Undrunk: A Skeptics Guide to AA

My family has been plagued by alcoholism for generations and as I've grown up I've been increasingly aware of just how serious and life threatening this disease is. This awareness brought with it a great deal of confusion and resources that were both truly informative and honest were few and far between. Undrunk really is a different animal. It is at once profound and light hearted, enlightening and humorous, instructive and unassuming. Whether you are an alcoholic approaching recovery or if someone you love is an alcoholic, it is no exaggeration to say that this book holds life saving potential. I can't recommend it highly enough.

The sub-title of the book is "A Skeptic's Guide to AA," and certainly that would be me, but I'm much less a skeptic now after reading Adams' take on the organization. The author is intelligent, witty, thoughtful and observant. He also has (as drinkers often do) lots of great stories to tell, both sad and funny, of his alcoholism and his journey from skepticism and a nagging suspicion Alcoholics Anonymous was built on bunk to a new, richer life "undrunk." It's hard to imagine there's anyone in the Western world, what with our drinking culture, who won't be glad to hear what Adams has to say. After all, who hasn't been touched by alcohol abuse? Even those who never touch a drop themselves probably have watched at least one family member or a friend or two go down the tubes from booze. The hardest step, for Adams at least, and probably for any alcoholic, is getting to the first AA meeting. After all, who wants to admit he or she is too weak to break "a habit"? And who wants to join a club of losers? But as Adams soon finds, he has landed among the winners. The real losers never get there. If you don't know much about AA (I didn't) and would like to help someone with a drinking problem, and if you think you can at least get them sober enough to read, then by all means buy this book. It's a great place to start.

In Undrunk, A.J. Adams demystifies the process of recovery through AA. His book touched me because of its honesty and humor. I've been an Alanon member for many years. I come from an alcoholic family and as they say in Alanon if you go to a party and there are only two alcoholicS or co-dependents in the group the two just naturally are drawn to each other so I also have many alcoholic and co-dependent friends -- some recovering and some active. What I have always enjoyed about my AA friends and family is their great sense of humor about their disease and recovery. That is precisely what I loved about this book. Adams not only gives us a sober look into the mind of a practicing alcoholic, the detox process, and recovery through AA but he does it with a great sense of humor. I've found many recovery books to be a little heavy and intimidating. Undrunk is not. Most people have absolutely no idea what to expect when they attend their first meeting. I think Adams' book gives the reader a good feel as to what to expect from AA. Speaking from personal experience in attending open AA meetings, I have always found the unexpected -- camaraderie, intelligence, humor and great fun. Adams shows us that.

This is a book for just about everyone. Adams describes how AA works and the experience of getting and staying sober in an eminently readable way, and he's a very funny guy. I loved going along with him to his first AA meeting, where everyone was nice to him and he felt superior to all those losers. (He'd had a couple drinks on the way.) Many months later, after rehab, he goes back to the same meeting and realizes what a jerk he was (everyone is even nicer this time). The book describes his first year of being sober, with many twists and turns in the road. It's amusing, entertaining, informative, insightful, sometimes touching and never boring. It's a book that might get people to AA a few years earlier or make it less confusing when they finally do get there. It's a great book to give to anyone who's interested in the topic or would benefit from learning about it, either for themselves or for someone they love. Most people have seen or experienced the effects of alcoholism on families and individuals. It's hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't get something out of this excellent, enjoyable book.

Undrunk is an inspirational book full of wisdom, laugh out loud humor, but most of all, hope. My husband is an alcoholic. I know how serious alcoholism is because it took my brother's life. I believe this book will literally save lives. I am giving this book to my husband. Anyone who wants to understand alcoholism and what to do about it, look no further. Read this book.