Books - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

minnie · 06-06-2007, 02:45 PM

Reading has always been a key part of my life and my love of books has come into its own in recovery. Thought it would be good to share those that have helped us.

Here's mine, for starters:

Co-Dependent No More - Melodie Beattie - of course!

Language of Letting Go - same author - truly saved my sanity by breaking the message into bite sized pieces.

I'm OK - You're OK - Thomas Harris - an oldie, but a goodie

They F*ck you Up - Oliver James - illuminating

Man's Search for Meaning - Victor Frankl - inspirational

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd - heart-warming

Counselling for Toads - can't remember - fascinating and revelatory, particularly if you have never come across Transactional Analysis before.

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey - controversial, but a great insight nontheless.

I have tons more, but I am sitting on my front step, so no access to my bookcase. I'll be back, though.

Any more for any more?

Emimily · 06-06-2007, 02:55 PM

The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

minnie · 06-06-2007, 03:00 PM

Great call on Pema Chodron! I have been listening to her audio stuff. Her explanations os "Shenpa" have helped me enormously.

I forgot some obvious beauties:

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey - loads of recovery in there.

Feal the Fear and Do It Anyway - Susan Jeffers - my first self-help book. A triumph.

Being Yourself - Carl Rogers - again, been listening to the audio book. A hero.

Dr Phil McGraw - Life Strategies - Love him or loathe him, his chapter on forgiveness is a keeper.

Cynay · 06-06-2007, 03:02 PM

There is a great list up in the stickies too...

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...book-club.html

TexasGirl · 06-06-2007, 03:02 PM

The Road Less Traveled -- M. Scott Peck

minnie · 06-06-2007, 03:10 PM

Soz - Cynay. Should this be added onto the sticky? (They need a bit of TLC, to be fair)

Road Less Travelled - the chapter on Dependency changed my life. And that is not an exaggeration.

LaTeeDa · 06-06-2007, 03:17 PM

Absolutely LOVE the Road Less Traveled!

The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

L

minnie · 06-06-2007, 03:21 PM

Why Men Love B!tches - Sherry Argov

LTD - Tolle is great. Due a re-read this sunny weekend.

dgillz · 06-06-2007, 03:27 PM

I also have read a ton of recovery and self help books, but after awhile I just got back to reading, period.

Here are a few books I have read recently that have nothing to do with recovery by their titles and content, but have everything to do with this alcoholic's recovery:

The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
Dune - Frank Herbert
Stormbringer - Michael Moorcock
Drive - Larry Bird
The Valley of the Horses - Jean Auel
The Mammoth Hunters - Jean Auel
Illusions - Richard Bach
The Bridge Across Forever - Richard Bach
My American Journey - Gen. Colin Powell
House Atreides - Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson
Eon - Greg Bear

I could go on and on.....

Any good book is worth a lot, especially when we stay sober enjoying it!

minnie · 06-06-2007, 03:57 PM

Me too, dg. Seems I find a nugget of recovery everywhere, though.

Just finished We Must Talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver - mindblowing. If you read it, stick with it, it gets better.

Just started - Rabbit at Rest - John Updike. Love it - he paints such a picture. And yes, there's a not so hidden recovery theme, although I didn't know that when my dad gave it to me.

GlassPrisoner · 06-06-2007, 04:39 PM

Non-Fiction/AA-Literature

Beyond the Influence
The Big Book of AA
12 Steps & 12 Traditions
The Big Big Book

A New Pair of Glasses
Living Sober

Ficton - But still good & addiction related

A Million Little Pieces (And My Friend Leonard)
Requiem for a Dream (not for the faint of heart)

Funny thing is, I can't pick up a book anymore without seeing some sort of "program" (AA) in it.....

Pick-a-name · 06-06-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassPrisoner

Requiem for a Dream (not for the faint of heart)

Never saw the book but the movie is a favorite at our house. Usually, the book is better than the movie,so I'm going to search for this! Thanks.

**DesertEyes** · 06-06-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minnie

... Should this be added onto the sticky? (They need a bit of TLC, to be fair)....

Done stickied. Suggestions for sticky maintenance always welcomed

Mike

duet_4-8 · 06-06-2007, 08:33 PM

'Boundaries' by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

'Breaking Free' (Bible Study) by Beth Moore

'Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men' by Lundy Bancroft (This one was a real eye-opener!)

