In a recent post, we suggested that your local library has a wealth of resources that can support your recovery. Many of those resources are, of course, books. 

In this blog entry, we offer a list of books that may be of interest as you work to maintain your hard-won sobriety. We will share titles related to mindfulness, a set of memoirs that offer hope after darkness, and a list of books that can help children understand what happens when someone they love is struggling with a substance use disorder

Three Books About Mindfulness to Help You Stay Present

  • The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh: The late Thich Nhat Hanh inspired many to adopt a mindfulness practice. In this book, he suggested that we benefit when we are present no matter what we are doing. The reference to a “miracle” in the title suggests just how life-changing Nhat Hahn thought the practice could be.
  • Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment—and Your Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn: Jon Kabat-Zinn was a student of Thich Nhat Hahn and was a major popularizer of mindfulness practice in the Western world. His many books on mindfulness are great resources for anyone seeking to integrate mindfulness into daily life. This book for beginners is a great place to start.
  • The Headspace Guide to Mindfulness & Meditation by Andy Puddicombe: Andy Puddicombe is a co-founder of Headspace, an app devoted to helping people make mindfulness a routine part of their lives. He believes 10 minutes of mindfulness practice each day provides significant mental health gains. Puddicombe respects and values the deep history of mindfulness and is also committed to making it accessible in the contemporary world.

Three Memoirs to Ensure You Don’t Feel Alone

  1. Permanent Midnight by Jerry Stahl: Jerry Stahl is funny guy. He wrote episodes of the popular 1980s comedic television shows “Alf” and “Moonlighting.” His personal story of substance use, however, is not funny in the least. Stahl’s shocking stories—which include seeking out drugs with his daughter in her car seat in the backseat—serve as a prelude to his journey toward sobriety. (Stahl’s memoir was made into a movie starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in 1998.)
  2. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté M.D.:Dr. Gabor Maté’s book is the story of his work with those struggling with substance use disorders on the streets of Vancouver—and it is also the story of his struggles with a substance use disorder. He makes a case for compassionate self-understanding, and he argues for a holistic approach to substance use disorder treatment.
  3. Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir by Lisa Smith:Working at a prestigious New York City law firm, Lisa Smith was overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. She kept up appearances, but she also began “self-medicating” with drugs and alcohol. Her memoir is funny and honest as she recounts her journey to lasting recovery. Happily, Smith has been sober for more than a decade.

Three Books to Help Children Understand Substance Use Disorders

  1. Fresh Fables: The Dragon Who Lives at Our House by Elaine Mitchell Palmore: In this story, kids meet Al, who happens to be a dragon (and a stand-in for alcohol). The dad character in the tale really enjoys Al’s company. But soon enough, Al threatens to replace the rest of the family. Fortunately, Dad gets the help he needs to end his relationship with Al.
  2. My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child’s View of Living with Addiction by Claudia Black: This book reminds children that a person can be in a bad situation—can even do bad things—without being a bad person. Importantly, Black identifies a substance use disorder as a disease, which is both accurate description and an understandable concept for young children. The book also gives children permission to feel strong emotions like frustration, loneliness, and fear while also providing ideas for working through those feelings in healthy ways.
  3. I Can Talk About What Hurts: A Book for Kids in Homes Where There’s Chemical Dependency by Janet Sinberg and Dennis Daley: Kids can struggle to express their thoughts and emotions, and this book offers ideas and encouragement to help children be more comfortable talking about difficult things—including their feelings, their fears, and their questions. The book can be a real resource for a child who is living with someone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol. 

You Can Change Your Personal Story by Getting Sober

At Wooded Glen Recovery Center—located in Henryville, Indiana—we provide each person we serve with the opportunity to rewrite their personal story. If your current story is filled with drugs or alcohol, you probably are not headed toward a happy ending.

We can help you pull off a plot twist. We offer inpatient, outpatient, and virtual treatment options, and we are dedicated to helping you get and stay sober. Our work has recently been recognized as some of the strongest available anywhere in the country.