Description
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Can watching movies about addiction and recovery help people kick the habit? That’s what Hollywood veteran Ted Perkins set out to discover as he battled against his own stubborn drinking problem. Barricaded in his bedroom with nothing more than an iTunes movie account, he watched 100 movies in 100 days. And it worked. Thanks to the magic and power of story he was able to see his addiction in a radical new light and follow a non-traditional yet effective path towards successful recovery. In this insightful and entertaining book, Perkins discusses how his Top 25 Best films about addiction and recovery not only helped save his life, but also shares what vital lessons they may teach others in recovery.
Exhaustively researched and vetted by top addiction researchers and professionals, Perkins chronicles 80 years of Hollywood’s daring efforts to bring the serious subject of addiction to a worldwide audience in authentic, entertaining, and occasionally hilarious ways.
Whether it’s movies about alcohol, heroin, gambling or chocolate, each chapter is also a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles the filmmakers faced to get the films produced, the ingenious ways they were marketed, the huge risks many actors faced when taking on the roles, and how some of those gambles paid off with multiple Academy Awards.
Regardless of whether you’re in recovery, work to help others in their recovery, or just love great movies, Addicted in Film manages to take the sometimes difficult conversation about addiction and recovery and render it accessible, informative, engaging, and at times laugh-out-loud funny.
“This book is a must-have if you or anyone you know has been touched by addictive problems. It’s filled with enlightening stories about powerful films that could become a turning point for people.”
—DR. TOM HORVATH,
CO-FOUNDER, SMART RECOVERY,
AUTHOR OF SEX, DRUGS, GAMBLING & CHOCOLATE
Here is an excellent, moving book on addiction recovery to read and share. Ted Perkins uses stories in movies about addictions as a vehicle to understand the complexities, heartbreak, and horror of addictions while leading us to real hope of radical transformation. His own life story is a dramatic example of recovery and its redemptive power.
—MICHAEL WERNER,
PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN HUMANIST
ASSOCIATION (RETIRED)
Perkins has produced a literary work that is a wonderful melange of intriguing movie plots, personal vignettes, and a fun collection of Inside Hollywood revelations. It is an engrossing read and an encyclopedic review of alcohol and substance abuse issues that are important to discuss. I will be binge-watching most of these films!
—JOE GESTEIN, MD, FACP
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOLL FACULTY (Ret.)
CO-FOUNDER of SMART Recovery
