and stigma associated with alcoholism and recovery. They fear drinking less will be boring, difficult and involve deprivation, and significant lifestyle changes.This Naked Mind offers a new solution. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink, it will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture. Annie Grace brilliantly weaves psychological, neurological, cultural, social and industry factors with her extraordinarily candid journey resulting in a must read for anyone who drinks.This book, without scare tactics, pain or rules, gives you freedom from alcohol. By addressing causes rather than symptoms it is a permanent solution rather than lifetime struggle. It removes the psychological dependence allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinkingTrade Review‘The most selfless and amazing book I have ever read. Thank you, Annie Grace, for your wisdom, intelligence, sense of humor, and love. I do believe you have saved my life. Today my youngest child got her final exam results and the next phase of her life begins. She will not be alone. Thank you,Annie Grace, for this gift.’ – Bernie M., Dublin, Ireland ‘As a huge fan of Jason Vale, I was really interested to read This Naked Mind. It was so interesting to read more about the science behind addiction and the unconscious mind. It added a new level to my understanding of why I want to live a sober and happy life! I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether they are interested in cutting down or staying alcohol- free; there are so many practical tips and suggestions. I loved it!’ – Sarah L., London, United Kingdom ‘This Naked Mind has allowed me to view my drinking habits from a new perspective. Now I know the science behind my addictive tendencies, sobriety has become less of a struggle and more of a celebration because I am finally free to live life on my own terms rather than under the control of alcohol. The message in This Naked Mind is truly liberating.’ – Marcus J., London, United Kingdom

