Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul: Your Personal, Portable Support Group With Stories of Healing, Hope, Love and Resilience

by Peter Vegso, Peter Vegso, Theresa Peluso

Your personal portable support group - Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul - underscores the tenacity of the human spirit. Find inspiration for change and personal growth in each story within its pages as people in this dynamic community share their experiences of transformation, of lives reclaimed, of relationships renewed and futures full of promise. Today, the recovering lifestyle has been embraced and celebrated by millions. The silence which once enveloped dysfunctional families or victims of trauma has been broken, and the shame felt by those suffering with behavioral disorders or depression has turned into a sense of accomplishment and pride. More than 700,000 Americans receive treatment for alcoholism or substance abuse on any given day in over 11,000 addiction treatment programs offering residential, outpatient and hospital inpatient options. Support groups meet daily in every corner of the world and the Internet hums with recovering chat rooms and bulletin boards. The traditional 12 Step model of Alcoholic's Anonymous has been joined by programs offering more secular approaches to recovery, while others support faith-based models. Diversity and inclusion in treatment have become the hallmark of recovery today. Whether you are just embracing a commitment to recovery, or have already experienced deep healing, hope and renewed love in recovery, Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul will be a source of inspiration and renewal every step of the way. Remember, you are not alone.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2004

About the author

Peter Vegso is an entrepreneur and pioneer of self-help publishing, best known for being the original publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Vegso has been having a diverse and open dialogue with God for most of his life. His appreciation of Dadi Janki and the mission of the BKWSU led them to this special collaboration. Originally from Canada, he has spent the last 30 years in Boca Raton and Ocala, Florida, where he enjoys life with his wife of 40 years, Anne, their children and three very active grandsons.

Reviews

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a number of the stories in various editions of the Chicken Soup series. This particular one, by far, is the best I've read. But then, in my experience, the people in 12 step programs already tend to be walking, breathing examples of such stories in their daily lives anyway.

I've only gotten through maybe 10% of the book so far, but I already have a favorite story that had me sobbing yesterday...

!!SPOILER WARNING!!!

An alcoholic flight attendant had just come out of a month-long rehab program and was back at work. She got off a flight and felt herself on shaky ground in the airport when the overwhelming desire to drink suddenly gripped her. She sincerely didn't want to drink, but felt powerless to stop it. Desperate for help, she hurried to airport staff and had the following page issued all across the airport:

"Friends of Bill W., your party is waiting at gate X. Will friends of Bill W. please go to Gate X?" (For those who are unaware, a "friend of Bill W." is AA-speak for an AA member).

Fifteen people, from all over the airport, showed up at Gate X. Two of them were boarding and decided to miss their flights so they could go help this fellow member. They had a meeting on the spot, right there at the gate.


It's a beautiful thing. Not only the lengths to which we will go for recovery, but the lengths to which others will go for us as well.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating these types of books really isn't fair on my part. Because I seek out certain types of books for a reason. My job. This would be one of those books. As you can tell from the title I work with patients who struggle with addiction. This book gave me an opportunity to share many experiences with them and get them thinking about there own lives hopefully. Even outside the context of my job I enjoyed reading the hopeful stories that were shared.

[J. R. Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a great read. The stories ate deep, emotional, but inspiration comes from each narrative. I recommend this book to people who feel they can't hang onto hope. What I learned from this book is that Recovery comes from all areas of life.

[Mandy Huot · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book as always! blog to come!

[Charles Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short accounts on the various forms and facets of recovery. Heartwarming, heartbreaking, poignant, and funny.

[Cari608 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Whitney Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that offers many different stories of hope in Recovery from addictions. I would highly recommend this book to people who need to hear of stories of hope, healing, as well as know that they are not alone along their journey of recovery. I know that if I would have found this book about 7 years and a few months ago as I began my own Recovery journey I would have realized that I was not the only 21-22 year old who was going to start the Recovery Journey at a young age. I will say that I have learned many things from the book as I read each and every one of the stories that took place through out the book and could easily see where my own story could easily fit in with theirs. I guess that is the power of knowing what its like on the Recovering addict side.

[Tori Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting and heart touching that these different people went through so many different obstacles in their lives. Each person had faced different situations in their life that had led them to challenge them in some way. In their shared stories, they also found the courage to change some piece of something in their own life to guide them to becoming a better person for different reasons.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the Chicken soup series but this is my favorite one. I enjoyed the stories because I struggle with depression and need constant reminders that I can overcome. These people have overcome just I am working on doing through my twelve step work, God, family, therapist, doctor, and my church. I have read the book twice and will probably re-read it at sometime in the future.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patience, understanding, serenity...

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

took this to rehab with me and found it inspirational. great for newcomers to the program.

[Pixismiler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't know this book was for alcoholics.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good book and a must read