The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath →

by Leslie Jamison

A thoughtful read on addiction, alcoholism, recovery, relationships, and literature. The author weaves their personal recovery story—messy relationships and all—into a broader exploration of how drinking and addiction have been portrayed in literature across time. By drawing from a range of works, from classics and masterpieces to popular fiction and non-fiction, Jamison crafts a compelling look at addiction and the many ways recovery can take shape.

I’ve rated it four starts on my five-point scale— meaning, it is worth a recommendation to others but I’m unlikely to re-read it again. I will say that the content doesn’t feel entirely unique in its approach, and I suspect similar insights could be found elsewhere.

I’m glad I picked it up and stuck with it. As someone who hasn’t read many literary masterpieces or even much of the pop-culture canon, I appreciated the exposure to titles I might explore in the future given the personal connection I feel to the topic.