The Harder They Fall: Celebrities Tell Their Real Life Stories of Addiction and Recovery

by Gary Stromberg, Jane Merrill, Lewis H. Lapham (Foreword)

Updated with photos and new interviews. The heady, drug-induced decades of the sixties and seventies provide the backdrop for this all-star account of addiction and recovery. Among the celebrities interviewed by Gary Stromberg for The Harder They Fall are comedian Richard Lewis; musicians Alice Cooper, Grace Slick, Dr. John, and Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night); actors Malcolm McDowell and Mariette Hartley; Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Franz Wright; writer Anne Lamott; and athletes Doc Ellis and Gerry Cooney. The good news? All are recovering and leading lives of extraordinary accomplishment. "My own disease would like to tell you that my 'isms' are now my 'wasims.' But as this book reads, it's an ongoing process that leads to the sweetest spirituality. My hat's off and great kudos to those who share their story like it is for those of us who still need to hear it." -Steven Tyler - Aerosmith "Read this book! Here are the real winners in life. The best and the brightest with devastating illnesses, living clean, sober, confident, happy lives. If you want to know about alcoholism and addiction and how to get "weller than well," read this book." Capt. Ronald E. Smith - Chairman of the Dept. of Psychiatry, National Naval Medical Center and for twelve years the Psychiatric Consultant to the U S Congress "Here are the stories of twenty-one celebrities who had everything until their abusive chemicals showed them that, at the bottom, they had nothing at all. These pioneers in the modern drug abuse epidemic eventually each found their way into recovery, even redemption. These inspiring stories tell of the joy of finding a way of being that is more precious than fame and fortune." Robert L. DuPont, M.D. - White House Drug Czar for President Nixon and Ford (1973 to 1977), author of The Selfish Brain

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Abbi Dion · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There was a problem, though, when I wanted to order one last bottle of wine, and people around me were getting that very nervous, slightly angry look that I became very familiar with." -Anne Lamott

The Franz Wright, Jim Ramstad, Dick Beardsley, Richard Lewis, and Mariette Hartley stories/profiles were AMAZEBALLZ.

[Becky]

Interesting stories.

[K C Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you need to read or want to read about addiction and recovery, I recommend this book. Not all excerpts are compelling, but most are worth your time. Consider this one informative and, at times, inspiring.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Famous people are addicts too.

[Elyse C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful - save your money and time... this is 2012 - no interest in the 60's & 70's - Really!

[Bonni Sweet]

It was OK

[Sue Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about celebrities, their stories and their road to recovery.

[Nick Kauffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great example of why not to do drugs. The book tells the stories of celebrities drug addictions and their recovery. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars