Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!: A Bridge From Addiction To Early Recovery [Hardcover]

Robert Boich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2009

Making a resolution to address an alcohol or substance abuse issue is only the beginning. The real work begins when the alcoholic or addict acknowledges that something has to be done. In Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting! author Robert Boich details his battle with substance abuse and his decision to lead a sober lifestyle. He realized if he didn?t change his life, he would be incarcerated or die all alone. In this compelling, personal narrative, Boich shares his personal struggles and insights encountered during his first six months of recovery. A counselor once told him, ?An addict only has to change one thing: everything.? Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting! describes the many changes Boich made in his life. More than just eliminating certain people and places from a daily routine, he illustrates how a successful recovery requires a brand-new approach in dealing with life. Blending personal thoughts with helpful information, Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting! discusses the ideas and tools used in an addict?s early recovery. It shows that sobriety is much more than mere abstinence and that alcohol and drug use is a sign of deep personal problems that only true sobriety can address.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (March 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440121079
• ISBN-13: 978-1440121074
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.5 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,660,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Making a resolution to address an alcohol or substance abuse issue is only the beginning. The real work begins when the alcoholic or addict acknowledges that something has to be done. In Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting! author Robert Boich details his battle with substance abuse and his decision to lead a sober lifestyle. He realized if he didn't change his life, he would be incarcerated or die all alone.

In this compelling, personal narrative, Boich shares his personal struggles and insights encountered during his first six months of recovery. A counselor once told him, "An addict only has to change one thing: everything." Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting! describes the many changes Boich made in his life. More than just eliminating certain people and places from a daily routine, he illustrates how a successful recovery requires a brand-new approach in dealing with life.

Blending personal thoughts with helpful information, Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting! discusses the ideas and tools used in an addict's early recovery. It shows that sobriety is much more than mere abstinence and that alcohol and drug use is a sign of deep personal problems that only true sobriety can address.

From the Back Cover

I knew I had to go someplace where it would be virtually impossible to find any more drugs. I spent three days and nights in Munich, mostly in my hotel room, contemplating what lay ahead of me. It was a very difficult time, much tougher than my previous attempts at sobriety. I was alone. My wife was in rehab seven thousand miles away. There was really no one for me to call or talk to. For that matter, there was really no one I wanted to talk to. As my supplies dwindled, I grew more agitated and aggravated. I was angry. I was also full of resentment, resentment toward everyone. For the most part, my journaling was illegible and irrational. The thoughts I was putting down on paper reflected the turmoil going on inside me. As I began to examine my life and the situation I was in, I started to realize some of what I had put my family through. It was the start of the process of owning up to some of my deficiencies as a father, a husband, a son, and a person.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (March 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440121079
• ISBN-13: 978-1440121074
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.5 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,660,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Chrissy's World Of Books - Book Review May 27, 2010

By Christina Simpson

Format:Paperback

I wanted to read how Robert Boich survived his journey to become sober. I grew up in an alcoholic home so I really wanted to read this book. I thought this book was going to be just for those with the problem. However I found this is also for anyone who has had to deal with someone with the addictions. This book has helped me understand the addiction better.

I was amazed at his honesty in this book. I thought it was going to be all technical this is what you need to do, here's where y...more I wanted to read how Robert Boich survived his journey to become sober. I grew up in an alcoholic home so I really wanted to read this book. I thought this book was going to be just for those with the problem. However I found this is also for anyone who has had to deal with someone with the addictions. This book has helped me understand the addiction better.

I was amazed at his honesty in this book. I thought it was going to be all technical this is what you need to do, here's where you need to go for treatment, get treated and all better now. It wasn't he really put his heart and soul into this book and you can really tell he so desperately wanted to change. I would say he went threw hell and back to stay sober. This book takes us threw his journey.

If I could tell Robert one thing it would simply be.... Good For You. He said in this book that he wouldn't know what to say when people would compliment him on how hes doing, that he would say its just my job, my job in staying sober... or something like that I couldn't find the page again when I wanted to quote that but I thought that was a great response. Even though I have never met Robert I am proud of him. It is so easy to pick up a drink but Putting it back down again and walking away is the hardest thing to do....

