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The Struggle: 10 Years Later
Addicted to heroin and unable to stop on his own, Brian Storm finds himself sitting on the tracks waiting for a train to come and take his life. But things weren’t always this bad for Brian, an aspiring white rapper from Philadelphia who had a good upbringing. In Brian’s early teen years, he discovers that drugs and alcohol are the perfect solutions to his low self-esteem issues. Like most addicts and alcoholics, Brian believes that he can stop at any time, so he doesn’t see any harm in continuing to drink and smoke weed. What he doesn’t know is that with every sip and every puff, he falls deeper into a world of crime and desperation.
The Struggle is a gripping true story that takes you through the life of an alcoholic/addict who hits rock bottom but quickly learns that the more he tries to dig himself out, the deeper that bottom gets. It takes a blessing in disguise for Brian to finally get the help he needs, but when he does, he learns that The Struggle is far from over.
The Struggle is a gripping true story that takes you through the life of an alcoholic/addict who hits rock bottom but quickly learns that the more he tries to dig himself out, the deeper that bottom gets. It takes a blessing in disguise for Brian to finally get the help he needs, but when he does, he learns that The Struggle is far from over.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2023
16 people are currently reading
2293 people want to read
About the author
Brian Storm
3 books36 followersBrian Storm grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he discovered a passion for writing at an early age. However, a drug addiction took priority over Brian’s life, as he sold drugs to support his habit. Eventually Brian turned his life around with the help of a 12-step program.
The 12-step program helped him to discover a passion for helping other alcoholics and addicts. This passion led Brian to write his memoir, “the Struggle,” to share his experience, strength, and hope with others. Years later, Brian pursued a career at the Free Library of Philadelphia. He then went back to school and obtained his Associate of Arts Degree.
The 12-step program helped him to discover a passion for helping other alcoholics and addicts. This passion led Brian to write his memoir, “the Struggle,” to share his experience, strength, and hope with others. Years later, Brian pursued a career at the Free Library of Philadelphia. He then went back to school and obtained his Associate of Arts Degree.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 28, 2023
I am the author of this book, so I won't review my own book. However, here is an editorial review from booklife.com, where it was selected as an "Editor's Pick."
https://booklife.com/project/the-stru...
“Truth be told, I was excited to see what was waiting for me on the other side,” Storm writes in the first chapter of this unflinching yet hopeful memoir of facing addiction. Before Storm, ten years sober at publication time, could choose to live and dedicate himself to the hard work of sobriety, he faced death itself, willingly, with a chilling sense of ceremony. That harrowing opening chapter recounts, with detail worthy of a noir novel, the thieving, multiple drug transactions, and curious excitement of the January night that Storm tried to die on the train tracks in Northeast Philadelphia—and how he was jolted back by an ex’s out-of-the-blue effort to contact him. The book that follows reveals how he got to that point, what happened next, his AA journey, and how, a little over a decade later, he’s found purpose in helping others who are facing similar demons.
Despite the title, there’s excitement and wit here, too. Writing with crisp clarity and power, plus an eye for the telling detail, Storm digs into his love of hip hop, his youthful penning of rhymes, and the way trouble that at first seemed manageable. But some of the kids living on the edge in any high school fall off. For Storm, working in a Xanax blur at McDonald’s at 16 soon leads to hustling “works” (syringes) on the street, subsisting on “sugar sandwiches” made from purloined sugar packets, and working with an addict whom he fell for in detox to shake down her ex-boyfriend.
Tense confrontations, dope-sick sweats, HIV scares, a murder, lost time with loved ones: The Struggle lays out its tragedies and miseries without a sense of romance or braggadocio, instead relating the facts (as Storm recalls them) in prose that moves quickly and never suggests self-pity. Material about AA and recovery proves as compelling as the dark stuff, and the everyday victories in the final chapters—marriage, home ownership, a degree—are especially moving.
Takeaway: This searing but wise account of addiction and recovery inspires as much as it harrows.
Great for fans of: Nic Sheff’s Tweak, Koren Zailckas’s Smashed.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
https://booklife.com/project/the-stru...
