America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life

by Benoit Denizet-Lewis

America Anonymous is the unforgettable story of eight men and women from around the country -- including a grandmother, a college student, a bodybuilder, and a housewife -- struggling with addictions. For nearly three years, acclaimed journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis immersed himself in their lives as they battled drug and alcohol abuse, overeating, and compulsive gambling and sexuality. Alternating with their stories is Denizet-Lewis's candid account of his own recovery from sexual addiction and his compelling examination of our culture of addiction, where we obsessively search for new and innovative ways to escape the reality of the present moment and make ourselves feel "better." Addiction is arguably this country's biggest public-health crisis, triggering and exacerbating many of our most pressing social problems (crime, poverty, skyrocketing health-care costs, and childhood abuse and neglect). Through the riveting stories of Americans in various stages of recovery and relapse, Deni

Genres: Nonfiction, Addiction, Psychology, Memoir, Audiobook, Sociology, Mental Health

342 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Benoit Denizet-Lewis is an associate professor at Emerson College and a longtime contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. He has written three previous books, including America Anonymous and the New York Times bestseller Travels With Casey. His new book, You've Changed: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation, comes out in April 2026. A New America Fellow and NEH Public Scholar, he divides his time between Boston and Prague.

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but unfocussed. The author's own addiction, discussed at the beginning and the end, could have been more a part of this work and provided continuity. For example, at the end he says some of the addicts expressed concern about him; but we do not see this in the chapters. Surely these interactions, as they unfolded, were relevant.

The author is there, asking questions, but otherwise seemingly uninvolved. Some parts of this book I really enjoyed (shoplifting, and the discussions around sexual addiction — an almost taboo topic in the gay community) but other parts (primarily journal entries shared by the addicts) were virtually unreadable.

All in all, an earnest and honest effort at tackling a vastly important topic.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because obviously I'm going through a phase of loving books about addiction, I kept the theme going with this one! I was excited to read this one because I knew it would spotlight a whole bunch of different addictions, not just drugs and alcohol. This book covered overeating, steroids, shoplifting, and sex addiction, as well as alcohol and drugs. It was very interesting to follow the lives of these 8 people who's addictions have taken over their lives. It was very sad because he followed them for years, and because of how addiction works, of course they people relapsed a few times during the time he was interviewing them and watching their lives.

What I think separates this book from other addiction books is it does talk about such a wide range of addictions, AND it was written by a sex addict himself. In the conclusion, he even discusses how he felt like a hypocrite because how can he be telling these other people they need to get their life together when he himself couldn't stop watching porn/seeing escorts? But he really talks more about that, and I think it was great that he dove into other's addictions to help him see his clearer and get more of an understanding of how addiction works all over America.

[Emily Hewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book and thought I would find it interesting but it dragged on so much. I thought it would be like Dopesick, but it discusses all sorts of addictions that people suffer from in America (alcohol, sex, gambling, shoplifting, etc.) I really didn’t like how much it jumped back and forth between people and it didn’t really feel like there was much of a plot. It also felt a bit outdated since it was published in 2009.

[Aaron Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows the lives of 8 recovering addicts (9 of you count the author). At times it is heart wrenching; at times, humorous. Follow these people on journeys through their sobriety as they experience success and relapses alike.

Denizet-Lewis dives into various addictions, getting up close an intimate with sufferers of anything from alcoholism and meth addiction, to shoplifting and sex addictions.

This book is packed with information relating to the research and better understanding of addictions, the root causes, and the eventual effects of living with them.

[Sofie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really hoped I would like this book but I didn't. I found the book boring because it dragged on like forever.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

America Anonymous is riveting. No wonder even Kirkus gave it a starred review. i couldn't put it down. Benoit Denizet-Lewis, who often writes cover stories about sexuality, identity, pop culture for the NY Times magazine, has not only written a page-turner, he's written a powerful, lucid and important book. Benoit comes out as a sex addict, which frames his journey with eight other addicts whom he follows over a one-two-year period. These addicts range widely, from a former crackhead grandma to a young depressed gay male sex addict to a female DJ overeater to a shoplifting mom to a former raging drug addict who now runs recovery centers. And more. Every single character is colorful, full of life, leaps off the page. Benoit's interactions with them are gracefully told, honest, beautifully drawn and written, humane. I believe this book is crucial for the ongoing dialogue about substance and process abuse, including the roots of the abuse, the different forms the depedency takes, the possible solutions. America Anonymous makes a stunning case for our country as one struggling mightily with addiction in a myriad of ways. This book is a wake-up call, and a brilliant work of journalism.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benoit Denizet-Lewis, himself an addict, follows the lives of eight addicts who are in different stages of recovery from various addictions -- the usual ones like alcohol, meth, and food, and some more unusual and controversial ones, like shoplifting and sex (Denizet-Lewis himself is addicted to the last one).

