Mick Southerland

The Recidivist Mick Southerland

The Recidivist is a satirical assessment of alcoholism, rehab, and redemption. A dark and often humorous journey through the rehab experience, with a stark perspective on the nature of addiction and trauma and the difficulties in sustainably addressing both. Through the retelling of other patient's stories, the protagonist moves through the treatment regime of an idyllic rehabilitation center set in the Arizona desert. Feeling part high-school and part prison, the patients try to deal with what haunts them through varieties of therapy, medication, spirituality, short-lived romances, rule defiance, or relapses into old habits. Without judgement or saccharine positivity, this book doesn't sugar-coat the harsh realities of real-world outcomes or preach advice. It feels like a painful and honest snapshot of one man's experience, broadened by the stories of those around him. This book is guaranteed to instill empathy toward those struggling with addiction. The Recidivist: Addicted to Rehab is an enlightening read for anyone who wishes to gain perspective on mental issues, rehabilitation, or simply life in general.