I'm sure I don't have the expertise to answer the above question, but I did a google search on this today, after it was the source of a post and many responses today.... Some VERY interesting things are being thrown about - the author is coming under scrutiny for embellishing certain things for 'dramatic effect'; his integrity is coming into question as more people are paying attention to him; the book itself was a very slow mover, until Oprah added it to her book club, etc., etc.
I still stand by what has been thrown around on this board today - "whatever works" for each and everyone of us.... If that book is the answer to what one person's needs are for them to embrace their recovery and get healthy, then more power to them. I just found it interesting that while we were discussing the merits of that book on here, the world appears to be doing the same.
Tom
Maria123 said
Jan 9, 2006
Tom,
I read the book and I found it captivating. I kept hoping as I furiously read that he would catch on. Despite whether he did or didn't catch on to AA, what I really liked was the awareness of this "epidemic" called alcoholism/addictions. The tradition that I have always struggled with is Tradition 11 - our public relations policy. Because for me, personally, I never knew our program existed until I was 40 years old and that's sad to me. I've often wondered why no one ever told me about this program.
I also like our "take what you liked and leave the rest" and "principles above personalities." You had said you did not read the book, James was using the Tao which, from the little I know about, seemed "similar" to our program in some ways.
I really the like the amount of discussion that ensues as a result of discussions relative to this book. And for me, after 5 + years in program, this book gave me so much more insight to this insidious disease. You know the age old question we in program often face "why does she/he choose to drink" versus it's a disease which many do not grasp. The compassion I learned for these struggling A's was really a light bulb moment for me. Of course it always depends on where each of us is in our own recovery. Before reading this book, this past Fall, I began attending open AA meetings "to try to understand better." I can say each and every day I am learning more and more.
Well anyway that's my two cents Suffice it to say, "people are talking" about this book and the disease and for that I am grateful.
Maria123
Kim said
Jan 9, 2006
Tom & Maria:
I read both books, A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard. What I found to be true of this book is that it does provoke discussion, and i have discussed it with both people in recovery and people not in reocvery but who do understand alcoholism/addiction as a disease. The people in recoery have has some interesting insights. One questioned whether or not this person was truly "an addict"....subscribing to the AA philosophy themselves, they found his ability to stay sober questionable without it as well as questioned whther he was "happy" or merely "white knuckling" it. The other stated that you are and addict if you beleive yourself to be an addict and subscribed to the idea that this was the "one in a million". Those not in recovery found it an amazing story and a chance to discuss the disease.
As Maria stated, James begins reading the Tao.....my opinion is that James did find a HP as known to him. Not one to believe in God...he found some form of spirituality that spoke to him. I believed that he subscribed to some of the beliefs of AA without actually acknowledging it. Also, I found that his accountability for his actions played a large role in his ability to stay sober. His support system was firmly in place and I also liked the fact that he gave the statistics of sobriety through the characters that he met in rehab...he gave the end result of all of their lives.
In the end I found this book to be powerful in many ways. It gave insight into the mind of those addicted, was a means for discussion and has opened the door for many to be able to understand recovery.
Just my opinion. I loved the book.
Kim
Barbara said
Jan 9, 2006
Tom - thanks for starting this discussion. Im looking forward to reading more replies. Im about 1/2way through the book. I do think his way was the Tao.
david62 said
Jan 9, 2006
Hi Tom,
I have read the book and am currently reading My Friend Leonard.
Cant add much to what I have read posted already, except to say that I was told by someone who saw him, James Frey, on Oprah, that he has said that he was still in Denial about the program of AA when in rehab and that he now is not so much anti AA as he was.
But ultimately too, I think he came up with his own program, taking what he liked from AA and leaving the rest. He definately gained benefit in the book from doing the 4th and 5th steps.
To each his own, and he is just one person even if he did write a book. Nothing he says diminishes the phenominal gift the program of AA and by association Al-Anon is to those who turn to them for help. And I so disagree with Frey's assertion in the first book that being a member of AA is just trading one addiction for another. AA is a program of recovery, addiction is a program of self distruction.
The book is certainly worth reading by anyone interested in understanding addiction.
Yours in Recovery,
David
lildee said
Jan 10, 2006
As to the question of fact or fiction may I suggest you check the following website then make your decisions
Take what you need and leave the rest. My best input for these books.
Love & God Bless
lildee
tea2 said
Jan 10, 2006
This is strange -Just this morning Good Morning America did a piece on this book. They reported on the questions raised by this book’s author. Red flags went up from the site: www.thesmokinggun.com. They are saying he wasn’t convicted or showing the history of addictions he states
tea2 said
Jan 10, 2006
Oops - ah ha... I see lildee had the same thought (just as I did) -thank you for posting it lildee. I also agree with you, take what you like. IMO, I have not read it and will stick with my approved lit for my program -at this time in "my" recovery I don't need to add to it (confusion). I also will add that Oprah's camp is not saying anything on this, there may be more to come about this book. Wishes to all, Tracey
Jeannie said
Jan 12, 2006
curiosity had me read the book. I have to admitt, I was hooked right from the beginning.