Denizet-Lewis strikes a good balance between journalistic distance on the one hand and sympathy for his subjects on the other. He has a nice touch, managing to portray his subjects as authentic and flawed but never letting them become irritating. And he accomplishes the difficult authorial task of making himself part of the action without either seeming to feel sorry for himself or getting too self-involved. Definitely worth reading if you're interested in the phenomenon of addiction.

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although interesting to see the different faces of addiction I think 8.5 characters (I'm semi-counting the author) was hard to follow. Or the format of the book, the jumping from one character to another without a seemingly transition, made it hard for me to really get what was going on with each person. I would have liked it if the author had given himself and his experiences a section in the book too. I kind of think its a cop out when he plugs in revealing information about himself here and there. Other than that the book really had me thinking about what is addiction and how do we treat/manage it?

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best things I have ever read on the addicted life--by one of my favorite young journalists. He picked 12 very interesting addicts to follow for a couple years--and he includes just enough about his own sex addiction to show you his bias, without it feeling self-indulgent and weird. The book also taught me how clueless I was about the ideology and effectiveness of 12 step programs.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life by journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis delves into the lives of eight people struggling with addiction and recovery in the United States. These diverse individuals face both substance abuse and process addictions through various levels of treatment, most of it based around the 12-steps originating in Alcoholics Anonymous. As a thorough account of addiction, the book has some uses in a social work context even though its focus on the treatment world and those highly engaged in 12-step meetings does not cover the entire breadth of those with addiction or in recovery. The author is particularly bold in his unapologetic incorporation of process addiction such as sex addiction, overeating, and shoplifting with substance use addictions such as heroin, crack, alcohol, and methamphetamine.

The unique knowledge I gained from this book mostly centered around the focus on process addictions. Through the hospital and some of my own readings I have learned a lot more about substance use, but this was the first time that I read in depth about the experiences of those with overeating, sex addiction, and shoplifting. Ellen, who struggled with overeating, started out going to overeaters anonymous and then left that group to go to the more restrictive Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous. I was previously unaware that there were different groups in disagreement regarding diet restrictions, and it surprised me that Ellen found freedom in calling everyday to have her diet approved. Sean, who struggled with Sex-Addiction, went through an inpatient rehab and then lived at a halfway house. The struggles both he and the author faced maintaining an internet- free lifestyle to avoid temptation highlighted the particularities of sex addiction. Kate, who struggled with shoplifting, exemplified the pervasiveness of her problem on her everyday life through her temptation to shoplift running errands. She also most exemplified the shame and stigma of these process addictions in that she did not tell her husband even though she was apprehended by law enforcement. The anguish that they all felt upon relapse and how their behaviors consumed their lives demonstrated the appropriateness of treatment even though the DSM-V does not recognize these as diagnosable conditions.

In the introduction the author supports the notion of a syndrome model of addiction that includes process addictions. He writes:

By studying the brain’s reward and pleasure systems, researchers - many of whom used to dismiss an expanded understanding of addiction as just another example of this country’s addiction to calling everything an addiction - are discovering that drugs and behaviors like gambling, sex, and overeating affect the brain in some similar ways as drugs. (Denizet-Lewis, 2009, pg. 8)

There is scientific literature that supports similar effects on the brain with process and substance use. A meta-analysis found that in brain scan studies of inhibitory control behavioral addicts demonstrated similarities to those with substance use, although due to the few amount of studies it still remains inconclusive (Hester et al., 2014). Obese individuals and those with chronic substance use were both found to have decreased dopamine receptors compared to controls, which is thought to lead to overuse to reach normal levels of stimulation (Barry, Clarke, and Petry, 2009). Although the author did not go into any depth specifically about these brain similarities, it is supported by the scant available scientific literature.

One of the authors' assertions not completely supported by literature regards the susceptibility of those with addictions or in recovery to replace their addictions. He writes:

There is ample anecdotal evidence for this. Many addicts are hooked on more than one things, and many will switch addictions if they give one up – witness the scene outside some Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, where recovering alcoholics clutch a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. (Denizet-Lewis, 2009, p. 8).

