The Double Life of a High-Functioning Alcoholic

Addiction, Lies, and the Courage to Quit Drinking Alcohol

De: Howard Kane

Narrado por: Benjamin Powell

You don’t have to hit rock bottom to realize alcohol is wrecking your life. Sometimes, it just takes one honest look in the mirror.

Dave seemed to have it all. A successful career, a loving family, the respect of everyone around him. But behind the polished surface, he was drinking in secret, convincing himself it wasn’t a problem. No arrests. No missed meetings. Just a few drinks to relax… until the blackouts, the lies, and the fear he couldn’t escape.

The Double Life of a High-Functioning Alcoholic is a raw, memoir-style novel inspired by Howard Kane’s own sobriety journey. It takes you inside the hidden world of high-functioning addiction where success becomes a mask, denial runs deep, and every drink feels both normal and dangerous.

This is not a guide or a how-to. It’s the intimate story of secrets, consequences, and the dangerous illusion that “everything is under control.”

Buy now and step inside a powerful story of struggle, survival, and recovery.

©2015 Hidden Alpha Capital LLC (P)2025 Hidden Alpha Capital LLC

A Deep Look Behind the Mask

This is one of those books that makes you understand what happens behind the scenes of someone’s seemingly perfect life. It’s not just about drinking, it’s about pressure, denial, and courage. The narration makes everything come alive. It’s powerful in a calm way, and I think many people will see themselves or someone they know here.

Great Book!

This book is simply great... it's a powerful look at what “high-functioning” alcoholism can feel like from the inside. Instead of the normal rock-bottom story line. The book does a fantastic job describing the slow erosion of control behind a polished life..little moments that accumulate until alcohol stops being a choice. The late-night story on the bathroom floor is especially haunting; it captures fear, physical unraveling, and the dawning realization that something fundamental has shifted. It's honestly portrays overcoming the booze with practical tips like passing on drinks with a “training for a half marathon” excuse, or keeping a club soda with lime in hand. Plus, the “Sober Toolkit” at the end is gold. The takeaway....if you've had some issues with the bottle, get this book.

A Brave and Transformative Read

Howard Kane’s story shines a light on what so many struggle with in silence. The writing is heartfelt, courageous, and practical, showing not only the hidden dangers of "functional" drinking but also the real freedom that comes with sobriety. This is more than a memoir; it’s a lifeline for anyone wondering if there’s more to life beyond the bottle.

The Double Life of a High-Functioning Alcoholic

Alcohol is a serious problem, it is very interesting how Howard approach this. One chapter I liked a lot is the one that our body keeps score of the all damage we create abusing alcohol. He experienced how to stop abusing alcohol and how hard was the first two weeks. The audio and narrator is high quality, this book is good.

The Double Life of a High-Functioning Alcoholic

The Double Life of a High-Functioning Alcoholic is an honest and eye-opening listen. Howard Kane shares his journey with raw detail and courage, and the narration brings it to life with sincerity. It’s moving, relatable, and offers real hope for recovery.

Very Relatable

This book hit me real hard because I saw a lot of myself in the main character. On the outside, I looked like I was doing fine too, but on the inside, I was drinking way more than anyone knew. I would have small bottle in my car before all events. The way he talked about hiding it and trying to keep control reminded me of the lies I used to tell myself. It’s not easy to face those memories, but it also gave me hope seeing how he worked through it. If you’ve ever struggled with alcohol, this story will feel really familiar and maybe even help you see you’re not alone. Only thing I did not like was the audio was a bit fuzzy.

eye opener!

This audiobook floored me with how real and relatable it felt. It shows a side of alcohol addiction that most people never see—the kind hidden behind success, stability, and a smile. The writing is sharp but deeply personal, pulling you into the quiet unraveling of someone who “looks fine” yet is battling demons in secret. What I appreciated most is the mix of raw storytelling and practical insights, especially the Sober Toolkit, which makes this more than just a memoir. It’s honest, vulnerable, and ultimately hopeful. A must-listen for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol.

Really interesting!

I found this book to be very interesting! It paints a really good picture about how someone can struggle with addiction and still be a high functioning member of society.

an inspring story, true to the challenges

This was inspiring and refreshing with the contrast of honesty and lies that were profound. The themes of growth and future pacing were powerful motivators and strategies to fuel even at the toughest points in the journey of life. I think everyone can appreciate and benefit from listening whether you've had similar emotional stressors or experiences and learned the decisions that define you in those moments. Overall this was easy to listen to, easy to learn from and easily powerful to motivate and take on life with courage to go beyond your norm. Thank you for sharing!

Living Beyond the Double Life

This book shows how addiction can hide behind success and a polished life, and that really hit home. The way the author shares his own story makes it feel honest and not preachy, just very human. I liked the practical “sober toolkit” too, it gives real tools instead of only telling a story.