Read more less

Book Synopsis THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Many people wonder if they can still have fun without alcohol... Gray tackles this misconception.' - The New York Times 'Gray's tale of going sober is uplifting and inspiring' - The Evening Standard 'An icon of the Quit Lit movement' - Condé Nast Traveller 'Fascinating' - Bryony Gordon 'Not remotely preachy' - The Times 'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph 'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying' - Alice O'Keeffe, Guardian 'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist 'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober came to me at a time when I much needed it... The book became my best friend, and got me through, and took me on a journey.' - Sadie Frost 'Particularly lovely, because it's not a deep and dark dive into someone's terrible addiction. It's a celebration of everything that she has gained from not drinking' - Laura Donnelly Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. 64% of Brits want to drink less.Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish whirligig of Drink, Make horrible decisions, Hangover, Repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures.But this book goes beyond the binges and blackouts to deep-dive into uncharted territory: What happens after you quit drinking? This gripping, heart-breaking and witty book takes us down the rabbit-hole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers, through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and breakups. In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shines a light on society's drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies.Much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you've already ditched the drink, you will love this book. 'Haunting, admirable and enlightening' - The Pool 'A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice. A truly unique blend of storytelling and science that holds a universe of hope.' - Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind 'Like listening to your best friend teach you to be sober. Lighthearted but serious, it's packed with ideas, tools, tips and, most importantly, reasons for living a sober life. This book is excellent.'- Eric Zimmer, host of podcast The One You Feed 'Gray's fizzy writing succeeds in making this potentially boring-as-hell subject both engaging and highly seductive' - The Bookseller 'Catherine Gray is an exceptional writer. Her exquisitely crafted thoughts on the joys of being sober are not only deeply honest and pragmatic, but she manages to infuse tons of humor. This is a delightful, informative, and compelling read for all those who are sober or seeking sobriety.' - Sasha Tozzi, Huffington Post columnist 'Catherine's writing style and voice captivate me. She has a way of translating her story into an experience I don't want to end. I want to drink every drop she produces.' - Holly Whitaker, founder of Hip Sobriety School and co-presenter of Home podcast 'This book is great. A balanced, informative and entertaining mélange of memoir, sociology and psychology. I identified very strongly with huge sections of it.' - Jon Stewart, guitarist of Sleeper and Leaving AA, Staying Sober blogger > 'Sober is too often equated with "sombre" in our culture. Gray's book turns that idea on its head. Her experience of sobriety is joyful and life-affirming. A must-read for anyone who has a nagging suspicion that alcohol may be taking away more than it's giving.' - Hilda Burke, psychotherapist and couples counsellor 'Catherine Gray really captures the FUN we can have in sobriety. This book challenges the status quo; sobriet sounds as liberating as taking a trip to the jungle. Fun and inspirational. What an important book for our time! A joy to read.' - Samantha Moyo, founder of Morning Gloryville 'No other author writes about sober living with as much warmth or emotional range as Catherine Gray. Her deep insight into the subtle psychologies of drinking, and of life, means that everything she writes is both utterly relatable and stretches our minds. Hers is a rare wisdom.' - Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 PEN ACKERLEY PRIZE'An intense, succulent read that's intermittently dazzling' THE TIMES'Chilling, exquisitely moving' DAILY TELEGRAPH'A superb memoir - and one of the best books on addiction I have ever read' EVENING STANDARDA. A. Gill's memoir begins in the dark of a dormitory with six strangers. He is an alcoholic, dying in the last-chance saloon. He tells the truth - as far as he can remember it - about drinking and about what it is like to be drunk. He recalls the lost days, lost friends, failed marriages ... But there was also an 'optimum inebriation, a time when it was all golden'.Sobriety regained, there are painterly descriptions of people and places, unforgettable musings about childhood and family, art and religion; and most movingly, the connections between his cooking, dyslexia and his missing brother. Full of raw and unvarnished truths, exquisitely written throughout, POUR ME is about lost time and self-discovery. Lacerating, unflinching, uplifting, it is a classic about drunken abandon.Trade Review'His mind, officially measured as off the Mensa scale, is an object of wonder. But it swivels everywhere like a dropped high-pressure hosepipe . . . Gill is explosive. God knows what a frightening thing he must have been in drink. He is bad enough as a dry drunk, the kind of sober person who gets thrown out of restaurants (in his case, Gordon Ramsay's). But the end of the book dwells on a recently evolved philanthropic side to Gill's character. He has become very anxious about the world. He travels to awful places, eloquently and genuinely compassionate with the suffering he witnesses there ... One deduces that he has transcended his suffering but he now has a hypersensitive sympathy with the suffering of others. A A Gill is 61, 30 years sober and surviving. Those who admire him (and I am one) will not merely read him over the years to come but follow him wherever he is now going. It will, one guesses, be an interesting journey' -- John Sutherland * NEW STATESMAN *'A.A. Gill, the man who makes a living getting beneath the skin of things, whether it's television, restaurants or places round the world - has skinned himself ... The funny, curious, sad and often sodden stories are told using combinations of words and ideas that shouldn't be friends, but hold hands at the behest of Gill, like a circus master with a comma for a whip. This is a book full of darkness, laughs and dark laughs. Personal truths by a man whose love of language is ultimately the protagonist' * VANITY FAIR *'[Gill] writes passionately and movingly about his struggle with dyslexia; disarmingly and defensively about his lifelong feelings of intellectual insecurity; evocatively about his relationships with his parents and the disappearance of his brother . . . stirringly about his love of journalism . . . It might not all be beautiful; it might not all be true. But that does little to diminish the pleasure to be found in its story' -- Matthew Adams * INDEPENDENT *'Fluent, cocky and dense with gags . . . he is a brilliant raconteur, and a gifted satirist of place and person. He is also, perhaps through a history of AA meetings (those initials are well chosen), unafraid to take risks of self-exposure. The baroque debauchery of his drinking days gives way to frank and often moving examinations of his growing up . . . his loves and lusts and marriages, and his own efforts at fatherhood: the role that has done most to keep him sober' -- Tim Adams * OBSERVER *'As readers of Gill's journalism will expect, Pour Me is alert, emphatic, mordant, unforgiving. It is often moving, but never tries to be likeable. Honesty about alcoholism is not its chief attraction. It is a full-blooded retrospective by a man aged 61, who has travelled in remote and dangerous places, and has considered most human possibilities. He apologises for his book being insufficiently amusing ("it's about me, and I'm not really funny"), but his gallows comedy gives a hefty kick, many sections are beautifully droll, and some scenes are hilarious' -- Richard Davenport-Hines * SUNDAY TIMES *'In this chilling, exquisitely moving book, Gill defines the seductive, addictive and destructive power of drink . . . Gill's trademark is slamming the truth down hard on the page. It is his honesty that accounts for the intensity of this haunting memoir . . . and although he says this is not a funny book, it is . . . there are meditative passages of beauty here . . . A book that began by discussing lost time becomes one of recovered time, of a new way of life that is worth not only living but also celebrating' -- Juliet Nicolson * DAILY TELEGRAPH *'It's an intense, succulent read that's intermittently dazzling - 250 pages about a young life nullified by anxiety and addiction and not one cliche, each sentence earning its keep. Gill's regular readers might expect that but his willingness to expose his deepest insecurities, his apparent belief that, even now, he's an imposter, method-acting being normal, makes him newly vulnerable . . . There's no triumphant, teary-eyed conclusion: Gill says he's still no clearer on whether he drank because he was anxious and depressed or that he was anxious and depressed because he drank. As he says, it probably doesn't matter. What he knows is that for all his success now, he will always mourn the blackout of those years, the prime decade of his life just a cigar box of dog-eared postcards and incoherent memories. The saddest thing of all, it turns out, is absence' -- Carol Midgley * THE TIMES *'Pour Me, Gill's sweet-sour memoir of his drinking days and subsequent reform . . . is a delight. In pages of well-turned anecdote, Gill chronicles a rackety life made good. The book is nicely designed, moreover, and I liked the discussions of, among other things, the difficulties of parenting and marriage in late middle age' -- Ian Thomson * SPECTATOR *'This tonic memoir is the absolute works . . . As an autobiographer, A.A. Gill is unhampered by introspection. He observes his former self from without, dispassionately, unsparingly, as if grimacing at some squalid exhibit in memory's museum, an exhibit from a different age that has little to do with the successful, prolific sexagenarian journalist and random stirrer. Indeed he's promiscuously interested in just about everything save himself. The scope of his knowledge is phenomenal . . . His descriptive prose is polychromatic and specific. He is impatient with 'impressionistic' approximations . . . He judges neither himself nor others . . . The aberrant behaviour, the bodily dysfunctions, the wondering how you ended up here, with these people you have never seen before - all this is recalled with impeccably grim comic timing' -- Jonathan Meades * COUNTRY LIFE *'A superb memoir - and one of the best books on addiction I have ever read . . . beautifully written. Gill describes many things - people, works of art, parts of London - wonderfully well. He says he wanted to be an artist. He is - with words' -- William Leith * EVENING STANDARD *'Pour Me by the jounalist A.A. Gill is a sour-sweet memoir of his alcoholism and its attendant woes. Gill's early years of drinking brought only a squalid self-denial and low self-esteem; liquor had got him well and truly licked. Often funny, the book is dedicated to the "friends of Bill", after the Bill Wilson who, in 1935, co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous' * THE TABLET *'Funny, infuriating and moving' * CATHOLIC HERALD *'The restaurant and television critic defines the seductive power of drink in this amusing, exquisitely moving memoir about alcoholism, full of riffs and detours, from Gill's parents' affairs while he was a child to his own first shaky detox days. His verbal dexterity is all the more remarkable for his dyslexia, the "wordcurdling" from which he has suffered since he was a schoolboy' * DAILY TELEGRAPH *'A.A. Gill's new memoir Pour Me is a prodigiously well-penned tale of addiction, misery, shame and rehabilitation - sometimes pompous, sometimes self-lacerating, but always unflinching and gripping' * MR HYDE *'A.A. Gill hangs his ferociously entertaining autobiography on his youthful spell as an alcoholic . . . with grimly comic scenes from bars and clubs, and confused fragments in between blackouts, garishly lit by guilt and shame . . . But Pour Me is more than an extended act of "sharing" at an AA meeting . . . He also writes about many aspects of his life that are much more interesting than his drinking, such as his family . . . He writes brilliantly about art - in a superb account of Gericault's 'Raft of the Medusa', for example - as he does about anything he turns his hand to, most surprisingly the plight of refugees. He has a terrific relish for simile . . . His favourite is "like a slap", which is what his writing is like; that or an electric shock: in any case, always stimulating' -- Lewis Jones * THE OLDIE *'Gill's memoir, Pour Me, focuses on his alcoholism and recovery from an earlier exclusive view of his own mortality. Like all his writings it combines a willingness to say the unsayable, and an intention to say it colourfully . . . it evokes a character of fearless intelligence, determined to find out everything for himself, and happy to tweak sensibilities along the way' -- David Horspool * TLS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA bravely honest and brilliantly comic account of how one mother gave up drinking and started living. This is Bridget Jones Dries Out.Clare Pooley is a Cambridge graduate and was a Managing Partner at one of the world''s biggest advertising agencies, and yet by eighteen months ago she''d become an overweight, depressed, middle-aged mother of three who was drinking more than a bottle of wine a day, and spending her evenings Googling ''Am I an alcoholic?''In a desperate bid to turn her life around, she quit drinking and started a blog. She called it Mummy Was a Secret Drinker.This book is the story of a year in Clare''s life. A year that started with her quitting booze having been drinking more than a bottle of wine every day. It sees her starting a hugely successful blog, then getting and beating breast cancer. By the end of the year she is booze free and cancer free, two stone lighter and with a life that is so much richer, healthier and more reTrade ReviewBrutally honest and sparkily funny * Sunday Express *The Sober Diaries is a misconception-busting book, which draws on Pooley's extensive research. * Sunday Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo you feel trapped by your addiction to cannabis? Is your motivation and lust for life being sapped by an obsession with your next joint? If so, then this book is for you. Allen Carr''s Easyway method is a global phenomenon - a clinically proven and 100% drug-free treatment for nicotine addiction. This book applies that tried-and-tested method to the problem of marijuana addiction. With clear no-nonsense guidance, this book gives you a structured, easy-to-follow method for getting free from cannabis painlessly and immediately. The ingenious thing about the Easyway method is that it doesn''t rely on willpower. Instead it works by unravelling the cognitive brainwashing behind your addiction. This means that you will not only be set free from your cannabis addiction but you will also find it easy and even enjoyable to quit: • Without using willpower, aids, substitutes, or gimmicks • Without envying partners, friends or colleagues who use ca

