The Book of John: (Not the one in the Bible) - Softcover

Long, Mr. John T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1497396883 ISBN 13: 9781497396883

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2019

Synopsis

A compelling memoir documenting John’s addictions, relationship’s, the supernatural, spiritualism and the 12 steps. The story is filled with raw, jaw dropping accounts of real life events that are dreamlike, laugh out loud humor, and life lessons that leave the reader feeling uplifted, lighter and exploding into a million pieces of joy! Through his personal experiences John shows how he ultimately reached that place of peace and understanding that the world can neither give nor take away. Rather than meditating in a cave for twenty years, John has taken life head on in outrageous and sometimes unbelievable experiences that led to his awakening. The reader will be shocked, crying and then laughing uncontrollably over his strange and wonderful life full of hardship, supernatural experiences and spiritual epiphanies. The story moves along at a good pace, and just when the reader thinks that he/she knows what is going to happen next, something out of the blue occurs. Lots of suspense and surprise and wonder. John tells the story in the present tense. That gives it a sense of immediacy. The humorous touches throughout are great! They balance out the sad stories in a yin-yang kind of way. John’s voice in the prose is clear and persuasive. The reader can hear him saying these words sitting as if right next to them. Too many writers try to generate an “authorial” voice and end up sounding contrived. This book, on the other hand, clearly comes from the heart. It peels back layers of mystery yet never goes so far afield that the reader cannot follow. It is a journey the reader will love taking!

About this title

From the Author:

  The Opioid and substance abuse crisis is accelerating at an exponential rate. According to the CDC WONDER online database as of 2017, there were 102,058 deaths from overdose and alcohol deaths totaled 88,000. These figures do not take into account heart attacks, cancer, liver disease, suicides, and "accidents" directly attributable to the disease. (Dis-ease.) People from all walks of life are "victims" of their environment, (where they're born), genetics, programming, (commercials, advertising, parents), and education (just say no, drink responsibly), and are literally taken hostage by the disease of alcoholism and addiction. As a result, they participate willingly without knowing the full consequences of their actions until they take that first drink or drug. The majority of the population can have a drink or take a pain pill for pain and stop, but the real alcoholic and addict takes one drink or pain pill that sets off a chemical reaction and a physical and mental craving for more.  What if you are born into a family that enjoys being "social," having parties, going to social events, whatever they may be? The child sees their parents seemingly enjoy drinking, laughing, and having a good time. What if you are born into a very low income family and you see how your parents struggle to make "ends meet?" The parents come home and take one drink or a few drinks to "relax" from a long day at work. There is nothing wrong with this. What message are you sending to the child or young adult? What do you see on TV? Beer commercials where the people are "partying" on the beach with attractive men and women.  Men and women portraying success and impossible feats!   There is nothing wrong with selling a product! The majority of the population can have one drink to relax or if they get hurt, prescribed pain medication and stop when the pain goes away. What about the phrases, "just say no," "drink responsibly?" The people who are not alcoholic and/or addicts can take a drink or pain pill and stop. But the real alcoholic and addict do not realize they are genetically predisposed to the disease of alcoholism or addiction until they take their first drink or pain pill. Some people say, "It's a choice," and this is true to some extent, however, once we have "chosen" to take a drink or are forced to take a pain pill to alleviate severe pain, that "choice" is removed.  I was born into a middle class family where my parents did just that. They enjoyed throwing parties, going to social events, vacations, etc. and they could drink responsibly and socially. They also "programmed" my brother and I to get an education, work hard, and be a productive member of society. Both of my parents had a strong work ethic and honesty that they taught us. I completed my education, hit the work force and eventually graduated from law school and have had a successful life in the legal field. However, when I took a drink or a drug, my genetics kicked in and set off an actual physical craving for more. I could not stop until I got sick or ran out of money. Then, I would come to and be full of guilt and remorse which, in turn, led to more drinking or whatever the case may have been.  I have just released my book, The Book of John (Not the one in the Bible) that instantly went to #1 New Release in Substance Abuse on Amazon! My book will help millions of people identify, delete and reprogram their subconscious mind to live in perfect peace and joy without drugs and alcohol. I am extremely grateful for being able share my life about the horrors and triumphs of the disease of addiction. The only solution is educating the public on the nature of the problem and the solution.

Review:

KIRKUS REVIEWA lawyer and life coach recounts years of drug addiction and how he found sobriety.  In his debut memoir, Long describes his lifelong struggle to stay sober after decades of substance abuse, and how he embraced metaphysical beliefs. Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Long's obsessions started at a young age, he says: "I discover sex for the first time when I'm thirteen. After that, my motive is to find the dope, get the girl, get her drunk or high, and take advantage of the easy lay." Due in part to drinking and drug use, he says, he struggled in college. He later married a woman he describes as "my sex machine," with whom he had two sons. The deteriorating marriage ended in divorce, with substance abuse as a contributing factor..."   "...The author eventually ended up in Alcoholics Anonymous; he worked through the steps and realized that he "could use God." This led him to immerse himself in developing his spirituality, rejecting common religions for deep meditation and magic, which he calls "real witchcraft."   Overall, the author relates a story that may inspire some readers to get the help that they need. At times, though, his spiritual search, as he recounts it here, led him into dangerous situations; at one point, he says that he allowed a "metaphysical healer" named "John of God" do an operation on his ailing eye with a butter knife. The book is also deeply unsettling in other ways; for example, he tells of smoking crack with his 15-year-old son, and comments that, when he was using, he had "No thought of the children." These instances may be particularly upsetting for anyone who's endured child endangerment. Other scenes also depict harmful domestic situations, as when Long tells of a fight with his third wife over drugs, during which he crashed their car, breaking her hip and fracturing vertebrae in her neck..."  An often disquieting story of recovery.-Kirkus ReviewINDIE READER REVIEW  "...John T. Long narrates a history of drug and alcohol abuse that spanned most of his adult life. After a stint in rehab, Long developed an interest in self-help and New Age spirituality that helped him maintain his sobriety."  "Attorney, life coach, and former addict John T. Long presents a memoir, self-help guide hybrid exploring how metaphysical spirituality (along with Alcoholics Anonymous) helped him on his recovery journey. The book spans Long's teenage years through recent history, beginning in the 1970s when he first started experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and also engaged in the first of a long series of codependent and abusive relationships with women. He moves through a number of jobs and marriages over the years as his substance abuse problem escalated and ultimately reached a climax with a crack addiction and a car crash in which he severely (and intentionally) injured his then-wife. After a stint in rehab, Long then began attending AA meetings, while also studying the works of gurus like Marianne Williamson and William (Wayne) Dyer. He also recounts being cured of the aftereffects of a stroke by faith healer John of God (who has since been accused of sexual abuse by over 600 women)."  "...Readers interested in learning about metaphysical spirituality, including crystal healing, aura readings, and chakra-focused meditation will find some interesting material here, as Long shares his firsthand experience with learning about and incorporating these practices into his life. He also offers astute (and hard-won) commentary about setting aside one's ego and learning to trust God in order to live a more authentic spiritual life."  IR Verdict: THE BOOK OF JOHN is a strange amalgam of New Age spirituality and addiction recovery testimonial from an author who hit rock bottom and lived to tell the tale. Long's account is compelling..."-Indie Reader

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1497396883
• ISBN 13: 9781497396883
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 250