The author later describes gastric-bypass patients (who presumably have food addiction) developing substance use disorders as evidence of this phenomenon (Denizet-Lewis, 2009, p. 129). Although a study has shown risk of developing substance use disorder following gastric bypass to be supported (Mitchell et al., 2014;2015), the overall generalization is not necessarily true. A recent study looking at data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions found that those in remission from a substance use disorder were actually less likely to develop a new onset substance use disorder compared to those who do not remit (Blanco, Okuda, Wang, Liu, & Olfson, 2014). The “anecdotal evidence’ that the author alludes to does not completely hold up.

This broad generalization and general lack of nuance regarding addiction limit the book’s educational prospects. However, I would use this book in a clinical setting under certain circumstances. This book would be appropriate in a treatment facility or group committed to a twelve-step modality as the majority of those profiled in this book rely on this framework for their treatment and recovery. The stories of the overeater Ellen and the alcoholic Marvin portray their embracement of ‘working the steps’, while sex-addict Sean feels a strong sense of fellowship with his group which led him to move back to Boston. I could also see its use in a rural area or treatment center where there are people with several different addictions participating in the same treatment groups. The focus on the common shared experience of those with substance based addictions and process based addictions could facilitate group cohesiveness. Lastly, if I were working with a client individually who had social anxiety or was disinterested in participating in groups, this book could reduce stigma and normalize the patient’s experience through reading about these other individuals.

My hesitation around using the book in a treatment environment or with treatment providers concerns Jody, the substance abuse counselor. Through his recovery he became a successful figure in the inpatient drug and alcohol rehab industry in Florida. In his introductory chapter, the author recounts an interaction between himself and a mentee who is described as having difficulty staying clean. Their interaction is antithetical to the intervention that would be called for in this scenario, motivational interviewing, in that he ends the phone call with her since she is “not ready to change” (Denizet-Lewis, 2009, p. 50). Since interacting with clients in this manner is not in accordance with motivational interviewing, I think it would be problematic to introduce clients or other practitioners to this treatment provider as any kind of endorsement of his behavior. The author did not explain why this interaction could be counterproductive and portrays him throughout the book overall as insightful. If this book were to be used as continuing education, it would have to be in conjunction with other literature so that it can be viewed in a proper context that problematizes some of its depictions and statements.

America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life is a book written by a journalist in recovery from sex addiction with strong ties to the 12-step model. As a social worker, I champion this work through its voice as an identified person in recovery sharing his and others’ struggles in an effort to provide understanding and reduce stigma. However, through my studies in this class and work with clients I know that the experiences of these individuals do not necessarily represent a typical client. Three of the people profiled managed to get into treatment through rare circumstances such as Sean having a wealthy fellow recovering sex addict pay for his stay, Bobby have a family connection to treatment centers, and Janice participating in a rare state program that funded a lengthy inpatient treatment instead of jailtime. Since the book prioritizes the 12-step model and alcoholics anonymous type free meetings, it does not go to lengths to show the dearth of treatment centers and difficulty in getting a client into treatment. It also does not shed light on those who social workers and 12-steppers might overlook such as the large percentage of those in recovery who quit on their own without the use of meetings or treatment (Slutske, 2006; Stea, Yakovenko, & Hodgins, 2015). Media regarding addiction can be reductive and simplify the complexity surrounding the issue (Dingel, Ostergren, McCormick, Hammer, & Koenig, 2015;2014;). The author should be commended for chronicling diverse individuals with varying addictions and providing an outlet for their story. However, it should be viewed as just one contribution with a particular perspective as part of the larger discourse on addiction if utilized in a social work context with clients or treatment providers.

References

Barry, D., Clarke, M., & Petry, N. M. (2009). Obesity and its relationship to addictions: Is overeating a form of addictive behavior? American Journal on Addictions, 18(6), 439-451.

Blanco, C., Okuda, M., Wang, S., Liu, S., & Olfson, M. (2014). Testing the drug substitution switching-addictions hypothesis: A prospective study in a nationally representative sample. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(11), 1246-1253.

Denizet-Lewis, B. (2010). America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life. New York. Simon & Schuster.

Dingel, M. J., Ostergren, J., McCormick, J. B., Hammer, R., & Koenig, B. A. (2015;2014;). The media and behavioral genetics: Alternatives coexisting with addiction genetics. Science, Technology & Human Values, 40(4), 459-486.

