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  • Experts

Health & Lifestyle » Addiction

Browse book recommendations:

Health & Lifestyle

  • Addiction
  • Death
  • Education
  • Family & Relationships
  • Happiness
  • Illness & Medical Conditions
  • Parenting
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We have a handful of interviews specifically devoted to addiction books. Shazia Omar chooses her best books about drug addiction, including On The Road by Jack Kerouac and Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh.   She argues that “getting out of drugs has a lot to do with your frame of mind and the ability to become connected to something higher than yourself.”

Others take up a similar theme.  Johann Hari discusses the war on drugs, arguing that it has completely failed by almost every single metric you care to use. His book choices include The murderers: the shocking story of the narcotic gangs by Henry Anslinger and Will Oursler and Murder City by Charles Bowden, which illustrate his argument that the illegality of drugs necessarily involves organised criminal gangs that compete for business by competing in the extremity of the violence they are prepared to use.

Hari argues that drug addiction is far more environmentally determined that is allowed for and points to Portugal’s successful programmes for reintegrating addicts.  His last two choices, the Globalisation of Addiction: a study in Poverty of the Spirit by Bruce Alexander and In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté explore this.

Mark Kleiman, the professor of public policy at UCLA School of Public Affairs, talks about the pros and cons of prohibition, arguing that prohibition can work, or at least have benefits, provided it’s done well, which it isn’t at the moment.  He gives us his best books on drugs, including Paying the Tab: the costs and benefits of Alcohol Control by Philip J Cook and An Analytic Assessment of US Drug Policies by David Boyum and Peter Reuter.

Louise Foxcroft chooses her best books on the History of Medicine and Addiction, looking at medical practices of the past, from treatment of madness and non-existent diseases, to drug use and the origins of hypochondria.  Dr Matthew Green looks at the specific case of London and the history of the city’s addictions, including chocolate, coffee tobacco and tea.  Meanwhile the Italian cardiologist, Tato Grasso, chooses his best books on Medicinal Marijuana.

    The Best Addiction Memoirs, recommended by Matt Rowland Hill

  • Read
    The Best Addiction Memoirs - Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey

    1

    Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
    by Thomas De Quincey

  • Read
    The Best Addiction Memoirs - Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen, translated by Michael Favala Goldman

    2

    Dependency
    by Tove Ditlevsen, translated by Michael Favala Goldman

  • Read
    The Best Addiction Memoirs - Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

    3

    Drinking: A Love Story
    by Caroline Knapp

  • Read
    The Best Addiction Memoirs - Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr

    4

    Lit: A Memoir
    by Mary Karr

  • Read
    The Best Addiction Memoirs - Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg

    5

    Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man
    by Bill Clegg

  • The Best Addiction Memoirs - Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey
  • The Best Addiction Memoirs - Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen, translated by Michael Favala Goldman
  • The Best Addiction Memoirs - Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
  • The Best Addiction Memoirs - Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr
  • The Best Addiction Memoirs - Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg

The Best Addiction Memoirs, recommended by Matt Rowland Hill

The author and recovering addict Matt Rowland Hill dissects the ‘addiction memoir’—its literary potential, its formal conventions and its offer of hope and catharsis—as he recommends five books that exemplify the form, from Thomas De Quincey’s Confessions of an English Opium Eater to Mary Karr’s bestselling Lit.

The Best Addiction Memoirs, recommended by Matt Rowland Hill

    The best books on The War on Drugs, recommended by Johann Hari

  • Read
    The best books on The War on Drugs - Drug Addicts are Human Beings by Henry Smith Williams

    1

    Drug Addicts are Human Beings
    by Henry Smith Williams

  • Read
    The best books on The War on Drugs - The Murderers: The Shocking Story of the Narcotic Gangs by Henry Anslinger and Will Oursler

    2

    The Murderers: The Shocking Story of the Narcotic Gangs
    by Henry Anslinger and Will Oursler

