A BAR ON EVERY CORNER: Sobering Up in a Tempting World

A recovering alcoholic from a long line of chronically alcoholic men, Erdmann shares the fear, doubt, guilt, self-deception, self-loathing, despair, relief and revelation of his first year of post-rehab sobriety in this 12-step memoir. In many ways a typical Alcoholics Anonymous recovery tale, his well-written account is told in a 12-steps-in-12-chapters format. In addition to grappling with constant opportunities and enticements to drink following his return home from treatment, he deftly conveys his concerns about his mother's drinking and his son's drug use, his strained reconciliation with his three adult children, his cynicism regarding religion, his financially necessary return to sales work with heavy-drinking colleagues and questionable ethics, and the gradual recovery of his sexuality. Having grown up with an alcoholic father (a story chronicled in his first book, Whiskey's Children) and having tasted his first high as an altar boy sneaking sacramental wine, Erdmann realizes that he has to learn how to live without alcohol from scratch. Now sober for more than 20 years, his timeless tale offers hope, encouragement and insight for recovering alcoholics, their families and friends, as well as for anyone concerned about the cultural impact of alcoholism. (Sept.)