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  • Hooked

  • Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery
  • By: Paul Merson
  • Narrated by: George Greenland
  • Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,081 ratings)
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Hooked cover art

Hooked

By: Paul Merson
Narrated by: George Greenland
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Summary

Shortlisted for the 2022 Sports Book Awards 

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

For 21 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 30 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.'

©2021 Paul Merson (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Limited

Critic reviews

"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)  

What listeners say about Hooked

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On the road to recovery.

I am a compulsive gambler who decided that I would give up gambling after listening to this book. 90% of what he said was me. I signed up for Gamban which I never thought I would do, 32 years of my life has revolved around gambling. I was on a downward spiral, blowing tens of thousands a year. When a friend asked me how much I had blown in all the years of gambling I said "500k" but I still didn't stop but just got worse. For any gambler this book is a must...one day at a time! Thanks Paul

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Inspired

Thank you Paul.

inspiring listen.

has helped me.

originally listened as I'm also a Chelsea fan.

but this should be classified as a very good self help book.

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Hit Home

Because of this book I am going into therapy and trying to get my life set straight. This couldn't have hit home more if it tried. A great listen in general but especially for those struggling with addiction and mental health.

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Fantastic listen from a gambling addict myself

What a brilliant listen for me who’s dealing with coming over gambling addiction myself 6 weeks clean. But listening to your book and it being so relatable in every way with your experiences and mine and how the gambler thinks. Thank you Paul keep well.

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POWERFUL

Wow just wow, I knew Merse gambled and did the odd line of coke but I didn’t know to what extent, this is a incredibly powerful and moving story and I really enjoyed it.

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Couldn’t stop listening

Must admit Paul Merson wasn’t one of my favourite people in football and on tv.
Anyway I have his book a shot.
Fantastic listen,at times I felt angry at him and other times sorry for him.
Heartfelt stories beyond belief and so glad he’s turned his life around for the better.
Long may it continue.
New respect for you.

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inspiring

Great book and very inspiring, I've listened to this more than once. I highly recommend listening to this book.

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powerful

grasping from start to finish. whether suffering from addiction, in recovery or not this book is a massive insight into the grasps addiction can have and work that needs to be done each day in recovery.

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Paul

Love or hate Paul,he sure has put himself through the wringer. He admits himself drugs drink and especially gambling helped him fritter away millions. Great listen

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the beat book I've ever listened to

This book has saved my life. thank you Paul, I hope this review reaches you. thank you

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