Hester, R., Haan, L. d., Veltman, D. J., Machielsen, M. W. J., Franken, I. H. A., & Luijten, M. (2014). Systematic review of ERP and fMRI studies investigating inhibitory control and error processing in people with substance dependence and behavioural addictions. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 39(3), 149-169

Mitchell, J. E., Steffen, K., Engel, S., King, W. C., Chen, J., Winters, K.. . Elder, K. (2015;2014;). Addictive disorders after roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases : Official Journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 11(4), 897-905.

Slutske, W. S. (2006). Natural recovery and treatment-seeking in pathological gambling: Results of two U.S. national surveys. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(2), 297-302.

Stea, J. N., Yakovenko, I., & Hodgins, D. C. (2015). Recovery from cannabis use disorders: Abstinence versus moderation and treatment-assisted recovery versus natural recovery. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors : Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors, 29(3), 522-531.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alternately shocking, depressing, and inspiring, I really appreciated how the author inserts his own story of addition into the personal tales of woe he reveals. And what stories they are - wow! I also liked how he left room for occasional expert testimony that is woven in effectively between the addicts' misadventures. He manages to quote some of the best writers and doctors and scientists in the field of addiction, and he touches on addictions not even wholly covered by the representative addicts, like gambling. I could definitely relate to to challenges of some of these addicts, but the ones that I couldn't understand at all were the most shocking and engaging stories. The guy who keeps injecting himself with steroids (sometimes with his wife) to get bigger and bigger and then go out male escorting, or the woman who can't stop shoplifting things she doesn't even need and could totally afford: somehow these are harder to grasp than the junkie endlessly getting high and caught in a cycle of recovery and relapse. I challenge anyone to walk away from these stories and scientific evidence without thinking that Addiction really is a cunning and baffling disease that short-circuits its victims' very ability to choose...but even that notion is challenged here. The cautious optimism of the occasionally hopeful conclusions are inspiring, yes - but they are also nerve wracking and tenuous. Relapse is a bitch - I deeply hope everyone gets what they need on that gentle path towards Recovery.

[Alex Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did anyone else find this book a little misleading? It's supposed to be following eight addicts throughout the country, but it seems like it's more about addiction as a whole and the 12 step program. Denizet-Lewis spends just as much time discussing addiction and what experts are saying as he does with the people he's following.

I kind of expected a close look at the lives of the eight individuals, but it feels more like he checks in with them every six months and writes an update. I never felt like I got to know them or their lives or their addiction. And it was pretty telling that he had to start every chapter with their name and addiction to remind you. It was helpful, but I don't want to have to be reminded. I wanted to get to know this people and I didn't at all. There were just too many people and not enough time with any of them.

I honestly felt like the person and addiction I knew best was the author, and at that point I would have rather this just been a memoir. It didn't really work for me the way it was structured.

There were still a lot of interesting aspects. I did like seeing the different paths of their recoveries and relapses, and it was nice to see such a variety of addiction. It's just overall, it was kind of meh and didn't do much for me.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about addiction. Lewis follows eight addicts through their day to day routine and writes about their background and current situation in narrative format. It was an enjoyable read and provides fantastic insight to how an addict struggles and acts out on their addiction of choice. The author himself is an addict so his viewpoint reflects that. It's interesting to see the things people struggle with and how they do it. This was required reading for me in one of my college classes, but I would recommend this book highly to anyone who has had to deal with addiction either personally or with people they know.

[Lmcelebre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me; it was so much better than I thought it would be. I love the historical perspective of addiction and the many forays into treatment, which is seamlessly woven into the stories of the addicts this book follows. I love that the author is in recovery. I love that he asks difficult questions and doesn't purport to know the answers. I enjoy the author's nonjudgmental, yet wise and insightful voice. And I really love the note of hope this books ends on.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed following along with each person’s stories, however, echo a lot of the other criticism. I think the book would’ve been much more impactful if it followed 4-5 people on their journey to recovery. As a social worker, I also didn’t like some of the language used but am aware that the author is writing from his own voice/view on addiction. I think this book does a great job of showing how complex and difficult addiction is though.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books revealed how the eight addicts had their struggles to seek recovery from the addictions. the problem is the system to keep them to stay addicted. The addictions were not only just being alcoholic, there had many different kinds of addictions such as the drugs, sex, and gamblings. Some of them were in poverty, and some of them were in the comfort zones. This made me interesting how they went through their lives and seeking to get off addictions and back to the normal life.