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere Is No Wall is ultrarunner Allie Bailey’s brutally honest and sometimes shocking account of alcoholism, depression and severe mental breakdowns which almost cost her her life. Told with disarming vulnerability, heartbreaking depth of feeling and dark humour, this isn’t a story about how running saved her – she was already running and at the height of her struggles sometimes even winning 100-mile-plus races. But somewhere between the darkest excesses of the music industry and the simple beauty of the ultrarunning scene, Allie found space to listen, learn and put into practice techniques that would go on to save her life and change it for the better. There Is No Wall is a story about how doing something you love can lead you to achieve things you never thought possible. Running won’t save you, but it might buy you the time to save yourself.Table of Contents Introduction: The stories we believe are the ones we tell ourselves the most PART ONE: THE AWAKENINGS Blog One: A prologue to madness (2017) I: How the fuck did this happen? II: You are so lucky III: Running won’t save you PART TWO: THE RECKONINGS Blog Two: Down and out in Paris (and London) (2017) I: Well, that escalated quickly II: Love is a four-letter word III: There is a rock bottom PART THREE: THE REALISINGS Blog three: I wanted to be invisible. At my lowest I just wanted to be dead (2021) I. Take the pieces and build them skywards II. Mind the gap, please. III. Dear Reader (protect your magic) EPILOGUE Blog Four: Until you’re broken, you don’t know what you’re made of. Taking the ride of my life on the Wild Horse 200 (2023)

Read more less

Book SynopsisA POETRY BOOK SOCIETY RECOMMENDATIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE FELIX DENNIS PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST COLLECTION 2018I could not be held responsiblefor desirehe could not be held at allTracking the joys and pains of the path through addiction, and wrestling with desire, inheritance and faith, Calling a Wolf a Wolf is the darkly sumptuous debut from award-winning poet Kaveh Akbar. These are powerful, intimate poems of thirst: for alcohol, for other bodies, for knowledge and for life.''The struggle from late youth on, with and without God, agony, narcotics and love, is a torment rarely recorded with such sustained eloquence and passion as you will find in this collection''FANNY HOWE''Compelling . . . strange . . . always beautiful'' ROXANE GAY, AUTHOR OF BAD FEMINIST AND HUNGER''Truly brilliant''JOHN GREEN, AUTHOR OF THE FAULT IN OUR STARS''A breathtaking addition to the canon of addiction literature''PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)

Read more less

Book SynopsisREAD THIS BOOK, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND STOP DRINKING NOW.Allen Carr''s Easyway method has helped millions of people to quit smoking, alcohol and other drugs, as well as to stop gambling, over-eating and getting into debt. It will show you the way to escape from the alcohol trap.With the brilliant illustrations of Bev Aisbett, this handy pocket book is presented in a truly refreshing, accessible, dynamic, funny and enjoyable way.What people say about Allen Carr''s Easyway method:"The Allen Carr program was nothing short of a miracle." Anjelica Huston"It was such a revelation that instantly I was freed from my addiction." Sir Anthony Hopkins"His skill is in removing the psychological dependence." The Sunday Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis*The book that inspired Chrissy Teigen and Sex and The City’s Miranda to quit drinking* _____________ 'An incredible read' - Chrissy Teigen 'Has the power to change your relationship with your entire life' - Glennon Doyle 'This thoughtful, moving book will help a lot of people get to a healthier place' - Johann Hari _____________ We live in a world obsessed with drinking. We drink at work events, lunches, book clubs and weddings. Yet no one ever questions alcohol's ubiquity. In fact, the only thing ever questioned is why people don't drink. It is a qualifier for belonging. As a society, we are obsessed with health and wellness, yet we uphold alcohol as some sort of magic elixir. It is anything but. When Holly Whitaker started to look for a way to recover, the support systems she found for recovery where archaic and patriarchal. Urging drinkers towards a newfound humility is great if you're a man, but if you're a woman and not in a position to renounce privileges you never had, a whole other approach is needed. Honest, witty and trenchant, Quit Like a Woman is at once a ground-breaking look at drinking culture, a call to arms, and a celebration of learning how to claim everything life has to offer.Trade ReviewI've long suspected that Holly Whitaker is a genius. This book is confirmation. It's a brilliantly clever, meticulously researched, fearless, snort-out-loud funny read that grabs you and won't let go. * Catherine Gray *Funny, fast-paced, and bracingly candid … Holly Whitaker is no polished model of self-help evangelism, nor is her memoir-manifesto selling a one-size-fits-all-solution. Her story is a messy human one and all the more convincing that sobriety is a feminist issue -- Melissa FebosAn unflinching examination of how our drinking culture hurts women and a gorgeous memoir of how one woman healed herself. Quit Like a Woman will change your relationship with alcohol - and it has the power to change your relationship with your entire life. * Glennon Doyle *This thoughtful, moving book will help a lot of people get to a healthier place. * Johann Hari *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the Booker PrizeWinner of 'Book of the Year' at the British Book Awards A BBC 'Big Jubilee Read'A heart-wrenchingly moving novel set in Glasgow during the Thatcher years, Shuggie Bain tells the story of a boy's doomed attempt to save his proud, alcoholic mother from her addiction.'An amazingly intimate, compassionate, gripping portrait of addiction, courage and love.' – The judges of the Booker PrizeIt is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life, dreaming of greater things. But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and as she descends deeper into drink, the children try their best to save her, yet one by one they must abandon her to save themselves.It is her son Shuggie who holds out hope the longest. Shuggie is different, he is clearly no’ right. But Shuggie believes that if he tries his hardest, he can be normal like the other boys and help his mother escape this hopeless place.Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty, the limits of love, and the hollowness of pride. For fans of A Little Life and Angela's Ashes, it is a heartbreaking novel by a brilliant writer with a powerful and important story to tell.'A heartbreaking novel' – The Times'Tender and unsentimental . . . The Billy Elliot-ish character of Shuggie . . . leaps off the page.' – Daily Mail'Douglas Stuart has written a first novel of rare and lasting beauty.' – ObserverTrade ReviewA heartbreaking novel, a book both beautiful and brutal . . . All that grief and sadness and misery has been turned into something tough, tender and beautifully sad. * The Times *Leaves us gutted and marvelling: Life may be short, but it takes forever. * New York Times *I think it’s the best first book I’ve read in many years. -- Karl Ove Knausgård * Guardian *Rarely does a debut novel establish its world with such sure-footedness, and Stuart’s prose is lithe, lyrical and full of revelatory descriptive insights. -- Alex Preston * Observer *An astonishing portrait, drawn from life, of a society left to die . . . Shuggie Bain has been longlisted for the Booker Prize. In a just world, it would win. * Daily Telegraph *Shuggie Bain comes from a deep understanding of the relationship between a child and a substance-abusing parent, showing a world rarely portrayed in literary fiction . . . Admirable and important. -- Sarah Moss * Guardian *This is a dysfunctional love story . . . between a boy and his mother . . . what makes his book a worthy contender for the Booker is his portrayal of their bond, together with all its perpetual damage. * Financial Times *Douglas Stuart’s startling Glasgow-set debut novel creates a world of poverty and suffering offset by pure, heart-filling, love . . . It’s a novel that deserves, and will surely often get, a second reading. -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *Shuggie Bain is a novel that aims for the heart and finds it. -- John Self * The Times *Tender and unsentimental . . . and the Billy Elliot-ish character of Shuggie . . . leaps off the page. * Daily Mail *Beautiful and bleak but with enough warmth and optimism to carry the reader through. -- Graham Norton (via Twitter)A boy's heartbreaking love for his mother . . . as intense and excruciating to read as any novel I have ever held in my hand . . . The book’s evocative power arises out of the author’s talent for conjuring a place, a time, and the texture of emotion . . . brilliantly written. * Newsday *An outstanding book . . . Magnificently done . . . Wonderful. -- Lee Child * Sunday Post *A debut novel that reads like a masterpiece, Shuggie Bain gives voice to the kind of helpless, hopeless love that children can feel toward broken parents. * Washington Post *Rightly being heralded for its visceral, emotionally nuanced portrayal of working class Scottish life and its blazingly intimate exploration of a mother-son relationship. * LitHub *A formidable story, lyrically told, about intimacy, family, and love. -- 12 Best Books of 2020 So Far * ELLE (US) *You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece. -- Kirkus Reviews starred reviewDouglas Stuart writes with startling, searing intimacy. I fell hard for these characters; when they have nothing left, they cling maddeningly—irresistibly—to humor, pride and hope * Chia-Chia Lin *Shuggie Bain is an intimate and frighteningly acute exploration of a mother-son relationship and a masterful portrait of alcoholism in Scottish working class life, rendered with old-school lyrical realism . . . I kept being reminded of Joyce's Dubliners. -- Sandra Newman, author of The HeavensThere’s no way to fake the life experience that forms the bedrock of Douglas Stuart’s wonderful Shuggie Bain. No way to fake the talent either. Shuggie will knock you sideways * Richard Russo *A dark shining work. Raw, formidable, bursting with tenderness and frailty. The effect is remarkable, it will make you cry. -- Karl Geary, author of Montpelier ParadeEvery now and then a novel comes along that feels necessary and inevitable. I’ll never forget Shuggie and Agnes or the incredibly detailed Glasgow they inhabit. This is the rare contemporary novel that reads like an instant classic. I’ll be thinking and talking about Shuggie Bain - and teaching it - for quite some time. -- Garrard Conley, New York Times-bestselling author of Boy ErasedGlasgow, Scotland, in the 1980s is the backdrop for this story of the fraught bond between a young boy and his mother. -- ‘The 22 Best Books to Read This Winter’ * Vogue (US) *Compulsively readable… As [the novel] beautifully and shockingly illustrates how Shuggie ends up alone, this novel offers a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Very highly recommended -- Library Journal starred review

