Fully Alive by Michael J. Surdyka
It is very rare that I give a non-fiction book five out of five stars. Let's be real, yes I am biased, I am not a fan of non-fiction and it can be hard to connect with the work unless I am truly interested. However, to be a book reviewer you have to be open to all types of works and look at the work objectively. I would like to say that it was not too hard with Michael Surdyka's book Fully Alive.
Fully Alive is written by Michael as an action guide to overcoming addiction. Right away he tells the readers that this book isn't just about overcoming the addiction but finding a way to anchor yourself to a healthy recovery. He calls it The Sobriety Blueprint, a personalized battle plan that focuses on the individuality of each person. It is apparent that he does his research as data and interviews appear throughout.
Surdyka's voice is also calming within the work as he guides the reader slowly but surely. Furthermore, the inclusion of infographics helps break up all the information you are reading. These graphics are bright, simple but informative. So if you are a visual learner, this might help you out or if you are like me and enjoy brightly colored images, then this is a hit. This book does its job at opening every crevice to help one understand addiction, and how to combat it with assistance from within and around you.
Although I do not suffer from addiction, I have seen it in my personal life. Additionally, my Master's is in Criminal Justice, so addiction was something that popped up quite frequently in my research. So Michael, excellent job in breaking this shit down because let's be real folks it is not easy to understand. Addiction can stem from various things, and it can cause devastation. So why not pick up a book to undo that devastation and build a support system!
Do I recommend this book? Yeah, I do. Who do I recommend it for? That was the tricky part, so I would say it is best marketed to adults but also those interested in subjects such as psychology. Understanding the mind can be a bore but Michael, he makes sure that you are constantly learning with each flip of the page (or in my case screen?).
The book won't be ready until February 2021 but you can still view Michael's site for the book here and view his Goodreads.
I received this ARC in exchange for a review.
