The Recovery Book

by Alfred J. Mooney, Howard Eisenberg, Alfred J. Mooney

Announcing a completely revised and updated second edition of The Recovery Book , the bible of addiction recovery. Written for the 23 million Americans struggling with alcohol and drugs, it is “a clear, accurate, and comprehensive resource―for patients, their families, and helping professionals” (Anthony B. Radcliffe, M.D., former president, American Society of Addiction Medicine).

Dr. Al Mooney, who lectures internationally on recovery, writing with medical and health journalists Howard Eisenberg and Catherine Dold, covers all the latest in addiction science and recovery techniques. Extensive research in neuroplasticity, for example, sheds new light on how alcohol and drugs actually alter pathways in the brain―but also how this same process, when trained in recovery, can remold the brain, making sobriety a routine way of life. A new understanding of gender and addiction leads to revised insights, techniques, and new hope for treating women in recovery. The book also covers the latest problems and treatments for prescription drugs (now more pernicious than illegal drugs); up-to-date models for intervention; and more.

But what really sets the book apart is its question-and-answer format―“My wife wants me to go to AA, and I think that’s ridiculous. How can I settle this argument?” “I take a few oxycodone pills each week. They’re prescription, so they must be safe, right?” “I’ve been in this treatment center for nearly a week. I feel great. I’m cured. Why can’t I leave now?” That simple, direct approach makes the daunting journey to sobriety doable.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

597 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1992

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not read this book if you want any kind of evidence-based advice about addiction. The author gives no data, and many of the opinions in the book have been refuted when actual research was done (such as the idea that AA is the only way to recover from addiction, that no one can recover alone, or that forcing people into treatment works). It's pretty much the author totally talking out of his ass. Check out the work of Anne Fletcher instead.

[Rita Slanina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty terrible. Keep in mind, I’m not an alcoholic but I am a loved one of an alcoholic. So, I felt reading it, I could have gained insight on addiction-specific situations. Implement. Or learn to navigate better. Boy, was I wrong. This is a jumbled mess of information that read more like a game of 52-card pickup. I would not recommend. The organization was lacking and all information felt random and lost in translation. There are better books out there than this one.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handy collection of information and strategies for people working on getting into recovery from any kind of addiction, and for their families, friends, and therapists. This would be a good addition to the book collection of any of the above.

[Shalini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mooney's book overarches everything someone would need to know about the basics of recovering from an addiction . While the wording of the book mainly focuses on alcohol , any addiction to any substance can be monitored and resolved through Mooney's organized tips for addiction . I especially liked the tool that Mooney used to decipher where in recovery one is . That tool separates recovery into red , yellow , and green phases ( 22 - 23 ) .

Along with the AA Big Book and MA Life with Hope , this book is an incredible tool to get the minds of addicts centered on a life where recovery is the path . It has been hard for me to overcome my many addictions , and resources such as these help me plan my life in order to receive the promises of sobriety .

[Elizabeth Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very easy to read and has a wealth of knowledge. I am married to a recovering addict and it really had some great information that helped me learn and cope.