The Other Great Depression: How I'm Overcoming, on a Daily Basis, at Least a Million Addictions and Disfunctions and Finding a Spiritual (Sometimes) Life

I have been a Richard Lewis fan since I started watching "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on DVD.

This book, read by the author, is an insightful and profound odyssey into the depths of alcoholism and addiction, combined with his spiritual journeys in recovery. There were some excellent sound-bytes and one-liners and I had to keep rewinding in order to memorize them.

I found the delivery a little flat in Part 1 but he warms to his subject and sounds more animated in Part 2. I think the book was originally written some time in the early 2000's, with an "Afterward" from 2007. I couldn't understand why he refers to flight attendants as "stewardesses" unless the outdated term was purposely used in the context of the past.

I'll give this one a "five" as the dominant theme is that chemical sobriety is only a beginning, and that it takes work to stay on the path, while still having fun.

Richard Lewis has been funny to me for many, many years. To learn of his struggle was sad, but very uplifting, when he relates that he conquered his demons 15 years ago. He is funny and straight, at the same time. And this seems to be his success story. I am in awe of what he has done and how he has told his story.

Not really. Just someone like him. If you've ever dated an alcoholic, you might find it as painful to listen to his chapter on how PMS destroyed his relationships as I did. Maybe you will also find it an opportunity to gain insight into why such relationships fail, and some forgiveness. I tried to do that - but eventually gave up.