Review: " Sobriety came with a price and he was willing to make the exchange "
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2013
My first comment is to congratulate author John W. on more than 11 years of sobriety!I am impressed with the amount of courage he has shown in the  ability to relive his experiences in depth to write this book.  I would think it had to be very painful as he unveiled his fears and uncertainties in order to share a life of secrets and regret with friends and the public.I read of his experiences for the 33 years of living daily with his alcohol addiction and times of combining the alcohol with drugs. I was astonished at how he was able to hold a professional IT position with major companies while living under or within the influence of alcohol and mood altering drugs. The highs and lows of his depression and self-esteem seem to push him further into the use of more or stronger drugs.In the book, The Courage to Surrender, I felt I was on the journey of memories with John. He stresses the era of the baby boomers or the Woodstock generation as being a time of change when the stigma of using recreational drugs is more acceptable. He reveals the out of control roller-coaster of living a life fueled by addictions, not just to substances, but also the obsession of being able to keep, protect, and help his wife as she spiraled further from him in her haste to escape the all-American dream family into a world of drugs.It is frightening to read of his daily actions of driving while high or stoned, being successful and working among corporate management, and then the nighttime excursions to score more drugs.He writes of the worry and  impact his actions was having on his two children. As you read the book you can anticipate he will hit bottom, but at what cost? Sobriety came with a price and he was willing to make the exchange.  It was not an easy journey, but he is walking it with the help of AA and others who care.If you have a dependency on alcohol and/or drugs or if you have a family member or friend who needs a guiding hand, this book is recommended reading. As you read the experiences of John W. it puts a new light of perspective on the reason an alcoholic would hesitate to seek help. After reading the book, I felt a different compassion for those who are fighting daily to stay sober!