“Truth be told, I was excited to see what was waiting for me on the other side,” Storm writes in the first chapter of this unflinching yet hopeful memoir of facing addiction. Before Storm, ten years sober at publication time, could choose to live and dedicate himself to the hard work of sobriety, he faced death itself, willingly, with a chilling sense of ceremony. That harrowing opening chapter recounts, with detail worthy of a noir novel, the thieving, multiple drug transactions, and curious excitement of the January night that Storm tried to die on the train tracks in Northeast Philadelphia—and how he was jolted back by an ex’s out-of-the-blue effort to contact him. The book that follows reveals how he got to that point, what happened next, his AA journey, and how, a little over a decade later, he’s found purpose in helping others who are facing similar demons.
Despite the title, there’s excitement and wit here, too. Writing with crisp clarity and power, plus an eye for the telling detail, Storm digs into his love of hip hop, his youthful penning of rhymes, and the way trouble that at first seemed manageable. But some of the kids living on the edge in any high school fall off. For Storm, working in a Xanax blur at McDonald’s at 16 soon leads to hustling “works” (syringes) on the street, subsisting on “sugar sandwiches” made from purloined sugar packets, and working with an addict whom he fell for in detox to shake down her ex-boyfriend.
Tense confrontations, dope-sick sweats, HIV scares, a murder, lost time with loved ones: The Struggle lays out its tragedies and miseries without a sense of romance or braggadocio, instead relating the facts (as Storm recalls them) in prose that moves quickly and never suggests self-pity. Material about AA and recovery proves as compelling as the dark stuff, and the everyday victories in the final chapters—marriage, home ownership, a degree—are especially moving.
Takeaway: This searing but wise account of addiction and recovery inspires as much as it harrows.
Great for fans of: Nic Sheff’s Tweak, Koren Zailckas’s Smashed.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
April 24, 2023
Using drugs and alcohol is a choice. Addiction isn’t. It’s a mental and physical health condition which often results in death. The Struggle is the story of how Brian Storm suffered, fought and overcame this illness, and he pulls no punches as he takes the reader on a chilling, gut-wrenching journey into an addict’s world. The narrative is matter-of-fact with no hint of sensationalism or bravado. There is no need to embellish the story; it is shocking and harrowing enough. As his drug use escalates, Storm’s behaviour degenerates and he descends rapidly into a life of crime. Despite the depravity of his existence, he is not devoid of conscience. He is desperate to break the cycle of addiction, but graphic descriptions of the agonies of withdrawal give the reader an insight into why recovery is easier said than done.
By telling his story, the author explodes many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding addiction. His account, though frank and explicit, is laced with vulnerability and pain. He offers no apologies or excuses. He doesn’t ask for sympathy or pity. He doesn’t attempt to pass the buck or apportion blame. By the same token, on successfully completing the 12-step programme of rehabilitation he doesn’t seek to evangelise but shares his triumph with humility, sincerity and joy. In doing so he offers a beacon of hope to guide others towards the road to recovery. There is no cure for addiction but with a combination of support, inner strength, and commitment it can be successfully and permanently disarmed.
Don’t be tempted to dismiss this book purely because of the stigma attached to addiction. The Struggle is a story that needed to be written; it therefore deserves to be read.
By telling his story, the author explodes many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding addiction. His account, though frank and explicit, is laced with vulnerability and pain. He offers no apologies or excuses. He doesn’t ask for sympathy or pity. He doesn’t attempt to pass the buck or apportion blame. By the same token, on successfully completing the 12-step programme of rehabilitation he doesn’t seek to evangelise but shares his triumph with humility, sincerity and joy. In doing so he offers a beacon of hope to guide others towards the road to recovery. There is no cure for addiction but with a combination of support, inner strength, and commitment it can be successfully and permanently disarmed.
Don’t be tempted to dismiss this book purely because of the stigma attached to addiction. The Struggle is a story that needed to be written; it therefore deserves to be read.
