Terry: My Daughter's Life-And-Death Struggle with Alcoholism

Former South Dakota senator, and one time Presidential hopeful, George McGovern relates the sad story of his daughter Terry, who's alcoholism finally killed her when she passed out in a snowfilled alley outside of a bar one cold December night. With an objective honest and insight into both his daughter and the nature of addiction, McGovern tells how him middle daughter grew up and became mired in an inescapable quicksand of addiction. Having recently lost my wife to the ravages of this disease (ironically this book was one of hers and one she quite enjoyed reading) I can relate to McGovern's feelings of anger, frustration, and helpless regret over how the disease warped both his daughter's spirit and mind. This book is an essential for anyone who has ever had to battle, or has a loved who battles, this wretched, life eating disease. Highest recommendation.

I heard George McGovern talking about this book on NPR when it first came out, but it wasn't till recently that i had a chance to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, because it gave me some insight on addiction that i did not have before. Sen. McGovern's intentions in writing this book are laudable, and i have a lot of respect for him. I can only imagine how painful it must have been to research the material (Terry's journals, social workers' reports, etc), and to actually write the book and go through those memories. He is sincere and acknowledges his responsibility as a father, and does not try to place blame on alcohol, society, or many of the other targets of anti-abuse groups. Terry might as well have been born with CF, because she suffered from (in her case) an incurable disease. If you want to understand the incredible power of addiction, this book is a great place to start.

It is really emotionally hard to read George McGovern's anguished account. This guy must have still been in deep torment when he penned it. Page after page you see him struggle for answers...he must spend many a day reviewing his own actions to see if there was anything hee could have done different. Lots of parents write books about their deceased children, but this one is just so honest that I could not put it down...literally. I picked it up after dinner and finished it at 4:30 the next morning.

I read this book when it first came out. At the time I was suffering from depression and alcoholism. I wept as I read the pages because I knew that I too could end up like Terry. I felt for Terry and her family all through out the book. I also realized how my family must have felt and how they might feel if I too fell victim to myself and alcohol. You have to give credit to the courageouls George McGovern to share his families sacred secrets and tradgedy. This is a must have book for anyone who is an alcoholic, heavy drinker or depressed or anyone who knows or lives with an alcoholic or heavy drinker.

First of all, my hat off to George McGovern for making this sad, personal tragedy public. Most families who had a son or daughter who spiriled as far out of control as Terry did would try to bury@the memory deep in guilt or shame. McGovern chooses to show us by example that, no matter how much money or expertise you throw at finding a solution to a "killer problem,"@in some cases an answer always remains elusive, a mystery. The man tried nearly everything humanly possible to help save his child - nothing worked, all the highest paid experts failed. This story is every parent's nightmare. If I were an educator of high authority, I would make this book mandatory reading for every high school student in the United States to clearly show what kind of drug they are messing with in alcohol - it's not a pretty picture.