Rewired – by Erica Spiegelman

The subtitle promises “a bold new approach to addiction and recovery”, so first we must ask: does it deliver?

The answer is subjective and relative to one’s experience, but we would say: it’s bold to call the approach “new”, per se.

However! Where this claim of newness may come from is that—notwithstanding the blurb’s claim that it can be used in conjunction with or in place of 12-step programs—in fact it is quite opposed to some of the 12 steps principles, insofar as it places much greater importance on personal agency, responsibility, and empowerment.

So, for a reader whose understanding of addiction and recovery has been largely informed by the ideas championed by 12-step programs, this approach will certainly be new, and yes, bold.

The goal of this book is help the reader to practise self-actualization, which as a standalone term may sound like a lot of woo, but what it means in plain words is “to have a clear idea of the kind of person one wants to be, and then become that person”.

Indeed, while some principles this book espouses may be in line with 12-step programs (such as: complete honesty), others stand intentionally apart, such as solitude—making the argument that recovery can never be complete if we cannot be alone with ourselves and our abstinence (from whatever it may be for any given reader) would otherwise be dependent on the strength of those around us.

But nor does the book preach any rejection of society either; attention is also given to integration and relationships with others, which is important too. In short, that we can stand alone whenever we need to, and/but that we still need not be isolated in general.

The style is quite soft self-help, while nonetheless getting straight to the point and not getting tangled up in platitudes or such. It’s a clear and instructive book, that explains its ideas well as it goes.

Bottom line: if you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction (or have done so recently enough that recovery is still a case of being not yet “out of the woods” entirely), then this book can help bring a lot of strength and sense of direction, ultimately making things easier and at the same time more likely to go well for you/them.

Click here to check out Rewired, and rewire your way into a much better life!