Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery

Paul Merson's wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction for three decades.

Shortlisted for the 2022 Sports Book Awards

'brave ... visceral ... a brilliant, brilliant read ... I would recommend this book to everyone.' Nihal Arthanayake, BBC Radio 5 Live

'so honest ... everybody should read Hooked to understand what anybody in this situation has been through.' Susanna Reid, Good Morning Britain

'a fantastic book ... a remarkable read.' Richard Madeley, Good Morning Britain

'Brave, poignant and very moving. This book will change lives.' Jamie Redknapp

'A courageous, emotional and vitally important book.' Jeff Stelling

Paul Merson's wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction for three decades.

For twenty-one years Paul Merson played professional football. He won two First Division titles with Arsenal and was one of the finest players of his generation.

But for thirty years Paul Merson has also been an addict. Alcohol, drugs, gambling: a desperately unenviable cocktail of addictions and depression which has plagued his entire adult life and driven him to the verge of suicide. 'I've come to realise that I'm powerless over alcohol ... I'm an alcoholic. My drinking and gambling have left a lot of wreckage.'

Until recently the drinking and gambling were still raging. 'I wanted to kill myself. I couldn't go on anymore. I just couldn't see a way out.' Then something clicked. 'One day, I was walking home from the pub late on a Sunday evening, and I thought to myself: I've had enough of feeling like this, every day of my life. I rang up Alcoholics Anonymous the next day, and since then I haven't had a drink.'

Hooked is Merson's wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction, searingly charting his journey over three decades. It is absolutely unflinching in detailing his emotional and psychological troughs and in raking over the painful embers of an adult life blighted by such debilitating issues. Hooked will kick-start a crucial national conversation about addiction, depression and the damage they wreak.

'Addiction is the loneliest of places. You're a slave to insecurity and ego. But it has to be you that wants things to change. Never be afraid to talk: the more you talk about the addictions the more it takes the power out of them. You're never alone.'

"So honest... everybody should read. Hooked to understand what anybody in this situation has been through."


Susanna Reid, Good Morning Britain, added:

"A fantastic book... a remarkable read."


Richard Madeley, Good Morning Britain, commented:

"Brave, poignant, and very moving. This book will change lives."


Jamie Redknapp, Sportsmail, stated:

"A courageous, emotional, and vitally important book."


Jeff Stelling, BBC Sport, remarked:

"Paul Merson's wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction for three decades."


For twenty-one years, Paul Merson played professional football. He won two First Division titles with Arsenal and was one of the finest players of his generation.


But for thirty years, Paul Merson has also been an addict. Alcohol, drugs, gambling: a desperately unenviable cocktail of addictions and depression which has plagued his entire adult life and driven him to the verge of suicide.


I've come to realize that I'm powerless over alcohol... I'm an alcoholic. My drinking and gambling have left a lot of wreckage.


Until recently, the drinking and gambling were still raging.


I wanted to kill myself. I couldn't go on anymore. I just couldn't see a way out.


Then something clicked.


One day, I was walking home from the pub late on a Sunday evening, and I thought to myself:


"I've had enough of feeling like this, every day of my life."


I rang up Alcoholics Anonymous the next day, and since then I haven't had a drink.


Hooked is Merson's wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction, searingly charting his journey over three decades. It is absolutely unflinching in detailing his experiences, from the initial struggles to the eventual triumph over addiction.


Merson's writing is raw and emotional, and he doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of his addiction. He shares his struggles with alcohol, drugs, and gambling, and the toll they have taken on his life and relationships.


But Hooked is also a story of hope and resilience. Merson's journey is filled with setbacks and failures, but he never gives up. He seeks help and support from Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery programs, and he uses his experiences to help others struggling with addiction.


The book is filled with powerful quotes and insights, and it offers a message of hope and inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled with addiction.


In conclusion, Hooked is a must-read for anyone who has ever been affected by addiction. It is a powerful and emotional memoir that will change lives. Paul Merson's honesty and resilience are an inspiration to all, and his story will resonate with readers for years to come.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 145 x 198 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472282569