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDARK, HONEST, UPLIFTING. THIS IS A SOBRIETY MEMOIR LIKE NO OTHER. >''This is a book that tears down walls.'' Marian Keyes''Bryony Gordon is a terrific, compassionate writer whose razor-sharp honesty slices through every sentence of this compelling memoir.'' Liz Day''Poetic, raw and very important.'' Fearne CottonBryony Gordon is a respected journalist, a number-one bestselling author and an award-winning mental health campaigner. She is also an alcoholic. In Glorious Rock Bottom Bryony opens up about a toxic twenty-year relationship with alcohol and drugs and explains exactly why hitting rock bottom - for her, a traumatic event and the abrupt realisation that she was putting herself in danger, time and again - saved her life. Known for her trademark honesty, Bryony re-lives the darkest and most terrifying moments of her addiction, never shying away from the fact that alcoholism robsTrade ReviewBryony Gordon is a terrific, compassionate writer whose razor-sharp honesty slices through every sentence of this compelling memoir. * Liz Day *Poetic, raw and very important. * Fearne Cotton *It is my favourite of Bryony's books. * Dolly Alderton *This book will make us all kinder, brighter and better. * Daisy Buchanan *This is a book that tears down walls. It will make sobriety attractive and accessible in a way it never has before. * Marian Keyes *Brutally honest * Daily Mail *Gordon's new book is a frank, sometimes wince-inducing and often very funny look at her 20-year relationship with booze. * INews *Bryony Gordon has penned a compelling, candid sobriety memoir * Independent *An unflinching memoir... harrowing but ultimately hopeful, this is essential reading. * Red *[Bryony Gordon] has now charted the whole journey through her through alcoholism and subsequent recovery in her no-holds-barred new book. * Press Association *This very readable book is a crucial reminder that change - of any kind - isn't going to happen with a quick fix but that sometimes it can truly hurt and undo us but that there is a way out of the darkest places. * Stylist *honest and courageous... a message of hope and encouragement to others facing similar battles. * PA *Glorious Rock Bottom tells how bone-suckingly hungry Bryony Gordon is for sobriety, how hard (and expensive) it is to get there, and what a wonderful place it turns out to be. * iNews *Made me laugh, cry and cringe. * The Scots Magazine *Alcohol, drugs and outrageous behaviour. . . This is how bad habits can change your life - and it is a great read * Financial Adviser *

Read more less

Book SynopsisInspiring, timely, and blame free, Sober Curious is both conversation starter and handbook—essential reading that empowers readers to transform their relationship with alcohol, so we can lead our most fulfilling lives. Trade Review“Warrington approaches the world of sobriety from a place of wonder and with a deep yearning for transformation. Her findings are full of solutions and can help the masses re-imagine their relationship with alcohol. Sober Curious is a trove of insights for those seeking a breakup with the bottle!” — Biet Simkin, Spiritual Teacher, Author, and Co-founder of Club SÖDA NYC

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER & A ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022SHORTLISTED FOR THE PENDERYN MUSIC BOOK PRIZE''The story of a band that''s always on the brink: of stardom, of madness, of brilliance, of disgrace'' Miranda Sawyer, Observer''You begin to wonder why more biographies aren''t tackled with such invention'' Record Collector''This book is a rarity'' Mark Lanegan''One of the finest music books in aeons'' Kevin Barry''A bruising, exhilarating read, which captures the nihilistic energy of this strange and brilliant band'' Independent''Destined to become a classic of the genre'' Louder Than War''A fastidious portrait of chaos, displacement and bad acid'' Mojo''Music book of the year? Already? Don''t bet against it'' Crack Magazine''Read it and writhe'' Spider StaceyFrom the mountains of Algeria to the sTrade ReviewThe story of a band that's always on the brink: of stardom, of madness, of brilliance, of disgrace . . . The excess disguises the true heart of Ten Thousand Apologies which is a sort of yearning, a search for enlightenment, a way to live but especially for a home -- Miranda Sawyer * Observer *A jaw-dropping rollercoaster of tragi-comic mishaps and gargantuan drug consumption * Rolling Stone UK *A bruising, exhilarating read, which captures the nihilistic energy of this strange and brilliant band * Independent *A fastidious portrait of chaos, displacement and bad acid * Mojo **** *The tale is told by award-winning writer Adelle Stripe in a striking third-person prose that gives Ten Thousand Apologies a novelistic tone, interspersed with frontman Lias Saoudi's raw, dark, mocking recollections that are also very, very funny at times . . . you begin to wonder why more biographies aren't tackled with such invention . . . There's no great redemption but it offers a quietly triumphant denouement that's more palatable than boring atonement * Record Collector **** *From Algeria to London and everywhere in between, Ten Thousand Apologies makes most books about the artist as a young man, the music biz and being in a band just a little bit pallid. Music book of the year? Already? Don't bet against it * Crack Magazine *Destined to become a classic of the genre * Louder than War *This book is a rarity, the kind I hold near and dear to my heart. The story of The Fat White Family is equal parts high comedy and deep tragedy, just like life itself -- Mark LaneganA unique concoction, full of beautiful lies and ecstatic truths - one of the finest music books in aeons -- Kevin BarryRead it and writhe -- Spider StaceyDestined to become a classic of the genre * Louder than War *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAllen Carr (1934-2006) was a chain-smoker for over 30 years. In 1983, after countless failed attempts to quit, he went from 100 cigarettes a day to zero without suffering withdrawal pangs, without using willpower and without gaining weight. He realised that he had discovered what the world had been waiting for - the Easy Way to Stop Smoking - and embarked on a mission to help cure the world's smokers. Easyway has grown to become a global phenomenon with seminar centres in 150+ cities in more than 50 countries around the world. Allen Carr's Easyway books, online video programmes, and live group seminars have helped an estimated 50 million smokers worldwide. A vast majority of those happy non-smokers became aware of the method as a result of personal recommendation from their friends, family, and colleagues. Allen Carr is now recognised as the world's leading expert on helping smokers to quit and has sold over 16 million books on the topic. His Easyway method has

