Books Can Help People Stay Sober
Just relying on books alone will not be enough to keep a person sober, but reading the right material can certainly help. There are now thousands of titles that will be of interest to people recovering from an addiction. These books contain valuable information and inspiring stories. Reading such material will keep people motivated so that they can build a good life in recovery. It is recommended that those in early recovery especially should immerse themselves in this recovery literature. It will help strengthen their determination and provide inspiration. Here are just a few of the most popular books that are currently available:

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book by Anonymous
When this book was originally released back in 1939 the original title was Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than 100 Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism). It is now better known as the Big Book. Since publication, it has sold over 20 million copies, making it the most successful recovery book ever written. It contains a full explanation of the 12 Step Program, and sections of this book are routinely read at AA meetings. Anyone who intends to follow the AA method to help them stay sober should read this book.

12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery

12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery deals mostly with the issues that people are likely to face in early recovery. Dr Berger defined early recovery as the first two years in sobriety. His opinions are based on his years working as a clinician and his personal experience of dealing with addiction. Much of the material here is influenced by the 12 Step program, but there are insights in these chapters that will be of use to anyone in recovery. This small book (128 pages) is packed with useful information.

Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction
Much of the popular recovery literature is based around 12 Step Programs. The New Cure for Substance Addiction offers a radically different approach. Trimpey completely disagrees with the AA philosophy. Instead he offers a technique that involves learning to defend against the addictive voice. Those individuals who follow the Rational Recovery guidelines do not have to go to meetings for the rest of their life. All the information they need is in this book, though there is plenty of other related material available to buy. Those who use this method are not expected to keep referring to themselves as alcoholics. There is debate about the effectiveness of this approach, but it does seem to work for some people.

Stage II Recovery: Life Beyond Addiction
Stage II Recovery is a useful read for people who are in their first five years of sobriety. It emphasizes the idea that recovery is a process and not an event. Larsen guides the reader through the steps they will need to take in order to rebuild their life. The importance of setting goals is frequently referenced. This book gives readers an idea of what to expect in recovery and prepares them for the challenges they are likely to face. As the title suggests the focus here is not on escaping addiction but on building a great life away from alcohol and drugs.

Full Recovery: Creating a Personal Action Plan for Life Beyond Sobriety
Full Recovery is an inspiring book aimed at motivating people to get the most out of life. The focus is on action. It is aimed at those readers who have not yet managed to achieve their full potential in recovery. By following the steps and guidelines in this book, they should be able to take things to the next level. Sometimes progress slows down, and this book may inspire people to get things moving again.

First Year Sobriety: When All That Changes Is Everything
First Year Sobriety provides plenty of useful advice for people who are new to recovery. It contains plenty of personal stories from people who finding their way in early sobriety. Much of the material is based around AA, and this means that it will not be as useful to those readers who do not follow that program. There is plenty of practical advice though, that should benefit anyone who is trying to stay sober during these early months.

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind
Full Catastrophe Living is not aimed specifically at people in recovery, but it is a great introduction into [mindfulness meditation] https://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/mindfulness-recovery/). This is a technique that has helped many people build a successful life away from addiction. The attraction of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book is that he presents the information without focusing on the Eastern philosophies often associated with this practice. This makes mindfulness more accessible to a Western audience regardless of their beliefs.