  • Read
    The best books on The War on Drugs - Murder City by Charles Bowden

    3

    Murder City
    by Charles Bowden

  • Read
    The best books on The War on Drugs - The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit by Bruce Alexander

    4

    The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit
    by Bruce Alexander

  • Read
    The best books on The War on Drugs - In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté

    5

    In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction
    by Gabor Maté

  • The best books on The War on Drugs - Drug Addicts are Human Beings by Henry Smith Williams
  • The best books on The War on Drugs - The Murderers: The Shocking Story of the Narcotic Gangs by Henry Anslinger and Will Oursler
  • The best books on The War on Drugs - Murder City by Charles Bowden
  • The best books on The War on Drugs - The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit by Bruce Alexander
  • The best books on The War on Drugs - In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté

The best books on The War on Drugs, recommended by Johann Hari

Everything we have been told about drugs and drug addiction and how society should deal with them is wrong, says the British author and journalist Johann Hari. He chooses the best books on ‘the war on drugs.’

The best books on The War on Drugs, recommended by Johann Hari

    The best books on London’s Addictions, recommended by Dr Matthew Green

  • Read
    The best books on London’s Addictions - The True History of Chocolate by Sophie and Michael Coe

    1

    The True History of Chocolate
    by Sophie and Michael Coe

  • Read
    The best books on London’s Addictions - The Smoke of the Gods: A Social History of Tobacco by Eric Burns

    2

    The Smoke of the Gods: A Social History of Tobacco
    by Eric Burns

  • Read
    The best books on London’s Addictions - The Diary of Dudley Ryder, 1715-1716 by Dudley Ryder

    3

    The Diary of Dudley Ryder, 1715-1716
    by Dudley Ryder

  • Read
    The best books on London’s Addictions - Samuel Johnson: The Major Works by ed. by Donald Green

    4

    Samuel Johnson: The Major Works
    by ed. by Donald Green

  • Read
    The best books on London’s Addictions - London Calling by Barry Miles

    5

    London Calling
    by Barry Miles

  • The best books on London’s Addictions - The True History of Chocolate by Sophie and Michael Coe
  • The best books on London’s Addictions - The Smoke of the Gods: A Social History of Tobacco by Eric Burns
  • The best books on London’s Addictions - The Diary of Dudley Ryder, 1715-1716 by Dudley Ryder
  • The best books on London’s Addictions - Samuel Johnson: The Major Works by ed. by Donald Green
  • The best books on London’s Addictions - London Calling by Barry Miles

The best books on London’s Addictions, recommended by Dr Matthew Green

The social historian argues London is an intrinsically addictive city. He charts its history through its dependencies on chocolate, tobacco, coffee, and tea.

The best books on London’s Addictions, recommended by Dr Matthew Green

    The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction, recommended by Louise Foxcroft

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn

    1

    Structure of Scientific Revolutions
    by Thomas Kuhn

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Mind-Forg’d Manacles by Roy Porter

    2

    Mind-Forg’d Manacles
    by Roy Porter

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Tormented Hope by Brian Dillon

    3

    Tormented Hope
    by Brian Dillon

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Fat is a Feminist Issue by Susie Orbach

    4

    Fat is a Feminist Issue
    by Susie Orbach

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Emperors of Dreams by Mike Jay

    5

    Emperors of Dreams
    by Mike Jay

  • The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn
  • The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Mind-Forg’d Manacles by Roy Porter
  • The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Tormented Hope by Brian Dillon
  • The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Fat is a Feminist Issue by Susie Orbach
  • The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction - Emperors of Dreams by Mike Jay

The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction, recommended by Louise Foxcroft

Historian and author Louise Foxcroft prescribes reading on medical practices of the past, from treatments of madness and non-existent disease, to drug use and the origins of hypochondria.