Read more less

Book Synopsis“The sky was painfully big, but our worlds were small, our lives little. So when we found each other in the muddle of it all, that feeling of belonging was addictive.” Mal, Ama, Lewis and Oskar have grown up together; hedonistically charging through life – and any house party going – in rural Devon. They're railing against the stories that have been written for them as they stand at the precipice of adulthood. But all the space can be suffocating, and it’s tough sometimes – feeling so low in a place so beautiful. The powerful poetics of Malaika Kegode and soaring music of Bristol band Jakabol combine in this autobiographical gig-theatre show directed by Jenny Davies. Genre-defying and emotional, Outlier explores the impact of isolation, addiction and friendship on young people in the often-forgotten places. ★ ★ ★ ★ “the spirit of Kerouac reaches the West Country in superb drama” The Guardian ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Stark, touching, witty… it is nothing short of brilliant” Stage Talk “Outlier is raw, tender and funny but perhaps most of all: timely” Wheelie Stagey “A poetic gem perfect to use as stimulus for those aged 16 and above” Drama & Theatre CAST: 6 (3 female, 3 male) plus chorus

Read more less

Book Synopsis?Sharon Hartley?s down-to-earth attitude, Lancashire positivity and big warm heart always puts a smile on my face and cheer in my soul.? - Ruth Jones, actress, comedian, writer and producerAfter years of drinking too much, too fast and too often, much-loved BBC presenter Sharon Hartley decided that she needed to make some changes, starting with giving up alcohol. People thought she couldn?t do it. You might think that you can?t do it. But Sharon stopped drinking and started living in ways she hadn?t thought possible, and she believes you can too.In The Life-Changing Magic of Quitting Alcohol, Sharon inspires you to challenge the assumption that life is best lived with a glass of wine in hand. With understanding and empathy, she invites you to commit to 100 days without alcohol ? the turning point where many people report feeling generally happier and more resilient as they discover healthier ways to unwind and manage stress.As you embark on your 100 days, Sharon guides you on how to navigate social situations, avoid triggers and find the strength to set out on a life-changing path of exciting self-discovery. Funny, warm and brilliantly down-to-earth, this is the guide you need to take the first step towards finding yourself again.The Life-Changing Magic of Quitting Alcohol is a book for anyone choosing to remove alcohol for any reason and for those simply considering it. Empower yourself to make a change and find hope in the realisation that there is another way."Sharon is an absolute force for sobriety! Her enthusiasm is infectious.? - William Porter, author of Alcohol Explained

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn her keenly observed graphic memoir, Impossible People, celebrated cartoonist Julia Wertz chronicles her haphazard attempts at sobriety and the relentlessly challenging, surprisingly funny, and occasionally absurd cycle of addiction and recovery.Opening at the culmination of a disastrous trip to Puerto Rico, the first page of Impossible People finds Julia standing stupefied in the middle of the jungle beside a rental Jeep she''s just crashed. From this moment, the story flashes back to the beginning of her five-year journey towards sobriety that includes group therapy sessions, relapses, an ill-fated relationship, terrible dates, and an unceremonious eviction from her New York City apartment. Far from the typical addiction narrative that follows an upward trajectory from rock bottom to rehab to recovery, Impossible People portrays the lesser told but more common story: That the road to recover is not always linear. With unflinching honesty, Wert

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Phenomenal woman' The Oprah Magazine'Dazzles you with the amazing change that is possible in one lifetime.' Washington Post-This is the heart-wrenching true story of a girl named Cupcake Brown.Orphan, runaway, addict, all before she was twenty.Trade Review"It dazzles you with the amazing change that is possible in one lifetime. We see a woman learn to build a family from strangers who help her because she is another human being trying to overcome horrendous circumstances. It is a story that is poetic in its simplicity, beautifully stripped to the basics" Washington Post "Extraordinary... An engaging account of a remarkable life filled with pain and wisdom, hope and redemption" San Francisco Chronicle "Her story of survival and triumph is incredible and often rough. Readers who like gritty, urban nonfiction will enjoy this" Booklist "Want to be inspired by a story that's far from run-of-the-mill? Curl up with Cupcake Brown's harrowing, sugar-free memoir..." Marie Claire "Incredibly frank and funny memoir " Closer

Read more less

Book SynopsisJason Vale takes an honest and hard hitting look at people's conceptions of our most widely consumed drug. Jason's major argument is there is no such thing as an 'alcoholic' and that we are conditioned to accept alcohol as a 'normal' substance in today's society despite the fact that it is the major cause of many of today's social problems and a wide range of health issues. This book is much more than a simple eye opener, it will: change the way you see alcohol forever show you how to stop drinking help you enjoy the process and enjoy your life so much more than you do now without having to drink alcohol So open your mind and take a journey with Jason to explore the myths about the most used and accepted drug addiction in the world! Jason Vale is the UK's leading authority on health, addiction, and most importantly juicing and using the power of freshly extracted raw juice from fruit and vegetables to help you live a fitter, vibrant and juicier life! He is the number one best selling author of 7lbs in 7 Days Super Juice Diet.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Students Love to Learn and Teachers Love to TeachIn this revolutionary book, Marshall Rosenberg empowers educators to transform schools into life-serving, learning-rich environments that maximize the potential of each student. Filled with insight, adaptable exercises and role-plays, Life-Enriching Education gives educators practical skills to generate mutually respectful classroom relationships. Discover how our language and organizational structures directly impact student potential, trust, self-esteem and student enjoyment in their learning. Rediscover the joy of teaching in a classroom where each person's needs are respected! Learn Practical Skills to:- Maximize student potential- Strengthen your classroom community- Resolve and prevent conflicts peacefully- Improve the quality of classroom and school relationshipsTrade Review"Offers teachers a proven process and skills for creating a classroom environment in which their students can thrive I highly recommend it." --Dr. Thomas Gordon, author, Parent Effectiveness Training and Teacher Effectiveness TrainingTable of ContentsUnleash the Beast!; The Order of Nine Angles; The Werewolf Order; The Nameless Sodality.

