By: Lakeview Health
I don’t usually do book reviews here, but make an exception for a book that is funny, short and brutally honest about every topic it covers, including addiction. The book is comedian Rob Delaney’s memoir, “Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.” And it’s fun just typing that. This book is of interest to anyone struggling with drugs or alcohol or who has a loved one doing so. Rob Delaney is a stand-up comic who has opened up to new audiences with his work on Twitter, where he has more than 960,000 followers at this writing. Delaney’s comedy both on Twitter and in his book is honest, vulnerable and hilariously vulgar. His jokes can provoke sidesplitting laughter, accompanied by the thought ‘Wow, I really can’t repeat that to anyone.’ Delaney’s memoir is also a blunt look at a life of addiction and recovery, with a vantage point most addiction memoirs don’t quite find. It also smashes quite a few stereotypes along the way. A happy childhood led to compulsive drinking, really from the first time he tried alcohol: “Even an idiot or a kitten observing my first drunken experience would describe it as awful.” Not a traditional memoir, the book presents vignettes from his life, from childhood bedwetting to drunken escapades, told in the clearheaded voice of ‘this is what I did; this is what I thought at the time.’ If you have ever wondered why someone you know does incredibly stupid things while drunk, this book can give you a good window on it. Delaney’s sobriety followed a driving-while-blacked-out car accident, broken limbs, hospitalization and ‘legal issues.’ He went to rehab, lived at a halfway house and lost some dear friends he met along the way, friends who couldn’t stay clean. Delaney now has more than a decade in recovery. All I can say is: Read the book. Despite the silliness of the title, it is full of stories of a man being honest with himself and with his readers, while still being hilarious. For someone struggling with addiction, it may sound familiar and may provide a path to make some changes. For those watching someone self-destruct, this book can help you see what you are up against. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol or drugs, Lakeview Health can help. Call our intake specialists at 866.704.7692 and get help today.
