Reviews
Prairie Review
This outstanding guide with cogent insights into the nightmarish world of addiction and recovery is a must-read for anyone who thinks he has a problem with addiction.”
Renowned Oncologist, researcher, and the author of numerous scientific articles, Meadows writes with unflinching honesty about his time as an addict and alcoholic and his subsequent recovery through an intensive rehab program aimed at physician drinkers and presents a fascinating guide to overcome addiction.
He talks about addicts’ belief that their addictions are, in no way, interfering with their lives. On the contrary, they believe that addiction helps make their lives easier; it makes them forget their problems, and attain a higher state of awareness. He writes about the disturbing absurdities of their lives: they are renowned physicians, from well-to-do families and by all appearances happy, healthy, and successful people.
But addictions have slowly taken hold of their lives, and they are desperate to conceal its effects—an extremely good-looking neurologist who makes loads of money and has a lovely, understanding partner loses his life to addiction; a surgeon awakens from a blackout to find himself in the operating room, standing over the open abdomen of a patient; another doctor is sorting through garbage bags to find a syringe that had cocaine left in it and using skunk water to inject meth.
Meadows does a terrific job at taking the reader through the depths of sadness and despair that accompany substance addiction. The fear of losing their license and ultimately their lives is what send them to the intensive rehab program.
Meadows takes readers through step by step guide to understanding the disease of addiction and how to treat it. He shares the spiritual path of recovery that become central to their lives during the rehab program.
He argues that the root cause of one’s problems is oneself: he writes, “I must understand that I’m the source of all my problems. Not God, not fate, not my disease. No ill-tempered winds blow trouble my way. No other person is responsible for my sorrows and heartaches. I alone am the source of my torments.”
Meadows stresses that a person is not responsible for every thought in their head, but they are responsible for what they decide to do with those thoughts and for the consequences of their actions. Realizing one’s own role in misfortunes of one’s life is the first step to recovery.
He shares methods for spiritual growth (such as forgiveness, gratitude, acceptance, low expectorations, helping others) and ways to incorporate moral attitudes and values into one’s life (establishing new priorities, forming new habits, re-people-ization). This outstanding guide with cogent insights into the nightmarish world of addiction and recovery is a must-read for anyone who thinks he has a problem with addiction.
"This inspiring publication is a fascinating and monumental exploration of a pathway for recovery from serious addiction. If there is any book you plan to read about addiction this year, it should be this one as it will be a classic for anyone wanting to understand the mind of addicted physicians (and others) and what it takes to recover”.
Ann Harrison
Author of A Journey to Faith, and Podcast Host of Inspiration Journeys
Although this was an educational read, it was fun and each story kept me hanging on, staying up late reading. Thanks to Lin for making this educational journey an enjoyable read.
Audrey C. Holmes, MDiv, M.A.
Like the many friends and family of addicts who go to rehab, I was very curious about what it was like. Addicts, recovered or not, are notoriously circumspect about what happens there; they don’t want to talk about it.
I didn’t know how frightening it is to be in that situation. But of course, it is, you are in a life or death scenario. Still that fear is not obvious to someone who has not had that experience and it was a strong beginning, to start with the fear.
I was engaged by the stories of the other men in rehab, and especially the telling of their caring but brutal honesty. As I continued to read, I became more invested in the personalities and relationships between these men.
I think this book would be useful to people considering going for treatment because it gives a personal account of what it is like. The book would also be useful to friends and families of addicts, because those who go to rehab do not share much about what they experience. People who love addicted people would appreciate insight into what going through the first step of recovery is like.
Dr. Larry Goodman
The Goodman Factor, and author of FRIDAYS WITH GOODMAN.
"The book's value is as a contemporary guide to recovery, set in plain English, as compared to the Big Book of Alcoholics Alcoholics.
In my coaching world, there are many, many, many, many people, who have not yet reached the point of incomprehensible demoralization that is active addiction,
or who are in families where addiction is rampant, who will be served by this book."
Renowned Oncologist, researcher, and author of numerous scientific articles, Meadows writes with unflinching honesty about his time as an addict and alcoholic and his subsequent recovery through an intensive rehab program aimed at physician drinkers and presents a fascinating guide to overcome addiction.
Meadows takes readers through step-by-step guide to understanding the disease of addiction and how to treat it. He shares the spiritual path of recovery that become central to their lives during the rehab program.
This outstanding guide with cogent insights into the nightmarish world of addiction and recovery is a must-read for anyone who thinks he has a problem with addiction.
Lori Yerxa, Author of Pushing Through and podcast host of
Author Talk
Recovery From Addiction, by Linville M. Meadows M.D., chronicles his time in a private drug rehab for medical professionals.
This captivating memoir is written in a journal style which makes the reader feel like you are reading his daily diary. His words are candid and the banter between the others at the rehab is refreshing and insightful.
Meadows tackles each topic of the recovery process, such as ego, denial, and fear in a conversational style that is easy to understand and relate to. He delves deep into the psyche of an addict and the hard process of becoming and staying sober. This book is full of hope and will help anyone struggling with addiction or just wanting to change
mindsets.
Ann H. Fisher, M.S.
Director Emeritus
Radford Public Library, Virginia
"This very personal account of the long road back from addiction will inspire many who struggle with this disease. Not just physicians, but anyone who struggles with addiction and those who have family members who confront this problem will benefit from this account of one way out."
Tony Equale
Author of "An Unknown God" and "Religion in a Material Universe"
"The deep spirituality embedded in the classic 12-step AA program has long been acknowledged as the wellspring of its profound success. Not only do its practitioners end their addiction but they awaken to an entirely new vision of life. Their goals and careers may or may not change, but how they see the world and themselves, does.
This lively, entertaining narrative of one man’s appropriation of the principles and practices of the AA way of life, will open any reader’s eyes to that underlying spirituality. It reveals a potential for fearless joy in daily living residing in each of us regardless if it accompanies a struggle with addiction or not. The greatest commendation comes from the author himself whom I know personally. He is a recovering alcoholic, and lives out in daily practice the elements of the spirituality he promotes so compellingly in this book. I recommend it for anyone, alcoholic, addict or not.
But certainly if you are looking for an introduction to the process of recovering from addiction either for yourself or just to become informed on how AA pulls its rabbits out of the hat, a book like this one is essential. Going through Lin’s process with him as guide is an experience of wit and wisdom you don’t want to miss."
Ralph Snyderman, M.D.
Chancellor Emeritus
Duke University