[Dick Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book did a marvelous overview of the different addicts. The most powerful parts to me were the addict's description of his relapse and the author's own story at the end which I won't divulge. As is implied in the book, there are no easy answers to all of this but that doesn't mean that we just wave our arms and give up. Keep trying and hope.

[Ireka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was alright. I liked the perspective of the different types of additions but I just found it hard to connect with any of the eight individuals the author was following, nor did I find the author that engaging. I just don't think this was for me.

[Martha Crone · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. It definitely kept me reading but I agree with other reviews that it drags. I'm a recovering alcoholic, so I'm very interested in the topic and pretty knowledgeable about the 13 Steps. Not sure this book would have worked for me without that background.

[Leslie Montag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story following the lives of different addicts. Good book but short of 5 stars as I’ve read a few better ones

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and accurate portrait of the multi-faceted complexities of addiction and recovery.

[Jeremy Garces · Rating 4 out of 5]

Land of the enslaved

[Hollyken3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting book! It managed to keep the reality of addiction at the forefront while still maintaining a hopeful yet realistic tone.
Read it for a class, but it was genuinely a good read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. There are a lot of addicts out there of all different types...The author has a great way of interacting with such folks..If there is one criticism it is he injects a little too much of his own story in the book.

[Ruby Stockham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good. I felt very attached to some of the people in this, especially Janice, Jody and Bobby. There’s a fair bit of history in here, and it is striking how some 1800s politicians had a kinder and more pragmatic approach to addiction than we see from governments today. For example, Benjamin Rush appaz said the public would have a hard time accepting resources being spent on “care of a disease induced by a vice” - this definition is at least an attempt to apply an empathetic lens to the problem (contrast with what came after in the US). This was written in 2008, and I’d like to read something similar that covers the progression of the opioid crisis.

I would recommend this, but I am giving it three and a half stars because:

1. Too many verbatim transcriptions of online posts and recovery chats which got v boring towards the end.

2. Various types of addiction are lumped together, without enough attention to the differences between them. In practical terms, being addicted to gambling is very different to being addicted to heroin; withdrawing from crack is not like withdrawing from shoplifting. I don't doubt that the food/shoplifting/ gambling addicts featured in this book share many emotional experiences with the characters addicted to alcohol and drugs, but you can't gloss over the impact of physical dependence. There were a lot of nuances left unexplored.

3. Related - I found it weird how Sean (sex addict) is not allowed to masturbate (considered a relapse). I would have liked more on how sex and food addicts in particular are supposed to navigate a world where abstinence is respectively extreme and impossible. Also the thing about Sean was that he used escorts, got angry at women who wouldn’t have sex with him, and had a troubling attitude to women in general - for the purposes of this book, I’m not judging, but I think these elements of his addiction should have been examined more.

4. The author does a good job of making a life shaped around AA sound pretty bleak. Endless meetings, shelves empty except for The Big Book, unbearable levels of self obsession and introspection- one guys marriage falls apart because his life revolves around AA . I’m not knocking 12 steps but this was not a good advert for it! Was nothing like meetings I have attended. Author made it all sound very joyless, I’m not sure if this was intentional.

[Kev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll add more to this review but here's my quick first impressions. First, full disclosure, I've been reading Benoit since his 'XY' magazine days -- 14 years ago. So, if you're expecting a purely objective, dispassionate nod, move on. I like Benoit. I like how he writes. Most of all I like that he digs deep into his huamnity -- which causes him great discomfort and pain, that too he shares unabashedly -- and connects to people so they opne up and share themselves openly in ways they probably wouldn't for others. Because he's willing to make himself fully vulnerable he gets others to do the same. It's a gift.

Next, he's a damn fine investigative reporter and really THOROUGH. He digs deep and searches with a net cast wide to go beyond the normal milemarkers. So, I can't help but like that. Truly.

Lastly, he's a very good writer. I wish I could write as well as him. Pisses me off a bit, but I have to give him props for being so good. He makes me want to be a better writer.

Unfortunately, I was exactly the kind of person he protrays with respect to the discussion of addiction in whatever form it might manifest at the start of the book's wild ride. He convicted me and I'm happy to embrace my own prejiduces and stereotyping of 'those people' as though I'm not one myself in my own ways if I look penetratingly and honestly. Which he inspired me to do so I might made of myself a better person.

Good job. I say 'Amen.'