I have to admit that I chose to review this book out of my own hope that I could find something that would convince my dad that he could accomplish what Robert did. I know he would have to want to chance for something to happen and I know my dad never will make that choice but I hope someone out there who reads this will make that choice.

Almost 2 years ago I was called and had to go to Dallas because my dad was in a coma and on life support due to his drinking with a less than 50% chance of recovering. He did recover and was released from the hospital but he had been there for sometime. You would of thought he would of got the message then but NO... I learned shortly after receiving this book to review that he had begun drinking again.

I had always wished my dad would sober up & come to the conclusion that his kids were important and that we mattered enough for him to quite. I am 40 years old now so I have learned to deal with the fact that my dad will die an alcoholic like his father before him.

*I received a complementary copy of Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting! for review. This was provided to me by the Author Robert Boich threw Pump up your book. Receiving a complementary copy of this book doesn't obligate me to give a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer. My Reviews are written by me based on my own opinion Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Graceful Chronicle of Interdependent Recovery October 9, 2009

By formerphoenician

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Robert Boich's "Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting! A Bridge from Addiction to Early Recovery" chronicals the author's decision to stop using drugs and alcohol for his family, and unique way of beginning his recovery: one last solo blast to Amsterdam. Going well beyond the usual therapy-talk and twelve-step substitute for chemical dependence, Boich's book reveals a personal path to interdependent recovery through the love of family, friends, and intensive out patient treatment.
This entertaining little biography shows everyone's ability to mend their own ways, if they can accept a little grace.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting: A Great Read! July 2, 2012

By Life as Leels

Format:Paperback

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like that it was written from the addicts hand, from his perspective. He was honest too. He didn't sugar coat things. What's best, is that a lot of what he wrote related to life in general - not just life of an addict. I was marking pages left and right to come back and make note of because the things he said made sense. As I was reading it, things just clicked. He made sense. He was speaking truth and I (someone who is not an addict) could completely relate his story to my life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You don't need to understand addiction. You don't even need to care about addiction. What got him through to where he is, are things that you can relate to normal every day life.

I will continue to read this book and re-read this book and take in what he says because they are token things you should never forget!

4.0 out of 5 stars Moving and honest June 30, 2012

By savingsinseconds

Format:Paperback

Excuse Me is almost like a memoir, or perhaps even a journal. The chapters document the stages Boich experienced through his rehab and recovery. He describes his relationship with his spouse and how he learns to appreciate being in the moment with his family. He expresses the need for depending on support from loved ones. He exposes the connection between substance abuse and the deeper problems that instigate the need for drugs or alcohol.

Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting can be an excellent resource for those who are experiencing the rough road to recovery. It is gritty and honest, no sugar-coating here. However, I think it would also be meaningful to those who are left in the wake of addiction.

I received this book to review. The opinions are 100% mine.

3.0 out of 5 stars inspiring June 27, 2012

By Rebecca Bryant

Format:Kindle Edition

In the book Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting we see Robert discover that he needs to straighten out his life before something bad happens. we then follow him through the early stages of alcoholism and substance abuse recovery. we see how how the first few months are and how much strength it takes to recover. The book allows us to do this through his eyes. You take this journey of recovery from the point of view of the addict himself. It is a story that proves if you are willing to change your situation anything is possible that you are in control of your life and your destiny. very inspiring for sure.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very personal!! June 27, 2012

By s_gallegos

Format:Kindle Edition

This story was very personal to me in that I was a child of an alcoholic and when my dad decided to become sober I was with him through his entire journey. He can now say that he is 18 years clean and sober but to get here was not easy. However, one does not have to have an addiction to relate to this story, any type of life changing decision you make will have you dealing with similar struggles that are hard and sometimes seem impossible to accomplish. The best thing I got from this story was how worth it in the end all the hardships are! No it's never easy to do the right thing for yourself or your family but the outcome is SO much better than loosing everything precious in your life.