Towards Recovery

A Book of Reflections and Invitations

By Towards Recovery

Moments of inspiration come at the most unexpected times, when we’re not thinking about anything particular and can take us on an unexpected journey if we say yes to doing something new.

Justin was running along a coastal path in Cornwall on holiday when a thought started to grow in his mind, actually it was a question about how visible he was or actually allowed himself to be. That thought ended in a decision to simply post what daily reflection he had on our Facebook page, no expectation or agenda other than to be seen.

After a chat with Huseyin, we realised that by chance Recovery Month was just about to start, so we decided to post a simple daily invitation on our Facebook page for each day as part of our contribution to Recovery Month and just see how it goes.

We didn’t appreciate at that moment what a rich, nourishing and collaborative experience it would be and something the whole Towards Recovery team would contribute to.

So, we’ve grabbed those moments and brought them together as a tool for gratitude, grounding and growth. We hope you enjoy spending time with them as much as we enjoyed the journey of sharing them.

Book Club favourites

Inside Out: How to get drugs out of prison Drugs are widespread in British prisons, undermining any attempt to clean up prisoners from pre-existing addictions, greatly increasing the chances of recidivism and corrupting staff. Huseyin explores treatment, containing supply and the existing strategy of managing the problem rather than eradicating it. Read report
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons.

Written by: Charlie Mackesy Buy now Listen via Youtube
Mum, Can You Lend Me Twenty Quid? A mother's searing account of every parent's nightmare - how drug addiction destroyed the lives of her twin sons.

Written by our friend Elizabeth Burton-Phillips MBE, Founder of DrugFAM Buy now Listen on Audible
In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran In his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs and the tough battles - troubles that brought him to the brink of self-destruction - before turning his life around.

Written by John Taylor, Towards Recovery supporter Buy now Listen on Audible
Outliers Why do some people achieve so much more than others? Can they lie so far out of the ordinary?

In this provocative and inspiring book, Malcolm Gladwell looks at everyone from rock stars to professional athletes, software billionaires to scientific geniuses, to show that the story of success is far more surprising, and far more fascinating, than we could ever have imagined.
 Buy now Listen free on Youtube
A Bit of a Stretch: The Diaries of a Prisoner Documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn't spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film, he was sent down for five years. His new home would be HMP Wandsworth, one of the largest and most dysfunctional prisons in Europe.

Written by Chris Atkins Buy now Listen on Audible
5,742 Days: A Mother's Journey Through Loss 15-year-old Oxford schoolgirl Martha Fernback died suddenly after swallowing half a gram of MDMA powder, more widely known as ecstasy. Within hours her mother, Anne-Marie Cockburn, began to write down her feelings as a way to channel her shock and try to make sense of the tragic loss of her only child. Buy now
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos 12 Rules for Life is a manifesto of personal change, a handbook to rewire our kneejerk beliefs and concepts of reward and truth. Rule number 1... stand up straight with your shoulders back!

Written by Jordan B Peterson Buy now Listen on Audible
The Resonance Factor: Challenging the myth of addiction Exploring the issues through the prism of the user and provides important perspectives for the counselling and related professionals; as well as those addressing the issue from a social justice stand-point.

Written by our friends at Janus Solutions, Kenneth Robinson and Jennifer Jordan Buy now
My way through - a source of hope We met Sarah through the Henley Recovery Cafe and were delighted to support her to publish her first book of poems. Sarah's poems kept us all going through lockdown when she used to share them with us on the Virtual Recovery Cafe evenings and it feels wonderful to see them in print. Thank you to Nick for putting them together. Contact us for a copy
Hope in Addiction This book is not just about drug or alcohol abuse. It’s about gambling addictions, porn dependencies, workaholism, and internet addictions. It’s a book about how slaves to addiction can experience freedom as children of the living God and family in the community of God. Wherever they are. Whatever has enslaved them. With clarity and compassion, our friend Andy Partington brings together personal stories, compelling research, and frontline ministry experience. Buy online