The best books on The History of Medicine and Addiction, recommended by Louise Foxcroft

    The best books on Medicinal Marijuana, recommended by Tato Grasso

  • Read
    The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Cannabis Uso e Abuso by Giancarlo Arnao

    1

    Cannabis Uso e Abuso
    by Giancarlo Arnao

  • Read
    The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Marijuana by Dr Lester Grinspoon and James B Baker

    2

    Marijuana
    by Dr Lester Grinspoon and James B Baker

  • Read
    The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis by British Medical Association

    3

    Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis
    by British Medical Association

  • Read
    The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Cannabis and Cannabinoids by Franjo Grotenhermen and Ethan Russo

    4

    Cannabis and Cannabinoids
    by Franjo Grotenhermen and Ethan Russo

  • Read
    The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Erba Medica by Associazione Cannabis Terapeutica

    5

    Erba Medica
    by Associazione Cannabis Terapeutica

  • The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Cannabis Uso e Abuso by Giancarlo Arnao
  • The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Marijuana by Dr Lester Grinspoon and James B Baker
  • The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis by British Medical Association
  • The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Cannabis and Cannabinoids by Franjo Grotenhermen and Ethan Russo
  • The best books on Medicinal Marijuana - Erba Medica by Associazione Cannabis Terapeutica

The best books on Medicinal Marijuana, recommended by Tato Grasso

The Italian cardiologist and fellow of the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine proposes five books on Medicinal Marijuana and explains why we should be reading them.

The best books on Medicinal Marijuana, recommended by Tato Grasso

    The best books on Drugs, recommended by Mark Kleiman

  • Read
    The best books on Drugs - Paying the Tab by Philip J Cook

    1

    Paying the Tab
    by Philip J Cook

  • Read
    The best books on Drugs - An Analytic Assessment of US Drug Policies by David Boyum and Peter Reuter

    2

    An Analytic Assessment of US Drug Policies
    by David Boyum and Peter Reuter

  • Read
    The best books on Drugs - Help at Any Cost by Maia Szalavitz

    3

    Help at Any Cost
    by Maia Szalavitz

  • Read
    The best books on Drugs - Addiction by Gene M Heyman

    4

    Addiction
    by Gene M Heyman

  • Read
    The best books on Drugs - Cleansing the Doors of Perception by Huston Smith

    5

    Cleansing the Doors of Perception
    by Huston Smith

  • The best books on Drugs - Paying the Tab by Philip J Cook
  • The best books on Drugs - An Analytic Assessment of US Drug Policies by David Boyum and Peter Reuter
  • The best books on Drugs - Help at Any Cost by Maia Szalavitz
  • The best books on Drugs - Addiction by Gene M Heyman
  • The best books on Drugs - Cleansing the Doors of Perception by Huston Smith

The best books on Drugs, recommended by Mark Kleiman

The Professor of Public Policy at the UCLA School of Public Affairs talks drugs and selects the best books on the subject. Enlightening discussion around drug policies and potential benefits of hallucinogens

The best books on Drugs, recommended by Mark Kleiman

    The best books on Drug Addiction, recommended by Shazia Omar

  • Read
    The best books on Drug Addiction - Like a Diamond in the Sky by Shazia Omar

    1

    Like a Diamond in the Sky
    by Shazia Omar

  • Read
    The best books on Drug Addiction - On the Road by Jack Kerouac

    2

    On the Road
    by Jack Kerouac

  • Read
    The best books on Drug Addiction - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

    3

    The Alchemist
    by Paulo Coelho

  • Read
    The best books on Drug Addiction - Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid

    4

    Moth Smoke
    by Mohsin Hamid

  • Read
    The best books on Drug Addiction - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

    5

    Trainspotting
    by Irvine Welsh

  • The best books on Drug Addiction - Like a Diamond in the Sky by Shazia Omar
  • The best books on Drug Addiction - On the Road by Jack Kerouac
  • The best books on Drug Addiction - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  • The best books on Drug Addiction - Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid
  • The best books on Drug Addiction - Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

The best books on Drug Addiction, recommended by Shazia Omar

Author and social psychologist discusses the nature of drug addiction and the problems associated with it. Discusses books by Coelho, Welsh and Kerouac

The best books on Drug Addiction, recommended by Shazia Omar

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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