Recovering Life [Hardcover]

Charisse (Author), Darryl Strawberry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999

If you could ask Darryl Strawberry one question, what would it be? Would you ask him about baseball? Substance abuse? The role of faith and prayer in his life? Family? Cancer? Fear? Failure? Courage?? Tough to decide? Plough makes it easy. We asked Darryl all the questions we could think of, and he gave us answers - simple, honest, and hard-hitting. But we didn't stop there: we asked his wife, Charisse, to share her views as well. Think of this book as a conversation: a discourse between two people who've lived their entire shared lives in the spotlight, yet remain essentially 'ordinary' at heart. Whether you're captivated by baseball or not, you'll find yourself responding to the forthright nature of this book, which deals less with baseball than it does with issues such as battling cancer, addictions, and depression.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Recovering Life" is the moving story of a very special couple who fought side by side against the odds to achieve and preserve a remarkable comeback against dependency and illness. Not only do Charisse and Darryl show us the heartwarming strength of their own relationship, but they also teach us that we can all learn from our mistakes and preserve the things in life which are truly worthwhile. This book is a great read about two fine young people. -- George M. Steinbrenner

"Recovering Life" touched me deeply. It makes a powerful case for why no one ever has the right to give up - on himself, on another person, or on God. Told with honesty and courage, the Strawberrys' story shows how paryer's strength really can move mountains. It encourages each of us to seek purpose in life. I highly recommend this book. -- Johann Christoph Arnold, author,

Charisse and Darrly show their readers that the only true way through the daily struggles that occur in every life lies in letting go and giving control to God. I have been blessed to be a witness to their strength, faith, and love. -- Andy Pettitte, pitcher, New York Yankees

Reading this beautiful book was like having a visit with Charisse and Darryl in their living room. My respect for their resilient attitude, which refuses to let anything overwhelm them, stems from a lifetime's work in recovery. I admire their courage and applaud their willingness to share their experience and open their hearts in this touching book. -- Adele C. Smithers-Fornaci, president, Christopher D. Smithers Foundation

Product Details

• Hardcover: 140 pages
• Publisher: Plough Publishing House; First Printing edition (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874869889
• ISBN-13: 978-0874869880
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,304,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Cancer > Colorectal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Straw is still the man, November 29, 1999

By 

Dave Stevens (Wolcott, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recovering Life (Hardcover)

Darryl's and Charisse Strawberry 's book is a touching and true story of what a proffessional athlete has to deal with beyond the game. I played baseball with Straw in St. Paul when he was a Saint - trying to get back to the bigs, and I feel lucky to call him a friend.. too many people are ready to judge a man from the outside without gettting to know him on the inside.. We all deserve a 2nd chance and even a 3rd and 4th chance sometimes... Recovering Life talks about the struggles.. the defeats and the tiny victories along the way - for a husband and wife who truely shared love and conqured addiction.. disease and depression... this is a great book by a good man

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting story about Perserverance, November 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Recovering Life (Hardcover)

I bought this book as soon as I heard about it and when it came in the mail I too read it in one sitting. A riveting book about life and how complex it can be. The obstacles put before a person and the obstacles they put before themselves all have to be dealt with. It seems like Straw's struggles will always be with him. But it is reassuring to know that he continues to battle. He has such a beautiful spiritual person by his side, Charisse, to walk with him in life and hold hands with in the most joyous of times and in the most trying. They seem to complement each other perfectly and I sincerely hope the peace that Straw so desperately longs for is attainable. I believe that it is and the perseverance that he and Charisse write about so eloquently in this book will help him to achieve all of his goals.

This book is amazingly uplifting even as I found myself crying through parts of it. To read their most inner thoughts was very interesting and I enjoyed the format of the book very much. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those with issues in their life that they are struggling to overcome. One way or another we all can learn a lot from this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Honest and believable., November 15, 1999

By 

Reuben Zimmerman (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recovering Life (Hardcover)

Despite the negative press Darryl Strawberry invariably receives, there are truths that can be learned through his story. None of us should ever deny anyone another chance - even after obvious and repeated failures. And one doesn't "recover" in a single giant leap, but in multiple, smaller steps. A worthwhile read.