March 31, 2023
If you have ever wondered what using drugs is like, this book is for you. The Struggle is authentic. Raw. Real. Too close to home. My son struggled with life and was hooked on marijuana—he used it to cope, and he is now in heaven, so I can’t talk to him about it. Having never used drugs myself, I always wondered what possessed him to do this. The Struggle by Brian Storm opened my eyes to see why someone would choose to abuse substances. Brian did a fantastic job explaining how different drugs make a person feel—this enlightened me about the actions of my first husband (Tony) since he used many drugs. He died when my son was one, and I had always wondered why Tony couldn’t change his actions and clean up. I received a complimentary ARC of this audiobook, and Brian recorded it phenomenally. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to stop depending on drugs or to know what it feels like to be an addict. Thank you, Brian, for sharing your story so others can benefit from your past. I love the hip-hop song at the end of the audiobook—well done.
August 14, 2024
A powerful and raw look into addiction and recovery, depicting not only the struggles of addiction, but also the struggle of recovery. Knowing the author personally, I will say Brian, I am so, so, so proud of you, you have overcome so much, you have truly turned your life around. Keep going, one day at a time!! Listen to some of the early chapters brought back so many memories for me of old friends, and fun times hanging out, I just wish I really saw the path you were headed down, and the struggles you hid. Thank you for sharing your story, listening to it as a non-addict who has loved and tried to help an addict, this story gave so much perspective into the mind of an addict not only in active addiction, but also in recovery. I hope more people find the same joy and happiness you have found in sobriety, and are able to escape the grip of addiction.
March 31, 2024
The Struggle is a memoir of addiction. Brian became hooked on alcohol and drugs while still in school and before too long his weed smoking habit had escalated through coke and opioids to heroin. He was a drug dealer, selling on the corners in the dangerous parts of Philadelphia where addicts and cops were the only people he saw on a daily basis. He became the stereotypical addict, stealing from loved ones lying to everyone, breaking promises, hurting his family and friends again and again. However unlike the majority of heroin addicts he had luck on his side - or was it a Higher Power looking after him? He certainly believes it was. Unable to post bail after an arrest, he has to stay in jail and gets sober. He has people willing to help him and through their dedication and belief in him and his determination to attend AA meetings constantly and his belief in God, not only does he survive, but goes on to thrive, develop a healthy loving relationship, secure a steady job, study for a college degree and make amends for his behavior towards his friends and families.
His writing is compelling and emotional. Nothing is off-limits as he exposes how low he fell from grace. He really wins over the reader and I found myself rooting for him to keep going to meetings and stay clean.
My life has not been affected by drugs, thankfully, and I found this memoir to be both gritty and educational. I feel like I understand addiction much better for having read it and I highly commend Brian Storm for writing about his struggle and for all the work he has done with addicts since getting clean.
His writing is compelling and emotional. Nothing is off-limits as he exposes how low he fell from grace. He really wins over the reader and I found myself rooting for him to keep going to meetings and stay clean.
My life has not been affected by drugs, thankfully, and I found this memoir to be both gritty and educational. I feel like I understand addiction much better for having read it and I highly commend Brian Storm for writing about his struggle and for all the work he has done with addicts since getting clean.
January 19, 2023
An amazing account of the power of addiction, one of the best memoirs I have read, written in a way which is impossible to stop reading it once you start.
August 7, 2023
Recently I spent time with a friend who was honest to the point of pain describing his life as an addict. He didn’t blame everyone else or play the victim. What courage that took! I’ve never actually met this friend in person; you guessed it: I met him in The Struggle. A good author tells a story in elaborate detail; a great one does that and doesn’t leave the ugly or embarrassing parts out. Brian, how I rooted for you-the ups were encouraging, the lows were downright steep. I’m privileged to know your story. A book you won’t be able to put down.
May 16, 2023
Imagine the amount of courage and strength it must take to get sober... then imagine what it must take to write your story for the world to see and read.
Congratulations Brian Storm on what you have accomplished to get and stay clean & sober.
Highly suggest you read this book if you or someone you know struggles with addiction.
Congratulations Brian Storm on what you have accomplished to get and stay clean & sober.
Highly suggest you read this book if you or someone you know struggles with addiction.
August 26, 2023
Open and honest
While I've known people who have struggled with addiction, I've never known the real struggle they face. This was very intense and personal. Thank you for sharing and giving a glimpse of the scary day to day reality of living with a terrible disease.
