Indeed, I defy any reader to simply read the page for the day and put the book down until the next day. The reader will be drawn to read further and further as the story of Lacy Enderson unfolds.  She takes the reader on the whole journey, disturbing as it is, but one that does end in victory after her desperate determination overruled her demanding cravings, including those associated with her addiction to cigarettes.

Sometimes the author is so candid and honest about her life, sharing such personal revelations, that the reader might hesitate to read further for fear of intruding upon her privacy.  And there are times the reader will even feel a little uncomfortable.

Enderson wants her readers to know it all – how the alcoholic justifies drinking, the deceptions that become a part of the addict's life, how she learned to manipulate and control others, and of course, the excuses that she had down-pat. She is very frank about her failures, the disgraces she experienced, and how she fought her way back. In so doing, she offers hope to the hopeless.

Every emotion, every challenge the addict experiences is covered. There is no ducking any of it. This book will be an eye-opener for every addict who reads it – and they will read it if someone cares enough to provide a copy. It is a mirror of the life every addict lives.

The Foreword (penned by Trisha Lee) tells how to read and benefit from this book.  And after the Introduction, the author shares how she used any excuse she could think of to justify her drinking habit, such as "Even Jesus drank wine." Then she follows that up with almost three pages of Scriptures to show how the Lord feels about alcoholism, and urges that those verses be read "on days when you try to convince yourself that one drink couldn't possibly hurt."

Be Patient ... Wait for the Miracle

It is to be noted that a big role in Enderson's success was the encouragement of some of her friends.  And the reader who has a loved one going through a similar ordeal is encouraged to never give up on the one they care about. Often it takes several attempts over time to kick the habit.

As the author states on page 68, under the heading "Thought to Meditate On" – "The worst thing you can do is give up on them. With each failed attempt they move one step closer to victory. Don't give up before the miracle happens."

And to cheer on the addict to be victorious, she writes on page 9:  "When we finally make the decision to quit drinking, God intervenes and breaks those chains of bondage to alcohol that hold us captive. He picks us up out of the dungeon of despair and puts us in a Royal Palace He created just for us. He called us to be priests and kings. Let us desire to live like one."

This very easy to read book is helpful in spotting warning signs of an addict or an about-to-be addict. This rich resource allows counselors to get into the head of the addicted which is essential for effective counseling – especially concerning the addicted.

As I read this book, I thought of the famous author Ernest Hemingway, who was also known for his uncontrolled binge drinking. He once said that there is one thing more that he would have liked to be able to do .. to go through life again – sober. He knew he had missed a lot.

Had "Addiction:  A Personal Story" been available in his time, perhaps Hemingway would have been able to experience at least a sober second half of his life.

© 2006 AgapePress.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission.