Going Under cover art

Going Under

A memoir of family secrets, addiction and escape

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Going Under

By: Seana Smith
Narrated by: Seana Smith
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About this listen

 From the outside, Seana Smith lived an enviable life. An Oxford graduate, a successful career with the BBC and Sydney’s Channel 9, a bestselling author, happily married. But behind this perfect life she had a secret: Seana was a drinker, and alcohol was slowly taking away her life, destroying her health, her emotional well-being, her world.

With engaging style and wit, Going Under reveals the true story behind Seana’s lifelong battle with drink. It lays bare a confusing childhood of Scottish sailing adventures and also brutal violence from her bullying, alcoholic father; where punches were thrown, broken bones hidden and her family lived in fear.

Learning from the best, Seana drank her way through tutorials at Oxford University (which were held in the pub), through the sexual misadventures of her twenties and through the intensity and mundanity of motherhood.

It took the death of her parents and a tree-change to Orange in regional NSW for Seana to find the courage to break free; a new life in a new world. She had finally left the past behind. Addiction & Recovery Alcoholism Dysfunctional Families Parenting & Families Relationships Women Memoir

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All stars
Most relevant
I loved listening to this book. a wonderfully told story about how our childhood affects who we became and how we then are responsible for who we become!

wonderful

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So gentle and well told . Really moving.I’m closer in setting myself free. Thank you Thank you

Her kindness

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I so enjoyed this book, its so easy to listen to, so relatable, brave and honest...I'd highly recommend reading it.

A must read!

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This is a beautiful, raw, and deeply moving memoir that draws readers into the complexities of her life with striking honesty and insight. Seana Smith’s writing takes you on an emotional rollercoaster — moving you to tears one minute and having you laughing out loud the next.

What truly stood out to me was her ability to navigate her complex family relationships, reaching a place of compassion and understanding even for those who caused her the deepest pain.

Her journey to sobriety is described with remarkable openness, especially as she reveals her inner dialogue — the relentless, self-critical chatter that mirrors her battle with resistance, guilt, and the constant pull of desire for alcohol.

Seana shows immense vulnerability and strength as she confronts these challenges, sharing the emotional toll of her struggle and the determination that fuels her path to healing. This memoir is not just about addiction, but also about forgiveness, resilience, and ultimately, self-discovery. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an honest and heartfelt read.

A Raw and Honest Memoir

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I loved the sense of place I got reading this. I’ve spent much of my life in Scotland, Australia, Edinburgh, Sydney, East Lothian and various international airports around the world. I was transported back to these scenes as the chapters unfolded.

Alcoholism is no stranger to me. The subject is expertly written and with a lot of the essential nuance of this condition explained with warmth and clarity.

The author’s warmth, heart and dedication to telling the truth jumps off every page.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this topic. There’s plenty of humanity and hope on offer too. Read it. You won’t regret the investment of your time it takes to finish this lovely book.

Hugely relatable

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