10 Best Books About Addiction and Recovery

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Addiction’s a difficult monster to battle. Practically anything can become an addiction when pushed far enough. Getting addicted is also an insidious process that people only realize when they’re already in the deep end. And because of public stigma, most addicts choose to fight the battle alone.

Recently, more and more people have become outspoken about addiction. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, or any other kind, many have turned to writing as a way to relate their experiences and offer support, guidance, and wisdom.

Top Addiction Books

Whether you’re struggling with an addiction, a family member of an addict, or simply curious about addiction, there is a lot of material out there that you can check out. From first-hand accounts to recovery guides, below are some of the best books about addiction that you can read.

1. Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola

For Sarah Hepola, drinking was freedom. It represented her right as a modern woman. And so, each of her nights was spent partying. But that freedom came with a price in the form of frequent blackouts.

Every morning was spent wondering about what happened the previous night and apologizing for actions she can’t remember. Soon, she has to admit that she’s on a downward spiral. What follows next is a journey to rediscover the person she has drowned in alcohol.

2. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction by Gabor Maté

Doctor Maté believes that at the center of any addiction is a hurt—one that is influenced by a complex mix of personal history and society. And unlike the glib and complex “help” that’s often popularly recommended in curing addiction, he recommends a simpler and much-forgotten way to do so.

He rejects much of the established contemporary health, social, and criminal justice policies toward addiction. Instead, he advocates for a more compassionate process of studying, understanding, and healing a sickness whose victims are only trying to get well the best way they know how.

3. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

When James Frey finally admitted himself into a rehabilitation facility, he has already pushed his body to extreme levels of addiction, so much so that doctors were shocked he was still alive. And while inside the facility, he meets other patients who are just as desperate as he is.

The following detoxification, withdrawal, and recovery become one of his most challenging experiences to date. His refusal to succumb to society’s view of addiction and the camaraderie between him and his fellow recovering addicts become his way out of a desperate past and into a hopeful future.

4. How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell

At 26, Cat Marnell was already a beauty editor in Lucky, one of the biggest fashion magazines in America. But behind the glamorous position is a lonely woman who would absolutely do anything to get some pills, pills, and more pills.

And as she gets higher and higher in the industry, her addiction only gets worse. From chronic partying, food bingeing, and pill consumption, her condition threatens to destroy everything she has worked hard for. This book is a gut-wrenchingly honest chronicle of her journey to recovery.

5. Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff

Nic was a star athlete, an honor student, a brother who doted on his siblings, and an all-around sociable person. And after getting addicted to meth, he was an unstable menace who lied, stole, and roamed the streets.

As a father, David Sheff is torn about what to do with a son whom he loves but also recognizes as a danger to his family. This is a memoir of a father whose pursuit to save his son become his own personal addiction. From relapse to recovery and all over again, we follow the duo as they trace the steps to reconciliation.

6. Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction by Maia Szalavitz

More and more people are becoming addicted. Despite this, our understanding of addiction remains outdated. Many still consider addiction as a crime or a disease, and so we’re stuck with treating it ineffectively when there are better methods available.

Instead, Szalavitz considers addiction as a learning or developmental disorder that exists on a spectrum. By removing age-old stigma and rethinking what addiction truly is, Szalavitz demonstrates how different stimuli contribute to both the deterioration and recovery of a person.

7. Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Jarrett Krosoczka’s led an odd life as a kid and he didn’t realize until later why. Growing up, he was mostly raised by loving grandparents who thought they were done with kids. His father’s a mystery, and his mother is constantly in and out of his life.

It is only when he’s already a teenager that he begins to piece together the truth of his situation. And in this book, he chronicles what it’s like to be a growing child with a parent who loves him but is struggling under an immense burden. Quite timely in an era where a lot of kids are being raised by grandparents due to the parent’s addiction.

8. Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis and Larry Sloman

A lot of people in the entertainment industry succumb to drugs due to the high-pressure nature of their careers. Musicians are no exception. When the Red Hot Chili Peppers burst into the music scene, they quickly became one of the most successful bands in the world.

But success always has a price. To Anthony Kiedis, the band’s frontman, that price was heroin. In this raw telling of his life and career, he talks about falling all the way down and climbing all the way back to having a productive and successful life.

9. Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie 

Codependency happens when another person’s problem becomes your own. You lose sight of your own life as you take more and more responsibility for someone else’s. Unfortunately, this happens a lot with people who take care of their addicted family members.

In this book, Melody Beattie talks about how you can break old behavioral patterns, maintain the boundaries you’ve set, and say no to unhealthy relationships. Mixed in are exercises and self-tests to help you out in your journey to freedom, healing, and hope.

10. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

Originally published in 1939, the “Big Book” has led many to insights into the reasons and behaviors that eventually lead to addiction. Pushing further, it also details how an addicted person struggles with negative thoughts and emotions that come from their addictions.

The Big Book acts as an informational guide to sobriety, including strategies used by Alcoholics Anonymous in their quest to be free from substance abuse. Inside, you’ll find stories from more than 40 members who have found their way out of addiction and into a healthier way of life.

Break the Stigma

In a lot of cases, people struggling with addiction rarely look for help due to embarrassment and shame. As such, only a few of them truly receive professional care.

There’s a stigma surrounding the subject where people automatically equate addicts to desperate, disgraced, and even dangerous individuals. It has led to difficulties in the treatment and prevention of addiction. How society normally treats addicts right now has effectively prevented them from getting help in the first place.

For example, jail time has proven to be ineffective, and yet it’s still how most governments deal with addicts. Or the issue is kept hidden within the family, either buried or ignored.

But making the topic taboo isn’t going to fix the problem. Thankfully, there has been a more open discussion about these kinds of issues in recent years. The books above are proof of this. As people become aware of the misconceptions, difficulties, and proper treatment of addiction, more and more avenues of healthy discussion can open up.

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