Broken
My Story of Addiction and Redemption
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4.6 • 73 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Candid, shocking, and unforgettable, Broken is a haunting and clear-eyed tale that offers hope for all those wrestling with addiction
Unlike some popular memoirs that have fictionalized and romanticized the degradations of drug addiction, Broken is a true-life tale of recovery that stuns and inspires with virtually every page. The eldest son of journalist Bill Moyers, William Cope Moyers relates with unforgettable clarity the story of how a young man with every advantage found himself spiraling into a love affair with crack cocaine that led him to the brink of death-and how a deep spirituality allowed him to conquer his shame, transform his life, and dedicate himself to changing America's politics of addiction.
"William Cope Moyers's lucid, measured tale of his own plunge into crack-addled hell [is] frightening in its very realism." -USA Today
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The prodigal son of Bill Moyers, the exemplary broadcast journalist, wrecked a bright career at CNN and deserted his family in 1994, hitting bottom as a "thirty-five-year-old crack addict." The lurid appeal of his story hinges largely on Moyers's munificent, even saintly father, and the train-wreck spectacle of his son's fall from grace. Moyers conveys with black humor the rapturous allure of substance abuse: "cocaine owned me, body and soul," he writes. It lures him back even after stints in rehab, brushes with death and lucky breaks. As his habit skids out of control, Moyers dodges punishment with smug hauteur. He enjoys plum reporting assignments as a fortunate son and plays the role of "solid, sincere recovering alcoholic," while persisting in his unrepentant behavior. Moyers hits his stride in evocations of his muddled, though quasi-methodical, mindset: the vertiginous pull of addiction, the powerful delusions of denial and the double-edged sword of legacy, which proves a potent enabler. His father, who addresses him in heartfelt letters excerpted at length, looms throughout as both reproving shadow and divine light. Photos.
Customer Reviews
Real
Should be a required reading at all inpatient/outpatient treatment facilities. Especially insightful for family members of afflicted addictions, helps bridge the gap to understanding the disease from a personal perspective.
This book was just... flat
I read the entire book because I didn’t want to waste my money but it was SO BORING. it was just flat the entire way through. Wish I could get my money back.
Broken
An immensely readable book and a compelling visit into a dark, unfathomable place. For anyone who is struggling, or watching a loved one struggle, Broken is required reading. For anyone reading this review who hasn't been touched in any way by addiction, know that you're blessed beyond measure. Read Broken to better understand that, and to learn something of the pain dwelling in the shadows all around you.