Luckily in today’s day and age there are a lot of resources available for those that struggle with addiction issues. There are especially a lot of resources available for those dealing with alcohol addiction.
The stigma of alcoholism is being lessened by movements in social media. Recovering alcoholics are becoming more and more open to admitting they have a problem or that they’ve sought recovery as the picture of what an alcoholic is, is becoming more clear.
Gone are the days when an alcoholic is considered to be a homeless person, living under a bridge drinking liquor out of a paper bag. Those recovering from alcohol are everyday people just like you and I and most importantly they are people that are dearly loved.
Recommended Reading for Recovering Alcoholics and their Loved Ones
These top 10 reads for people in alcohol recovery can help not only the person in recovery but their support system as well.
1. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
The first book recommended to help recovering alcoholics is the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. As the so-called “bible” of 12-step, this book has just about everything alcoholics need to know about recovering from alcoholism and living a happy, joyous and free life.
It includes personal stories from those who have recovered that can help someone who thinks they may have a drinking problem relate. Bill Wilson one of the founders of AA also provides his personal story, and there are sections for the families and the employers of alcoholics.
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Books
Betty Ford is a former First Lady who advocated for treatment of the disease of addiction. Hazelden is Betty Ford’s legacy that has its own online bookstore and offers a variety of books for recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, and their loved ones.
The following books provide insight into the disease of alcoholism and also act as recovery tools.
2. Twenty-Four Hours a Day is a daily meditation book, with a different reading for each day of the year. This book encourages recovering individuals to explore a relationship with a power greater than themselves and to seek a spiritual solution to their issues.
3. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions is known in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous as simply the “12 and 12,” it was written in 1952 after the Big Book was published and goes deeply into each of the twelve steps of AA. There is a chapter on each step and how it relates to everyday life. This book also discusses the twelve traditions of AA, with detail on each one and why it is necessary for recovering alcoholics to practice them in their daily lives.
4. Daily Reflections is another daily meditation book, however it is written for alcoholics by alcoholics that are members of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is often one of the readings done at AA meetings. It also is typically a source for the topic of the meeting.
5. Drop the Rock discusses the principles behind steps 6 and 7. This book is meant to help further the recovery of recovering alcoholics who are actively working the twelve steps of AA with a sponsor.
6. Living Sober is a guide that gives practical advice on how to remain sober in everyday situations and how to handle early sobriety. It’s a must-read for anyone new to abstaining from alcohol.
More Must-Read Books for Recovering Alcoholics and their Support System
Not every book that can help recovering alcoholics contains talk of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are several books that are memoirs of people simply talking about their own personal experience with drinking. These books can help someone who’s struggling with drinking to realize that they are not alone in their struggle.
Must-Reads Specific to Women in Recovery
These next two books are specific to women alcoholics as they are written by women who have experienced their own issues with drinking. Men who have a woman in their life that is suffering from alcoholism may also want to read these books, as it may help to gain a better understanding of what their loved one is going through.
7: A Woman’s Way through the Twelve Steps and is another Hazelden Foundation book. Because the language in the books written by the founders of AA can be off-putting to women since they use the pronoun ‘he’ exclusively this book can be a lifesaver for female recovering alcoholics. This book brings a feminine approach to recovery.
8. Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol by awarding-winning journalist, Ann Dowsett Johnston. This book contains much more than Johnston’s own struggle with alcohol abuse. The author conducts in-depth research and interviews and goes into detail about the rise of binge drinking. She also talks about the long-term effects drinking among women and young girls has on society.
A Book for Anyone that Wants to Learn about Addiction in America
9. Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy by David Sheff. You don’t have to be in recovery yourself to enjoy or learn from this book. It is based on the latest research on addiction from different fields including psychology and neuroscience. Parents who want to prevent or simply understand addiction problems and those who are suffering can learn a lot from this book.
A Book About Purpose
10. The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling by Stephen Cope. Last but certainly not least, this book will help with deeper questions. Knowing your purpose in life is important for anyone but it’s particularly important for those who want to sustain long-term recovery.
If your looking for a life-changer in or outside of recovery than this book is for you!
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