Read more less

Book Synopsis“A brutally honest memoir that socks you in the gut with its candor” (Elton John and David Furnish) about lust, abuse, addiction, stardom, and redemption from Arrow and Teen Wolf actor Colton Haynes.In 2018, Colton Haynes woke up in a hospital. He’d had two seizures, lost vision in one eye, almost ruptured a kidney, and been put on an involuntary psychiatric hold. Not yet thirty, he knew he had to take stock of his life and make some serious changes if he wanted to see his next birthday. As he worked towards sobriety, Haynes allowed himself to become vulnerable for the first time and discovered profound self-awareness. He had millions of social media followers who constantly told him they loved him. But what would they think if they knew his true story? If they knew where he came from and the things he had done? Now, Colton bravely pulls back the curtain on his life and career, revealing the incredible highs and devastating lows. From his unorthodox childhood in a small Kansas town, to coming to terms with his sexuality, he keeps nothing back. By sixteen, he had been signed by the world’s top modeling agency and his face appeared on billboards. But he was still a broke, lonely, confused teenager, surrounded by people telling him he could be a star as long as he never let anyone see his true self. As Colton’s career in television took off, the stress of wearing so many masks and trying to please so many different people turned his use of drugs and alcohol into full-blown addiction. “In searing, honest prose, he tells a coming-of-age story that is utterly his own, yet surprisingly universal” (Bill Clegg, New York Times bestselling author)—of dreams deferred and dreams fulfilled; of a family torn apart and rebuilt; and of a man stepping into the light as no one but himself.Trade Review“Colton Haynes’s memoir is as provocative as it is moving. In searing, honest prose, he tells a coming-of-age story that is utterly his own, yet surprisingly universal.” —Bill Clegg, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man“Miss Memory Lane is a brutally honest memoir that socks you in the gut with its candor. Colton Haynes is a true survivor and shows us how conquering our demons in life is a never-ending journey.” —Elton John and David Furnish“By confronting his own past, Colton Haynes challenges us to reflect upon the brutality seething just under the surface of the Hollywood Dream.” —Saeed Jones, author of How We Fight For Our Lives“Pairing vulnerability with unflinching prose, actor Haynes debuts with a deeply affecting look at his path to self-acceptance….Fans will be left breathless by the grit and courage on display.” —Publishers Weekly“Haynes’s moving, open-hearted, courageous memoir is a complex story of familial losses and the loss of innocence, but it is nevertheless written with great simplicity. Readers will find it hard to resist.” —Library Journal (starred review)“A vulnerable meditation on gender, desire, and fame, compelling and nuanced, a sensitive self-portrait, woven from fragments of his past.” —Buzzfeed“Impossible to put down…This is a gripping memoir, and what shines through is Haynes’ clear-eyed wish to be honest with himself and with his readers about his actions. “ —Amazon Book Review

Read more less

Book Synopsisi newspaper ''What We''re Reading This Week'' December 2017''Elizabeth''s courage in speaking out is moving, and her ability to move others is impressive. This is a story that needs to be told, and needs to be heard.'' - Theresa May, Prime Minister''Elizabeth [is] someone who had the courage to tell her family''s story and to challenge attitudes. Elizabeth has already made a difference and I am sure that all those who read this book will be both challenged and inspired.'' - Chief Constable Sara Thornton, National Police Chiefs'' Council''I cannot praise this book highly enough . . . Born out of personal pain and tragedy, this story will lead you to the birth of DrugFAM . . . It is truly inspiring and wonderful what has been and continues to be achieved through this story.'' - Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham''I would urge all parents, teachers and pupils to read this heart-rendinTrade Reviewthe most frightening, truthful, courageous account of a middle-class family's descent into hell -- Judith Woods * The Daily Telegraph *Not many people have written in quite so much detail of what it is like to experience addicton as the mother of children with severe problems caused by addiction . . . a remarkable story of recovery and progress underpins the update of the book -- Elsa Browne * SMMGP *

Read more less

Book SynopsisExtraordinarily powerful' Emma ThompsonThere are a million love stories, and a million stories of addiction. This one is transcendent.Louisa Young met Robert Lockhart when they were both 17. Their stop-start romance lasted decades, in which time he became a celebrated composer and she, an acclaimed novelist.This is both a compelling portrait of a lifelong love affair, and an incredibly affecting guide to how the partner of a ''charismatic, infuriating, adorable, self-sabotaging' alcoholic can find the strength to survive when the disease rips both their lives apart.Rich and moving and beautifully written' The TimesSpectacular. I can't stop thinking about it' Cathy RentzenbrinkExtraordinarily candid' Evening StandardBeautiful, and heartbreaking, and true' Sam Baker, The PoolMoving, harrowing and tirelessly empathetic' Daily ExpressTrade Review‘Rich and moving and beautifully written’ The Times ‘Bloody hell. It is an extraordinarily powerful and moving work – for all. Especially those of us who know alcoholics who can’t not be that. An achingly beautiful book which I devoured in two sittings. Amazing’ Emma Thompson ‘Spectacular. I can’t stop thinking about it. Louisa Young is a beautiful, beautiful writer and there is great courage and love in the way she addresses her subject. It’s the portrait of a man and his times and his illness told with love but also with an unflinching honesty that feels like a great gift to the reader’Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love ‘Beautiful but, yes, sobering story … it is, at heart, an old-fashioned love’ Daily Mail ‘An extraordinarily candid bereavement memoir… As much as it’s an overwhelming love letter, Young’s book is also a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of alcoholism, not just on an individual’s life, but on everyone else around them’ Evening Standard ‘The most riveting, heartbreaking book I've ever read about addiction, but above all about the nature of love. Already one of my books of the year’ Linda Grant ‘Brave, honest and beautiful’ Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard ‘Louisa Young's memoir of her long, bruising love for musical genius Robert Lockhart is as honest as the morning after and the best account of loving against all sense since Penelope Mortimer’s The Pumpkin Eater’ Patrick Gale ‘I’m still fucking crying. And it’s such a great work of art. I wish I'd read it before I worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor’ Philippa Perry ‘Oh my God, it’s so beautiful, and heartbreaking, and true’Sam Baker, The Pool 'Had me weeping into my pillow… Anyone who has ever loved an addict will recognise most of what she has to say’ iNews ‘An important book, one that demands we rethink a culture of blame around alcoholism … moving, harrowing and tirelessly empathetic’ Daily Express