**I received this from a Goodreads Giveaway.
While I've known people who have struggled with addiction, I've never known the real struggle they face. This was very intense and personal. Thank you for sharing and giving a glimpse of the scary day to day reality of living with a terrible disease.
**I received this from a Goodreads Giveaway.
October 9, 2021
I've never understood addiction, but that doesn't lessen my love for my beloved who struggle from it. I say all of the above to say the following:
Storm's memoir is blunt and raw in all the right ways and opened my mind to a world my beloved will not tell me about as they currently continue to struggle. I feel as if I've learned how to better love them, despite my lack of understanding via experience myself.
I needed to read this memoir in all the worst ways and didn't know it until I did. I strongly recommend this to anyone who has a loved one (or multiple) who struggles with addiction, as well as anyone struggling themselves. This memoir will give you insight unlike you've ever thought about having. You will not feel as alone or isolated in your journey after finishing this piece of work. I promise you that. Five stars out of five for sure.
Storm's memoir is blunt and raw in all the right ways and opened my mind to a world my beloved will not tell me about as they currently continue to struggle. I feel as if I've learned how to better love them, despite my lack of understanding via experience myself.
I needed to read this memoir in all the worst ways and didn't know it until I did. I strongly recommend this to anyone who has a loved one (or multiple) who struggles with addiction, as well as anyone struggling themselves. This memoir will give you insight unlike you've ever thought about having. You will not feel as alone or isolated in your journey after finishing this piece of work. I promise you that. Five stars out of five for sure.
October 30, 2024
If you have a loved one who is "struggling" with addiction, or if you "struggle" to understand about this frightening epidemic of addiction, crime and homelessness you need to read "The Struggle".
I almost put it aside after the first couple of chapters, thinking that this was not for me, but suddenly I found myself absolutely riveted, and I just couldn't put it down !!!!! The author "tells it like it is", he holds nothing back. A shocking but important story which I believe could be very helpful.
I almost put it aside after the first couple of chapters, thinking that this was not for me, but suddenly I found myself absolutely riveted, and I just couldn't put it down !!!!! The author "tells it like it is", he holds nothing back. A shocking but important story which I believe could be very helpful.
October 26, 2023
Audio. Interesting to hear about the other side of Philly in a real Philly accent. Otherwise a typical recovery story. Glad he made it.
July 25, 2025
This book hit me straight in the gut. The Struggle is more than a memoir, it’s a brutally honest look into the heart of addiction, self-destruction, and the long, painful road to healing. Brian Storm doesn’t sugarcoat anything. His voice is raw and unapologetically real, which is exactly what makes his story so powerful.
What stayed with me most was the emotional honesty, how easy it is to slip, how hard it is to crawl back, and how even in recovery, the fight never truly ends. It’s not just a story of addiction, it’s a story of identity, shame, redemption, and resilience. A tough but necessary read that reminds us just how human the struggle really is.
What stayed with me most was the emotional honesty, how easy it is to slip, how hard it is to crawl back, and how even in recovery, the fight never truly ends. It’s not just a story of addiction, it’s a story of identity, shame, redemption, and resilience. A tough but necessary read that reminds us just how human the struggle really is.
December 30, 2024
Disease of Addition
An important story that is shocking, gutsy, blunt, raw, open and honest, intense and deeply very personal. It’s a disease. Brian had a real struggle facing him. He gives an insight into the scary day to day reality of living with this terrible consuming disease of addiction. He goes on to tell us how he took control and who helped him on his journey. All the best Brian.
This is a great audiobook narrated by the author.
An important story that is shocking, gutsy, blunt, raw, open and honest, intense and deeply very personal. It’s a disease. Brian had a real struggle facing him. He gives an insight into the scary day to day reality of living with this terrible consuming disease of addiction. He goes on to tell us how he took control and who helped him on his journey. All the best Brian.
This is a great audiobook narrated by the author.
April 6, 2014
AWESOME BOOK! ...A MUST READ!!
get a paperback copy here - https://www.createspace.com/4748888
get a paperback copy here - https://www.createspace.com/4748888
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews