BRAVO COLEEN/

I too read this book before all the controversy. I loved it—-ran out to Chapters and actually paid 37.45(Canadian) for My Friend Leonard. Wish I had of waited!!!!!!!!!

I belong to a 12 step group and could relate to a lot of the “story”——even bought 3 copies of MLP for Christmas gifts—do I feel like a fool.

Looking back I realize that I did question some of the events that happened—like the lobster feast at the treatment center. Where I live visitors aren’t even allowed to bring us a Tim’s ( Canada’s equivalant to Starbucks)

There has been a lot of discussion here at work , as everyone was reading the book—some say what Mr. Frey did was ok—others like myself are angry that this man is making money off of lies.

I’ve also lost some respect for Oprah—-the proof was gathered and yet she still supports the lies. Shame on you Oprah!!!!!

anyway—-another lesson learned—if it sounds too good to be TRUE—it probably is.

why the anger colleen?

Did you read the book?  The dental incident happened in the first part.  And yes, people with addictions are routinly denied painkillers.  Look it up, obviusly you have internet access.

Even if the entire book is a fruad, it doesn’t justify this level of anger.  If there are issues in your life there are better places to deal with them than an internet forum.  Your anger bleeds through the page.  Anger doesn’t help anyone, least of all yourself.

I find it interesting that, although I haven’t read his book, I watched about 5 minutes of James’ interview on Oprah and turned it off based on my perception of James as insincere, aloof and rather flippant about addiction. Lo and behold he is “busted” as dishonest shortly thereafter.  Ironically, I am in my 13th year of sobriety and I simply cannot fathom trying to stay sober on my own.  I no longer work a 12 step. In fact, I haven’t for 11 years now, but Christ is the centre of my life and I am grateful everyday for the introduction of a “higher power” during my 28 days in a residential treatment program.  God’s law of reaping and sowing will undoubtedly catch up to James and my prayer is that he flicks off the humungous chip on his shoulder and gains the humility to recognize that he is a ship with no rudder headed for nowhere, but that the adoption of a personal spiritual relationship would be to his eternal benefit.

As a parent of a 17 year old in treatment now, I found the book to be a great insight into the world my son has “walked in to” and associates with at the treatment facility.  I cannot change his self-image nor can I change the other addicts he associates with who are also in treatment.  I have learned from Frey’s story about how my son might be feeling and I learned even more from reading about the family session - of which I have attended a few now.  I don’t want my son to read the book at this time. I do want him to follow the rules - probably the biggest lesson he (and Frey) need to learn.  I want him to follow the 12 steps and to be strengthened by the 12-step community which can offer and be the mainstay of support for all addicts. In many ways, Frey’s book was more for the non-addicted person who had addicts in their life.  There is no way to support Frey’s lack of structure and discipline.  But, personally, whether it is fiction or fact - it is still an important and powerful book about addiction and one that should be read.

Root canals without Novocaine? Think about it; Valium for detox is mandatory if you enter a treatment facility to keep you from going into seizures from withdrawal. But Novocaine is absolutely out of the question??? Give me a break. This should have tipped off anyone with an IQ above room tempurature.  This guy tries so hard to be a bad ass its pitiful. Frey is still a poor frightened little kid who built up all these fantasies to keep away the boogie-man. 

I can see why he avoided 12 Step. Nobody would have endorsed this guys brand of bullshit. This book scared me to death because I was afraid desparate addicts would read it and think he had a solution. Addiction is difficult under the best of circumstances. Honesty is critical to sustained recovery. Relapse creaps up on you if you believe your own lies. Now I wonder if this guy really has been sober for 13 years.

Thank God this guy’s cover was blown. My surprise is with Oprah. I never realized she was such an enabling co-dependent. Her comments on Larry King where she blamed the publishing house was straight out of a book on what not to do with an addict….make excuses on their behalf. And James Frey had his mommy protecting him on the show. Anyone ever heard of Al-Anon?????

I’m also surprised nobody on the Harpo (Oprah) staff had ever been to treatment? If they had they would have known this book was pure FICTION.

There are indeed methods other than the 12 steps to deal with addictions.  Check out http://www.rationalrecovery.com/

Who cares about all of this. I would think if I were a recovering and/or addict and this book helped me I would be grateful!

I loved the book, I also agreed with him on his religious beliefs (I can make my own choices and did so before reading this book.)

The other information about the 12 step program is backed by research. The success rate of 12 step programs are no better than any other method… really, look it up, the research is there.

This book was a great read, and I will read MY FRIEND LEONARD too.

I would like to see more comments from people who are not only knowledgable about Alcoholism, but also about what goes on in State of the Art Treatment Centres of which Hazeldon is one of the best. I read this book before all the contoversy came out about it and I can tell you I believed very very little of what he described as his experience there. He would not have lasted two weeks there if his behavior is as he tells it- ex; the girlfriend gets thrown out for fraternizing at the CLEARING with him but he is kept on , as i quess that is necessary to finish his book. Through all the lecture perioda he sits at the back and plays cards. Couldn’t tell us if it is a male or female lecturing. This is not even within the realms of possibility in order to be kept at Hazeldon. Of course he knows Smoking Gun could never get his records. For God’s sake James stop your lying or. if you are sober you will never stay straight That is, if you are truly an Addict and not just a run of the mill sociopath/or just a run of the mill sociopath/

Small and unimportant issues? Have you read the Smoking Gun site? Frey told bald faced lies. SG has the paperwork to prove it. His entire next book is based off him spending time in the slammer, which he never did in his life for more than a few hours. When these basic facts are called into question, it makes me wonder what, if anything in the book really happened. And then people are using this to support/bash ideas on religion and 12-step programs. I bet most of them feel had. Not to mention that Frey’s supposed life story is that of a man who spent part of it as a alcoholic/crackhead, and, with apparently long-term side effects, has turned that past into a money machine. Sign me up! Makes crack sound rewarding… The battle is for truth. SG has already won it.

I feel the main reason this book has been targeted is due to the author’s “controversial” religious beliefs that he writes about in the book, which also disagrees with the “12 Steps” which are taught within most rehab programs.  I thought that was one of the most interesting aspects of the book - he fought his addiction being true to himself and his own beliefs, and he made it work. The small and unimportant issues that the Smoking Gun is disputing have nothing to do at all with the real purpose or meaning of this book.  I hope they lose whatever stupid battle they are trying to win.