Product Description
Hungry Tigers is a sometimes-tragic, often-humorous, but always-forthright depiction of the author’s years of addiction and the recovery that saved his life. From experimentation with drugs in the late sixties to a series of shock treatments in a psych ward in the early seventies, the author openly relates the fears, anxieties, and depression that led him there. Finding no relief through accepted medical means, he embarked on a lengthy journey of alcohol and drug abuse, culminating in an addiction to heroin that shattered any lingering illusions of a functional existence. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, as this seemingly hopeless addict finds sobriety at a time when some who are heartbreakingly close to him find only devastation.
#1 by E. Babic on November 23, 2009 - 2:54 pm
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This revealing book pulls the veil off the ugly face of addiction and then stares at you with honesty and humor. The author leaves the “messy” parts in…. and that is part of what makes this book whole. Bravo Mr. Swoboda… I wish you well in your recovery.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Debbie J. on November 23, 2009 - 5:49 pm
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I am not an avid reader but this book had me hooked on page one until I finished it. It was well written and very upfront and honest. I dare anyone to start reading this book and not feel the same way. The author takes you on a journey with him of laughter, sorrow, pain, agony and finally hope in his recovery. I wish the best for Gary and hopefully this book will help others in their life struggles with addiction.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Jane Spence on November 23, 2009 - 8:25 pm
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Hungry Tigers was like listening directly to my friend Gary! He writes like he speaks. I loved the humor even in the most sobering moments. The down-to-earth detail was horrifying to me, who has never done any hard drugs. The lying and cheating to the medical staff was not new to me, but the frequency of how and why they did it was amazing. I have been an administrator of a large HMO alcohol and drug program and I know that we decreased the number of ER visits tremendously when we made Methadone something that the HMO paid for and convinced many of our clients to forego heroin for it.
This is worth reading and getting some of the people you know who are addicts to read it. It clearly outlines the recovery process and how long and arduous the journey to being drug free. Thank you Gary for writing such a revealing and heart felt book. I appreciated it immensely.
Jane Spence
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Nancy D. Roth on November 23, 2009 - 10:43 pm
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This memoire is not easy to read because I have known Gary since we were kids,and had no idea of the agony in his adult years. His stories can be difficult for us “normy’s” of the world to absorb. It is amazing that there were several parts when I laughed aloud. Then, I would turn the page and cry along with Gary. I wanted to reach into the pages and hug Gary, his wife-Judy, his mom-Margaret, and his brother-Tim for all their sorrows. What a journey! Glad you were able to find light at the end of the tunnel. There seems to be meaning found after all that has happened, .. that is very good news.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Patrick R. Armstrong on November 23, 2009 - 10:47 pm
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Hungry Tigers is one of those books you pick up and are glued to it until you are forced to put it down. In these pages you will experience real life lessons, from the whimsical and wacky antics of an addict to the tears of tragedy brought on by years of drug addiction. I’m absolutely amazed that a person who was this messed up, wrote a book this good.
Rating: 5 / 5