Read more less

Book SynopsisArguably the most gifted artist of her generation, Amy Winehouse died tragically young, aged just 27. Packed with exclusive material, such as extracts from Amy's teenage diaries, photos and notes, this book offers a new and intimate perspective on the life and death of the phenomenon that is Amy Winehouse.Trade ReviewAn authentic, poignant and gut-wrenchingly sad tale... An insightful, honest and often uplifting account of a life cut tragically short -- Isabelle Broom * Heat *Deeply personal... Insightful, offering rare glimpses behind the maelstrom of Amy's public life -- Charlotte Oliver * Jewish Chronicle *Poignant * The Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a nation where an estimated 25 percent of high-school seniors use illegal substances on a monthly basis, parents are wise to be concerned about setting their children on a drug-free course. While much advice handed out these days focuses on teen behavior and on what to do once drugs have become a problem in the home, Raising Drug-Free Kids takes an innovative approach and focuses instead on preventative measures that can be followed early on in a child''s life. Developmental psychologist and parent educator Aletha Solter provides parents with simple, easy-to use tools to build a solid foundation for children to say no to drugs. Organized by age group, from preschool through young adulthood, the handy 100 tips will show parents how to help their children to: Feel good about themselves without an artificial high. Cope with stress so they won''t turn to drugs to relax. Respect their bodies so they will reject harmful substances. Have close family connections so they won''t feel desperate to belong to a group. Take healthy risks (like outdoor adventures) so they won''t need to take dangerous ones.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK... ESSENTIAL READING FOR PARENTS' Gabby Logan'INCREDIBLY POWERFUL... A MUST-READ' Victoria DerbyshireWhen Dan died, I realised many things. I realised drugs were closer to our door than I'd thought. I realised drugs have become normalised for young people. I realised drugs are more affordable, accessible and available than ever before. And I realised I didn't know enough, and nor did Dan, to navigate the choices and come back alive. When Daniel Spargo-Mabbs was 16, he went to a party and never came home. The party was an illegal rave and Daniel - bright, popular, big-hearted prom king Dan - died from a fatally strong overdose of MDMA.In the seven years since, the range of substances has become wider, the levels of exposure higher, and the threat to young people's physical and mental health from drugs greater than ever before. Despite this, there is almost no guidance for parents to help their children navigate this perilous landscape and to stay safe. To come home at night. To grow up.This book is everything Fiona Spargo-Mabbs wishes she'd known, everything she wishes she'd done, before she lost her son. Because however you parent, and whatever you do, at some point your child is likely to be in a situation where they have to make a decision about drugs. What if that decision is 'yes'? Do they know what the risks are? Do they have strategies they can bring to bear if things go wrong? I Wish I'd Known interweaves the story of one family's terrible loss with calm, measured and practical advice for parents. It explores the risks posed by illegal drugs, and explains the way the adolescent brain makes decisions. There is practical advice for saying safe, information on reducing harm, and 'talking points' for parents and their children to do, talk about, look at, look up or consider.A life lost to drugs is a loss like no other. Throughout the book, Daniel's story - his life, his death and what happened afterwards - not only provides a compelling reminder of the importance of those conversations, but also serves as an unforgettable eulogy to a son, brother, boyfriend and friend whose legacy continues to touch, and perhaps even save, the lives of other young people.Trade ReviewIncredibly powerful and also very practical. Fiona wants to make sure no mum or dad ever has to go through what she went through. This book is a must-read. * Victoria Derbyshire *This is such an important book[...] Fiona has used her devastatingly sad experience with Daniel to help all of us and this book should be essential reading for parents of teenagers. * Gabby Logan *Incredibly powerful. I can't imagine what it must have been like to write [this book]. But in amongst the heart-breaking story, the information, advice and evidence is meticulously researched, and navigates every parent's worst nightmare without scaremongering. Every parent should read this: it's not a frightening message, it's empowering, and a message of hope. * Dr Suzi Gage, psychologist, podcaster and author of 'Say Why to Drugs' *A powerful and important book... Beautifully and poignantly written. I would recommend this book to every parent I know. * Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore *Written with determination, humility and sadness - any parent or carer will be better informed and wiser after reading it. * Professor Dame Carol Black *Fiona's story is heart-breaking, but her honesty and generosity in telling it will undoubtedly prevent other parents from finding themselves in a similar situation. This book is an absolute must for any parent wanting to have a meaningful conversation with their children about drugs. * Alicia Drummond, MBACP Accred., Founder, Teen Tips *A vital book which has the power to prevent tragic drug related deaths among young people. A must read for any parent. * Paul North, Volteface *Dan's beautiful, intelligent, witty, big-hearted character is the golden thread in I Wish I'd Known. There are excellent practical, achievable ideas for parents and professionals; there are also personal testimonies and insights into the legal and medical systems that make for essential reading for anyone concerned about young people's drug use. [From] living through the most painful experience a parent can face, I know I Wish I'd Known will grow many good things from a very bad thing. * Emma Crawshaw, CEO, Crew2000 *Beautifully written... a personal journey through the loss of a son, the book [also] provides a valuable resource of factual detail about drugs and alcohol. A must for parents, those working with young people, and young people themselves. * Betsy Thom, Professor of Health Policy, Middlesex University *Enlightening and informative... A book that educates as much as it moves, it deserves to be read far and wide, by parents and professionals alike. * Dr Ronny Cheung *A testament to parental love, and a resource of tremendous importance for all those who care about young people. * Lady Kate Cayley, Deputy Head of Boarding, Marlborough College *This book is a very significant achievement. * David Mackintosh, Global Public Health Network *An ambitious and important work. Moving, informative, honest and practical. * Dr Eric Carlin, Director, Director of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems *This may be a life-saving book. Deeply personal and moving, yet packed with relatable, practical and expert information and advice, I Wish I'd Known is an invaluable guide for parents in supporting children to make safer choices about drugs and alcohol. Every parent should read it. * Laura Bunt, We Are With You *This book is unique and will transform many of the lives of its readers. * Professor Janusz Jankowski *This book is going to save so many young lives... Thank you, Fiona, for all you are doing to change the course of history * Elizabeth Burton Phillips MBE; Author, Founder of DrugFAM *If there was a national curriculum for parents, this book should be on it. * Stuart George, BBC Radio Stoke *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarc Lewis's relationship with drugs began in a New England boarding school where, as a bullied and homesick fifteen-year-old, he made brief escapes from reality by way of cough medicine, alcohol, and marijuana. In Berkeley, California, in its hippie heyday, he found methamphetamine and LSD and heroin he sniffed nitrous oxide in Malaysia and frequented Calcutta's opium dens. Ultimately, though, his journey took him where it takes most addicts: into a life of desperation, deception, and crime.But unlike most addicts, Lewis recovered to become a developmental psychologist and researcher in neuroscience. In Memoirs of an Addicted Brain , he applies his professional expertise to a study of his former self, using the story of his own journey through addiction to tell the universal story of addictions of every kind.Trade ReviewKirkus "Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict...as [he] unspools one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the particulars of brain activity." Publishers Weekly "Meticulous, evocative... Lewis's unusual blend of scientific expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and allure of addiction." Wall Street Journal "Compelling...for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's...approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now enjoys." Chronicle of Higher Education "He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs." Boston Globe "A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes, it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage experimentation, late-'60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist, able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with metrical rapids of semi-hard science." Guardian "Marc Lewis's brilliant - if not wholly sympathetic - account of his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological determinism on its sleeve ... Lewis has certainly woven his experiences into an unusual and exciting book... (Memoirs of an Addicted Brain) is as strange, immediate and artfully written as any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of having been composed by its subject." The Fix "The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas De Quincey's seminal Confessions of an Opium Eater...[an] electrifying debut." Midwest Book Review "A powerful survey recounting the author's powerful addiction and how he broke an intense hold on drugs... This will appeal to a range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science and health holdings alike."

