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The Other Great Depression: How I'm overcoming daily basis least 1000000 addictions dysfunctions finding spi

5 star:		(13)
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3 star:		(4)
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1 star:		(5)

 

 

Richard Lewis might have problems with women and intimacy and God knows everything under the sun but the way he writes about his newfound spirituality after becoming part of the recovery community made me feel a lot less alone. The book is really cool and a quick read and I was astounded at how well he writes only knowing him from his comedy but his brutal honesty and ultimate day-to-day battle to stay sober has certainly made my own recovery something even more to be proud of. This is quite a book for anyone with the "quiet fear" of having all sorts of addictions and should give lots of people courage to change their lives. I think I have quite a few people to send this book to anonymously. Shh! Don't tell anybody. Bravo, Mr.Lewis!

A book that brutally describes what addiction is like, from the viewpoint of an addict, and how to overcome addiction is "The Other Great Depression". Written by comedian Richard Lewis, we learn how he has overcome three decades of alcohol and drug addiction with seven years of sobriety. His book analyzes how youthful traumas and adult insecurities lead to anxieties, depression, alcohol, and drugs. It was Richard Lewis's realization that his lifestyle was leading towards death and that he wanted to live that enabled him to win his struggle to overcome addicitons and regain his life.
Richard Lewis presents many deep personal thoughts about the pressures of youth, dating, and the entertainment worlds to present his own road to the depths of depression and alcoholism. His description of his struggle to overcome his difficulties, which came from his own realization of his need for survival along with assistance from caring friends and his sprituality, brings encouragement to people seeking to overcome their addictions.
One key point Richard Lewis makes is that addicts are screaming for help, even when they deny they need assistance. All too often, we ignore their pleas, in part because many addicts do not know how to ask for help. Addiction can be helped. It may not be easy. Ignoring the addiction is not the way to provide that help.

I've been a huge fan of Richard Lewis' for many years and have always loved his stand-up as well as his acting. When I read "The Other Great Depression" it blew me away! Now his story-telling brilliance is written for all of us to savor anytime. As honest as he always seems to be on stage, one never knows if that's real. It's real! And then some. The book is revealing, humorous, and tremendously inspiring ... I have a long list of friends and relatives who need to read it--including my girlfriend!

I really like Richard Lewis. He is a very funny man. But the title of this book is so apt. Reading it was...kind of...depressing. But the book I'm sure has much in it that would be very helpful to those caught up in addiction. What makes it worthwhile to the rest of us is the painful glimpse it gives you into the mind and psyche of someone dealing with Depression. And the descriptions Richard gives you of his relationships with his mother and father are heartbreaking. But the description of the redemptive scene between him and his dying mother in the nursing home is worth wading through some of the other weightier areas of the book to get to. This book is very painfully honest. It would have been easier for him to gloss over some of the rough stuff and would probably have certainly made him look better, but to battle addiction I think brutal honesty is probably called for and Richard certainly comes through in this regard.

Reading Mr. Lewis' book was like having a private and meaningful 12-step meeting with him. Yes, there was profanity, yes, there was some stuff about women that made the hairs on my neck stand up and yes, he was a sick and dysfunctional puppy, but Mr. Lewis' story echoes the stories heard in "the rooms" and his thought processes may strike a chord with others who suffer from the disease of alcoholism. Speaking from experience, the lives of suffering alcoholics are never pretty so be prepared for some embarrassing, pitiful and demoralizing scenarios. His brutal self assessment and rigorous honesty are very impressive.

In the end, Mr. Lewis' story shows that the disease of alcoholism is a terrible war fought within the confines of one's mind and spirit, persistently threatening to destroy one's physical being. His strength, on a day to day basis, to be victorious over this killer is encouraging. By staying sober, his hope to be the person he was meant be, is slowly, but triumphantly, realized in the progress he's made towards this goal. Thank you, Mr. Lewis.

Reading this book makes me so proud of my husband who has been sober for over 20 years. I didn't know him when he was using and Richard's essays make me realize the strength and courage it takes to get there. Thank you Richard. Your words are inspirational and your girlfriend is one lucky woman.

Lewis does a great job describing the insanity of his addiction and the depths in which it can take a person. I give him a lot of credit to be as bold as he was. Lewis writes of issues, episodes, and obsessions that might be harshly criticized by anyone, but to another alcoholic/addict, these events are all too real. Lewis doesn't hold anything back -- his humor and neurotic personality give this book layers of dynamic energy. Addicted or not, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants or needs to know about the perverse, insidious nature of addiction. Lewis has the strength to discover himself, the courage to face his addiction, and the candor to give it a voice. We can all learn from this intriguing and provocative story. To Lewis I say -- keep working it baby 'cause you're worth it! One day at a time.

I didn't think I had a drinking problem--and still don't but for sure I have an addict's state of mind in a myriad of other areas and thanks to Mr. Lewis' amazingly candid memoir it has given me the courage to keep an eye out on myself before I could conceivably fall into the hell he did--and yet--his story gives such hopefulness and good advice I heartily recommend it to anyone who`like myself has doubts about one's own manner of living or those of loved ones.

I bought this book at a tag sale for 50 cents and if I remembered the address I'd return it. Alcoholism is sad and serious; however, Lewis is a self-indulgent egomaniacal narcissist who thinks he is the most important person to ever recover from the disease. He offers superficial reflections on his disease and recovery, and is barely able to conceal what this book is truly about: his obsession with himself, his career, and friends he repeatedly refers to as "famous" but never names. No idea who gave this man a book deal, or who edited it for that matter - it could be cut down to four pages and it would offer the same amount of value. Depressing.

I know Richard and he poured his heart out in this book. It's funny, touching, sad and at times scary. I reccomend this book for anyone having addicions problems. It's a brave book by a brave guy who puts his soul out there for us to see.