Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions

Written by Russell Brand

Narrated by Russell Brand

This program is read by the author

A guide to all kinds of addiction from a star who has struggled with heroin, alcohol, sex, fame, food and eBay, that will help addicts and their loved ones make the first steps into recovery

“This manual for self-realization comes not from a mountain but from the mud...My qualification is not that I am better than you but I am worse.” —Russell Brand

With a rare mix of honesty, humor, and compassion, comedian and movie star Russell Brand mines his own wild story and shares the advice and wisdom he has gained through his fourteen years of recovery. Brand speaks to those suffering along the full spectrum of addiction—from drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar addictions to addictions to work, stress, bad relationships, digital media, and fame. Brand understands that addiction can take many shapes and sizes and how the process of staying clean, sane, and unhooked is a daily activity. He believes that the question is not “Why are you addicted?” but "What pain is your addiction masking? Why are you running—into the wrong job, the wrong life, the wrong person’s arms?"

Russell has been in all the twelve-step fellowships going, he’s started his own men’s group, he’s a therapy regular and a practiced yogi—and while he’s worked on this material as part of his comedy and previous bestsellers, he’s never before shared the tools that really took him out of it, that keep him clean and clear. Here he provides not only a recovery plan, but an attempt to make sense of the ailing world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Oct 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781427289582

Russell Brand

Russell Brand is a comedian, journalist, TV presenter and actor. He has won numerous awards including Time Out's ‘Comedian of the Year’, ‘Best Live Stand-up’ at the British Comedy Awards, ‘Best TV Performer’ at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, ‘Most Stylish Man’ at GQ's Men of the Year Awards. The first instalment of his autobiography, My Booky Wook, was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller. It also won the Tesco ‘Biography of the Year’ award at the Galaxy British Book Awards.

Reviews for Recovery

[Kyle Hazelton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a helpful honest dive into problems most of us have.

[Samuel Breckinridge · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was especially good because it was written by a person who has struggled through substance abuse and addiction as he explains the 12 step process that has helped him achieve success and freedom in life. I feel it is a convincing and genuine portrayal as evidenced by the quality of this work and his sobriety for over 15 years now. Russell Brand is extremely intelligent and writes in an artistic and elevated manner that makes some of his personal experiences and language somewhat difficult to understand; that may make the information in this book difficult for some people to comprehend. At the same time, that may be what was required for him to say his piece, make his peace, and communicate his experience. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

[Burgandy Balderrama · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this beacuse I grew up in a addiction house. I left my family behind 5 years ago and questioned a lot. I listen to Russel Brand promote this book and really enjoyed what I was hearing. It gave me a different point of view. And I really feel like. it called me out on my stuff too. I feel like it's brought a bit more peace but also brought other uneasy to things I thought I had figured out.

[jay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good fresh take on the 12 steps. Funny and informative.

[O · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good perspective on the 12 steps, however I do not agree with his spiritual opinions. Super cool guy though, would love to meet him. He has some very valuable things to say.

[Joseph Hampton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Real insight on a hard topic. He personalizes the ways he was taught and makes it more modern day relatable

[Joey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great read. Soul searching. while using humor to educate and give Insightful wisdom about a very serious topic. Thank you Russell

[Renato Biz Martins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Great, open and honest introduction to 12 Steps program

[Mostafa M. AboAly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great thank you , full of inspiration for life and soul

[N · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant Brand as ever hilarious yet deep and humbling

[Vanessa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolute must read. Not just addicts but anyone else looking to be the best they can be.

[aliceap-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions by Russell Brand is the 4th book of his that I've read and possibly the one that's hit the closest to home. This book outlines the 12 Step Program from Russell's perspective with personal accounts from each step of his journey towards recovery. It is an excellent book for those struggling with addiction (of any kind) or those who have witnessed that struggle in others.

The emphasis made throughout the book is that you must
-seek a Higher Power
-attend meetings to have a community of help
-work the program every single day
-seek help at times when stressed or apt to relapse from a mentor who has worked the program

These excellent quotes from the book do a far better job of recommending it than anything I could say:

But in your life you've faced obstacles, inner and outer, that have prevented you from becoming the person you were 'meant to be' or 'are capable of being' and that is what we are going to recover. That's why we call this process Recovery, we recover the 'you' that you were meant to be. - pg 42

This program helps me to change my perspective when what I would do unabated is justify my perspective staying the same - 'if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got', if you want change, you have to change. You have to make amends. - pg 133

...'you can't think your way into acting better but you can act your way into thinking better.' - pg 160

The literature upon which these movements are founded describe it not as a 'cure' but as a 'daily reprieve'; the disease, the condition, is still there, you will feel it move through you, in fear and rage and irritation, beckoning you back into previous behavior - pg 212

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Recovery. If you or anyone you love has ever struggled through addiction and the subsequent difficulties on the long road towards recovery then this is essential reading. 10/10 highly recommend