While he chose to do it without AA, many of the things in the Tao that he seemed to follow, where of the same principle.
I also saw that he found he needed the friends he made. He helped them as they helped him. Isn't that what gave AA its beginnings in the first place? A few mwn admitting they could not do it alone and working together to learn from each other and support each other.
Whatever works for each one of us is right.
Even if the story was embelished, or hey even if it was outright lies, I found it inspiring reading. I chear anyone on who can beat this horrible disease, however they choose to do it.
I'm sure I don't have the expertise to answer the above question, but I did a google search on this today, after it was the source of a post and many responses today.... Some VERY interesting things are being thrown about - the author is coming under scrutiny for embellishing certain things for 'dramatic effect'; his integrity is coming into question as more people are paying attention to him; the book itself was a very slow mover, until Oprah added it to her book club, etc., etc.
I still stand by what has been thrown around on this board today - "whatever works" for each and everyone of us.... If that book is the answer to what one person's needs are for them to embrace their recovery and get healthy, then more power to them. I just found it interesting that while we were discussing the merits of that book on here, the world appears to be doing the same.
Tom
Tom,
I read the book and I found it captivating. I kept hoping as I furiously read that he would catch on. Despite whether he did or didn't catch on to AA, what I really liked was the awareness of this "epidemic" called alcoholism/addictions. The tradition that I have always struggled with is Tradition 11 - our public relations policy. Because for me, personally, I never knew our program existed until I was 40 years old and that's sad to me. I've often wondered why no one ever told me about this program.
I also like our "take what you liked and leave the rest" and "principles above personalities." You had said you did not read the book, James was using the Tao which, from the little I know about, seemed "similar" to our program in some ways.
I really the like the amount of discussion that ensues as a result of discussions relative to this book. And for me, after 5 + years in program, this book gave me so much more insight to this insidious disease. You know the age old question we in program often face "why does she/he choose to drink" versus it's a disease which many do not grasp. The compassion I learned for these struggling A's was really a light bulb moment for me. Of course it always depends on where each of us is in our own recovery. Before reading this book, this past Fall, I began attending open AA meetings "to try to understand better." I can say each and every day I am learning more and more.
Well anyway that's my two cents
Suffice it to say, "people are talking" about this book and the disease and for that I am grateful.
Maria123
Tom & Maria:
I read both books, A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard. What I found to be true of this book is that it does provoke discussion, and i have discussed it with both people in recovery and people not in reocvery but who do understand alcoholism/addiction as a disease. The people in recoery have has some interesting insights. One questioned whether or not this person was truly "an addict"....subscribing to the AA philosophy themselves, they found his ability to stay sober questionable without it as well as questioned whther he was "happy" or merely "white knuckling" it. The other stated that you are and addict if you beleive yourself to be an addict and subscribed to the idea that this was the "one in a million". Those not in recovery found it an amazing story and a chance to discuss the disease.
As Maria stated, James begins reading the Tao.....my opinion is that James did find a HP as known to him. Not one to believe in God...he found some form of spirituality that spoke to him. I believed that he subscribed to some of the beliefs of AA without actually acknowledging it. Also, I found that his accountability for his actions played a large role in his ability to stay sober. His support system was firmly in place and I also liked the fact that he gave the statistics of sobriety through the characters that he met in rehab...he gave the end result of all of their lives.
In the end I found this book to be powerful in many ways. It gave insight into the mind of those addicted, was a means for discussion and has opened the door for many to be able to understand recovery.
Just my opinion. I loved the book.
Kim
As to the question of fact or fiction may I suggest you check the following website then make your decisions
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0104061jamesfrey1.html
Take what you need and leave the rest. My best input for these books.
Love & God Bless
lildee
I see lildee had the same thought (just as I did) -thank you for posting it lildee. I also agree with you, take what you like.
IMO, I have not read it and will stick with my approved lit for my program -at this time in "my" recovery I don't need to add to it (confusion). I also will add that Oprah's camp is not saying anything on this, there may be more to come about this book.
Wishes to all, Tracey
curiosity had me read the book. I have to admitt, I was hooked right from the beginning.
While he chose to do it without AA, many of the things in the Tao that he seemed to follow, where of the same principle.
I also saw that he found he needed the friends he made. He helped them as they helped him. Isn't that what gave AA its beginnings in the first place? A few mwn admitting they could not do it alone and working together to learn from each other and support each other.
Whatever works for each one of us is right.
Even if the story was embelished, or hey even if it was outright lies, I found it inspiring reading. I chear anyone on who can beat this horrible disease, however they choose to do it.
Love jeannie