06-06-2007, 02:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
minnie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,410	Books Reading has always been a key part of my life and my love of books has come into its own in recovery. Thought it would be good to share those that have helped us. Here's mine, for starters: Co-Dependent No More - Melodie Beattie - of course! Language of Letting Go - same author - truly saved my sanity by breaking the message into bite sized pieces. I'm OK - You're OK - Thomas Harris - an oldie, but a goodie They F*ck you Up - Oliver James - illuminating Man's Search for Meaning - Victor Frankl - inspirational The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd - heart-warming Counselling for Toads - can't remember - fascinating and revelatory, particularly if you have never come across Transactional Analysis before. A Million Little Pieces - James Frey - controversial, but a great insight nontheless. I have tons more, but I am sitting on my front step, so no access to my bookcase. I'll be back, though. Any more for any more?

06-06-2007, 02:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emimily Silly Rabbit 2D Memory Champion! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 957 Blog Entries: 6	The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh __________________ "To take for permanent That which is only transitory Is like the delusion of a madman." -Kalu Rinpoche

06-06-2007, 03:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cynay Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,836	There is a great list up in the stickies too... http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...book-club.html __________________ Cynay "Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." Harvey Fierstein

06-06-2007, 03:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
TexasGirl Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 782	The Road Less Traveled -- M. Scott Peck __________________ Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor. ~Dr. Alexis Carrel There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~AnaÃ¯s Nin

06-06-2007, 03:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
LaTeeDa Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: behind the viewfinder... Posts: 5,359	Absolutely LOVE the Road Less Traveled! The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle L __________________ The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.--Henry David Thoreau I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.--Katharine Hepburn

06-06-2007, 03:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
minnie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,410	Great call on Pema Chodron! I have been listening to her audio stuff. Her explanations os "Shenpa" have helped me enormously. I forgot some obvious beauties: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey - loads of recovery in there. Feal the Fear and Do It Anyway - Susan Jeffers - my first self-help book. A triumph. Being Yourself - Carl Rogers - again, been listening to the audio book. A hero. Dr Phil McGraw - Life Strategies - Love him or loathe him, his chapter on forgiveness is a keeper.

06-06-2007, 03:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
minnie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,410	Soz - Cynay. Should this be added onto the sticky? (They need a bit of TLC, to be fair) Road Less Travelled - the chapter on Dependency changed my life. And that is not an exaggeration.

06-06-2007, 03:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
minnie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,410	Why Men Love B!tches - Sherry Argov LTD - Tolle is great. Due a re-read this sunny weekend.

06-06-2007, 03:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
dgillz Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 3,457	I also have read a ton of recovery and self help books, but after awhile I just got back to reading, period. Here are a few books I have read recently that have nothing to do with recovery by their titles and content, but have everything to do with this alcoholic's recovery: The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren Dune - Frank Herbert Stormbringer - Michael Moorcock Drive - Larry Bird The Valley of the Horses - Jean Auel The Mammoth Hunters - Jean Auel Illusions - Richard Bach The Bridge Across Forever - Richard Bach My American Journey - Gen. Colin Powell House Atreides - Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson Eon - Greg Bear I could go on and on..... Any good book is worth a lot, especially when we stay sober enjoying it! __________________ He should be fine...if he survives the detox process that is..... Any quotes from the big book of AA are from the first edition, or are otherwise exempt from copyright infringement under the "fair use doctrine".

06-06-2007, 03:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
minnie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,410	Me too, dg. Seems I find a nugget of recovery everywhere, though. Just finished We Must Talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver - mindblowing. If you read it, stick with it, it gets better. Just started - Rabbit at Rest - John Updike. Love it - he paints such a picture. And yes, there's a not so hidden recovery theme, although I didn't know that when my dad gave it to me.

06-06-2007, 04:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
GlassPrisoner Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Murrieta, Ca Posts: 2,683	Non-Fiction/AA-Literature Beyond the Influence The Big Book of AA 12 Steps & 12 Traditions The Big Big Book A New Pair of Glasses Living Sober Ficton - But still good & addiction related A Million Little Pieces (And My Friend Leonard) Requiem for a Dream (not for the faint of heart) Funny thing is, I can't pick up a book anymore without seeing some sort of "program" (AA) in it..... __________________ Life Happens

06-06-2007, 08:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
duet_4-8 A work in progress.... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FREE!!!! Somewhere in the Tennessee Mountains Posts: 1,016	'Boundaries' by Henry Cloud and John Townsend 'Breaking Free' (Bible Study) by Beth Moore 'Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men' by Lundy Bancroft (This one was a real eye-opener!) __________________ Jen "The journey between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place."-Barbara Deangelis

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