Read more less

Book SynopsisA lighthearted, cheeky, and judgment-free handbook from sober sexpert Tawny Lara on how to have better sex, better dates, and better partnerships without relying on alcohol! When you re intimidated or overwhelmed, it s easy to turn to alcohol to feel more relaxed and outgoing. But what if you want to cut back or cut out alcohol from your life? What do you do on dates? How do you soothe worries and hang-ups? And how the heck do you get up the nerve to be naked with someone new? In Dry Humping, you will learn how to have better dates, sex, and partnerships with tools like: Booze-free date ideas Scripts for awkward conversations Interviews with experts Thought-provoking prompts Perspectives from a diverse range of regular people And more! You don t need alcohol to have a fun, carefree, fulfilling dating life. Dry Humping offers you the tools to step away from alcohol, for however long you want to, while also having more fun in and out of the bedroom.Trade Review“An insider view on what it means to date and live sober and offers tips for readers struggling with things like body dysmorphia, addiction, and just plain bad dates. Lara’s authentic approach may inspire readers to take action to improve their own lives”—Library Journal“Tawny Lara is the Esther Perel of sober dating. Whether you're cutting back on alcohol or cutting it out entirely, she has all the tips and advice you need to find the relationship and sex life of your dreams. Dry Humping is one of the most empathetic and hilarious books I've read this year.”—Gigi Engle, certified sex educator, psychotherapist, and author of All The F*cking Mistakes“As a therapist specializing in substance use, sex and dating are often the biggest barriers that prevent folks from getting sober or cutting back. Tawny has written THE definitive guide to both. I cannot wait to share this book with clients!”—Amanda E. White, LPC, @therapyforwomen and author of Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating a Sober Life You Love “Dry Humping is an insightful, digestible, and amusing guide to sober dating and sex. Tawny Lara is truly the sober sexpert of this generation. A must-read for anybody who's interested in sober living and relating in this booze-ful world!”—Dr. Tara, world famous sex and relationship coach, tenured professor, author, and tech advisor“We’ve been sold a phony film narrative in every movie since we watched our first teen rom-com in junior high: that liquid courage leads to lifelong romance. Tawny Lara’s Dry Humping expertly explains why that’s a lie and teaches how to reframe drinking in the dating discourse. Dry Humping is an uplifting, down-to-earth, meet-you-where-you’re-at guide guaranteed to change the story of alcohol in your life.”—Ted Mandell, Notre Dame Professor of Drunk on Film: The Psychology of Storytelling with Alcohol and Its Effects on Alcohol Consumption“Dry Humping is an absolute gem. From the title on, I was drawn in by Tawny’s humor, knowledge, and tact with topics like emotional intimacy, sex, and communication. As a person with long-term sobriety and in a long-term committed relationship, I wasn’t expecting to learn much, but I was wrong! This is a must-read for anyone who wants to strengthen their intimate relationships.”—Emily Lynn Paulson, founder of Sober Mom Squad and author of Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing“Tawny Lara is the sober sex guru of our generation...a brilliant example of a sexy sober person living boldly. With this guide, we will know ourselves better and choose better partners because of it. Sober-curious or not, we all need this book."—Paulina Pinsky, co-author of It Doesn't Have to Be Awkward“Dry Humping is the ultimate wingman (or woman! Or person!) for anyone looking to navigate the dating world sober-style. Tawny Lara’s insights and booze-free date ideas will leave you feeling confident and in control of your love life and empowered. Dry Humping is the sober dating bible you never knew you needed. With Tawny Lara’s help, you’ll learn how to charm your way through any awkward situation, no alcohol required.”—Erin Lee Carr, author of All That You Leave Behind: a Memoir“A fresh, enlightening, and inclusive look into sober dating, sex, love, relationships...and everything in between (the sheets)!”—Amanda Kuda, Author of Unbottled Potential: Break Up with Alcohol and Break Through to Your Best Life“Dry Humping is the book I was missing when I first quit drinking. Tawny brings such warmth and relatability to the subject that even the most fearful of sober daters will come out of this read more optimistic. There's a universality to her advice that extends far beyond people who recently quit drinking. I recommend this book to anyone looking to explore dating with fresh eyes.”—Ginny Hogan, author of I'm More Dateable than a Plate of Refried Beans“Dry Humping gives you a roadmap that’s not only inspiring, transformative, humorous, and engaging from the very first page; Tawny gifts you with a manifesto that cuts through the BS and will equip you with practical tools so you can reclaim yourself and your sex life. Count me the heck in!”—Africa Brooke, Consultant, Mentor, Writer

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether you're a diehard drinker or a sometimes sipper, How to Go Alcohol Free is here to help you take control and change to a no-alcohol lifestyle, whether you're looking for a short-term breather or a lifelong change. Drinking is on the decline, with more and more people turning away from, rather than to, the bottle. Public health stats show not only that we are drinking less alcohol and binge-drinking less than 10 years ago, but that completely giving up alcohol, or never drinking it in the first place, are becoming more mainstream, too. Many of the people who cut out drinking talk of the financial and wellbeing benefits, from more savings to better sleep. And with more and more alcohol-free beers and beverages hitting the adult-drinks market, there has never been a better time to give sobriety a go. Packed with simple steps to understanding your alcohol intake and its effects, and offers practical ways to start reducing your units and realizing the benefits, How to Go Alcohol Free highlights the health concerns around alcohol and helps you to navigate sober social situations. This book will help you plan for, switch to and enjoy a life beyond booze.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Understanding alcohol. Your relationship with alcohol. Cutting it out. Seeing the benefits. Making change stick.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'I don't know if I was born with it, caught it or bought it; I just know that, at some point in my life, a line was crossed: I needed a drink to get through life, to calm the nerves and quiet the head, and I became reliant on alcohol to change how I felt.' Sobering is the story of an insecure teenager turned Liverpudlian party girl, schoolteacher turned alcoholic and now recovering alcoholic turned award-winning podcaster. Melissa's story is as dramatic as her unique voice, but her message is universal: mental health issues often drive vulnerable people to addiction and working on mental health and personal development can help recovery. Written with the expert help of rehab and addiction specialists, and with insights from other recovering alcoholics and addicts, Sobering covers everything from denial, isolation and shame to getting help and rebuilding relationships. This is a personal story with a mission: to help anyone worried about their drinking to understand themselves and move forward with wisdom to make that hardest decision of all - to stay sober.Trade Review‘Unique, honest, witty, occasionally shocking, you need this uplifting, amazing book in your life.’ Steve Bland, You, Me and the Big C ǀ ‘Melissa’s unique combination of authenticity, personal experience and humour makes for an incredibly refreshing take on addiction and recovery. A much-needed book that will help individuals to find hope and society to rethink substance misuse.’ Shahroo Izadi, author of The Kindness Method

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is about hope. Over 107,000 fellow Americans died in 2023 from drug overdoses and another 178,000 died from excessive alcohol use. Lethal illicit drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine are showing up on our streets and poisoning our fellow citizens, including those who may not even intend to use these toxic synthetic drugs. Healing a Village details a plan to build recovery capacity within a community to remove barriers and improve access to service for individuals and families seeking help from addiction. The author provides reallife examples of successful community coalitions that have delivered positive outcomes for their communitiesfrom prevention, to harm reduction, to treatment, to recovery support. Lefebvre, the author, shares from his own experiences, When I exited our local hospital following a 4day detox, there were no treatment and recovery resources within my community. I was forced to travel to the west coast for treatment. That is no longer the case in my community today. A case study of the Greater Portsmouth (NH) Recovery Coalition provides a deep dive on each of the elements of a Recovery Ready Community. The author uses personal struggles and successes in building recovery coalitions to validate the book's thesis of hope.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of enigmatic golfer, commentator, and performer David Feherty—one of the most universally beloved figures in the game. John Feinstein, who has spent four decades finding intriguing sports characters and narratives and turning them into classic books, chronicles the life and career of David Feherty. The two have known each other for years, beginning with Feinstein’s work on A Good Walk Spoiled, researched and written at a time when Feherty was an excellent player, who won five times in Europe and was on the '91 Ryder Cup team, but also a functioning alcoholic. In retirement from the game, Feherty has sobered up, while his golf world persona has only grown in stature. Feherty is now a grand ambassador for golf, a man who is feted by US Presidents and respected by every big name in the game.   Feinstein tells hilarious true tales about Feherty’s time in the limelight and interactions with stars such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Payne Stewart, and Seve Ballesteros. He also details Feherty’s struggles with alcoholism, the death of his son who was lost to addiction, and the highs and lows of Feherty’s marriages. Feinstein captures the human being behind the athlete, and his triumphant rebound as a golf commentator after his athletic career fell apart. Feherty is fall-down-funny, self-deprecating, and a lifelong underdog who has thrived as a commentator and television interview host, and most recently as a touring standup comic, using the difficult experiences of his life as a source for humor and understanding, which Feinstein mines with an expert’s touch.

Read more less