9 Life-Changing Books To Transform Your Journey
Is your to-be-read stack looking woefully thin these days? I hate when that happens. Books are one addiction I never want to quit. It’s totally one of those if this is wrong I don’t want to be right kind of deals. Books can be my escape but they are also a wise sage, sharing knowledge in unexpected but much-needed ways. Let’s dive into our crowd-and-TNM-sourced list of life-changing books for wherever you are on this journey! And if you haven’t read This Naked Mind, The Alcohol Experiment, This Naked Life, or Buzz to Buzzkill yet – add them to your TBR list so you can be ahead of the game before my next book comes out!
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Drunk Mom – Jowita Bydlowska
Themes: Motherhood, Addiction, and Honesty
Trigger Warning: Alcohol Abuse, Parenting Struggles
This powerful and honest memoir takes readers through Bydlowska’s journey of motherhood complicated by alcohol use disorder. Her raw storytelling offers an unflinching look at the realities of battling addiction while attempting to be present for her child.
Favorite line: “Three days sober, I read like I drink.”
This page-turner is perfect for anyone seeking an unvarnished and honest look at the ups and downs of this journey and the complex interplay between parenthood and personal demons.
The Art of Healing Your Wounded Inner Child – Nora Grace
Themes: Self-Healing, Trauma Recovery, and Personal Growth
Trigger Warning: Childhood Trauma, Emotional Abuse
This compassionate guide offers practical wisdom for reconnecting with and healing the wounded parts of ourselves that often drive addictive behaviors. Grace’s approach combines psychological insights with actionable steps toward inner reconciliation.
Favorite line: “The most courageous act is to befriend the child within you who was never properly loved.”
This is an essential read for understanding the root causes of unhealthy coping mechanisms and finding genuine healing.
Chasing The Scream – Johann Hari
Themes: Addiction, Society, and Connection
Trigger Warning: Drug Use, Violence
Hari’s groundbreaking investigation challenges everything we think we know about addiction. His work was pivotal in my journey and helped me understand what changed in my relationship with alcohol. Through riveting storytelling and extensive research, he reveals how our understanding of dependency has been fundamentally flawed.
Favorite line: “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection.”
This eye-opening book offers a revolutionary perspective for those questioning conventional wisdom about addiction, it’s source, and its treatment.
The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Themes: Trauma, Healing, and Neuroscience
Trigger Warning: Abuse, PTSD, Sexual Assault
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s landmark work explores how trauma reshapes both body and brain, taking away their joy, making it difficult to participate in life, affecting their self-control, and damaging their trust in others. We all know people who use substances to cope with painful experiences. This book explains the biological reasons behind that choice.
Favorite line: “Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.”
For anyone trying to understand addiction and trauma, this is key reading.
Big Sur – Jack Kerouac
Themes: Fame, Alcoholism, and Existential Crisis
Trigger Warning: Heavy Drinking, Mental Health Struggles
In this semi-autobiographical novel, Kerouac presents a raw portrait of a man grappling with his drinking, fame, and profound existential questions. It doesn’t hold back in showing us the ugly side of addiction and that desperate hunt for what it all means.
Favorite line: “Something good will come of all things yet.”
This is a powerful read for those navigating their own relationship with alcohol while searching for deeper truths.
One Year Gone – Avery Bishop
Themes: Loss, Obsession, and Truth
Trigger Warning: Missing Persons, Psychological Distress
This gripping thriller follows a mother’s desperate search for her missing daughter, revealing how stress and grief can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Bishop masterfully portrays how trauma can distort perception and drive destructive behaviors.
Favorite line: “But the problem with brave faces is that they don’t last forever; eventually they fade, and the pain and fear beneath peek through.”
A compelling read for anyone exploring the complex relationship between loss and self-medication.
The Beach Hut – Veronica Henry
Themes: Trauma Response, Healing, and Connection
Trigger Warning: Alcohol Abuse, Traumatic Experiences
At its core, this is a story about survival. The main character drinks to deal with childhood trauma, but as the book unfolds, we see there are other, better ways to heal. The beauty of this novel lies in its cast of characters—each carrying their own wounds, each finding their own way forward.
Favorite line: “She had tasted it, the gut-wrenching emotion that drives all humans that sets them apart from animals.”
A deeply moving read about struggle, escape, and ultimately, resilience.
Lord the One You Love is Sick – Kasey Thornton
Themes: Community, Addiction, and Southern Culture
Trigger Warning: Substance Abuse, Small Town Dynamics
Addiction doesn’t just impact one person—it ripples through entire communities. Kasey Thornton’s powerful collection of stories dives into that messy reality, showing how families, friendships, and small-town bonds can both fuel addiction and offer a path to healing. Set in the American South, these interconnected tales hit close to home in all the best ways.
Favorite line: “We’re all recovering from something.”
Perfect for readers interested in the social dimensions of addiction and recovery.
Wake Up, Sir – Jonathan Ames
Themes: Recovery, Humor, and Self-Discovery
Trigger Warning: Alcoholism, Mental Health Issues
Alan Blair is the definition of a hot mess—a heavy drinking, washed-up writer clinging to the fumes of past success. Instead of stopping drinking, he hires a valet (because, of course, that’s the answer), and together they embark on a series of increasingly ridiculous misadventures. From escaping his well-meaning but exasperated family to landing a last-minute spot at a quirky artists’ colony, Alan’s journey is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
Favorite line: “I was aware that I was acting atrociously but I couldn’t stop myself. Rarely had I behaved in such a manner. But I guess when we’re feeling lonely in life, we attack those who actually do love us.”
Ames’ dark humor and sharp observations about addiction make this a read that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
This Naked Life
And I couldn’t close out this list without including a gift from This Naked Mind! If you haven’t read it yet, you can now download This Naked Life for free. I affectionately call this the best book I never wrote! It’s a collection of 48 real, raw, and relatable stories from people who have bravely found freedom from alcohol. A story that encourages and inspires might be the best gift of all!
If you have a recommendation to add to this list, send it my way. I love reading and sharing your recommendations! We share new recommendations each month for books, podcasts, movies, music, and more – you can check them all out here!
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