The eight storylines and his as well flow with such ease and seemlessness that I didn't find myself gravitating to just one or two above the others, but all eight and his equally. Very effective. You'll like it. And you'll get a concise primer of American history as it relates to addiction, recognition, treatment, recovery, relapse, and redemption. Quite more than you might be expecting, I can guarantee you. Try it on.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In other men we faults can spy, and blame the moat that blinds their eye
each tiny peck and blemish find
to our own greater errors blind (Ben Franklin)

After profiling many different addicts the author uses the last chapter to confess to his own issues. He even confesses to writing about these addicts while actively perusing his own addiction. This very fact really speaks to the power & insanity of addiction. He follows 8 different addicts who suffer from addictions including: food, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, sex, and shop lifting. Each addict he writes about shares openly about how and why they relapse and use their "drug" of choice. They openly share their stories about daily sober living.

It was interesting learning about the similarities between addictions. Although seemingly different each addiction fills a void within each addict. Each addict also shares similar paths toward relapsing. I myself am an alcoholic and before reading this book I felt that no other addiction could hold a candle to the power of my addiction. After learning about how other people deal with their own addictions I now see how each have the same powerlessness in battling them.

I may not be able to drink, but for others their issue may be a different substance but each addiction has the same power to destroy happiness and life manageability. I'm beginning to feel comfortable leaving alcohol out of my life, but it’s nice to know I can still enjoy nearly every other pleasure life has to offer. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see into the lives of different types of addicts while also learning that each of them have the ability to escape their own self imposed prisons.

[Allison Nack]

This is one of the most unusual depictions of addiction that I have ever come across. These eight stories are not memoirs -- they are the collected observations of the author, Benoit Denizet-Lewis,an addict himself. He chose eight people of different ages and different socioeconomic backgrounds with different addictions (crack, alcohol, heroin, sex, food, steroids, meth, and shoplifting), and followed their lives for three years, documenting their histories, their daily lives, their struggles toward recovery, their relapses, their successes, and their failures. The narrative contains conversations that the author has with his subjects, his own opinions about their situations, and his predictions as to whether they will stay sober after he leaves their lives. He in in the unique position of having to immerse himself in their lives as he revisits them frequently, while trying to maintain some degree of objectivity in order to acheive the journalistic style of writing that he is attempting. He is moderately successful in this objective, and very aware that he sometimes misses the mark. He writes about wanting to yell at these people: "Just stop!" yet knowing how impossible that is, based on his own history and current battle to stay sober. In his Afterword, he recounts the concerns of his friends that he is putting himself in danger by keeping company with active addicts, one of whom shares his own addiction (sex and pornography) and also writes about his relapse during the course of compiling information for the book. In some ways, this book is as much about the author as it is about his subjects, and that is not a bad thing at all.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads kind of like an episode of True Life or World of Jenks. Benoit, a sex addict himself, follows eight other addicts for nearly three years (all of them having different types of addiction but similar struggles to get clean), letting them tell their stories from their perspective and showing how their stories turn out.

This book is also an education in the history and statistical side -- successes and failures -- of addiction and rehab in general. I had no idea rehab centers dated back to the 1800s! It was in 1810 that the idea of alcoholism being an illness first started getting passed around medical circles. By the 1840s, doctors and organizations were discussing the development of "sober houses" where alcoholics could safely "dry out". In 1841, the Washington Society of Boston opened the first sober house (precursor to rehab centers of today) in the country. Rooms under the meeting hall were offered to alcoholics who seriously wanted to get back on track.

Very interesting blend of history and seeing the battle of addiction from the mind of the addict, gave it a realness that I really appreciated while not being so clinical that the message might have been lost.

[Blake Donley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An objective yet personal look into the lives of eight addicts in America. I am fairly certain that anyone who ever thought they were addicted to anything from bourbon to boobs to books will see aspects of their behavior and themselves in many of the individuals that come to life within the pages.

As the child of an alcoholic, there is a lot of drab nostalgia to soak up here; there is valuable insight as well. I grew up with a house full of my mother's AA cohorts. They were family to me and my brother just as sure as they were to my mother. They helped raise us, and I'm sure we helped them in ways too subtle for our younger selves to comprehend. This book, rife with group therapy chronicles, sheds a little light on that challenging period of our lives.

Overall, the stark presentation of "a day in the life of an addict" should spark a bit of empathy. Addicts don't need skepticism, revulsion or incarceration—they need our support.