Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Hooked
- Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery
- Narrated by: George Greenland
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
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.'
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)
More from the same
What listeners say about Hooked
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Peter Lynch
- 18-10-21
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Anonymous User
- 17-09-21
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 14-06-22
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 25-07-23
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr M Beattie
- 11-11-21
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 14-10-21
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Darren M.
- 24-03-24
inspiring
Great book and very inspiring, I've listened to this more than once. I highly recommend listening to this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 21-03-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Linda T
- 15-03-24
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jordan Samuel
- 13-03-24
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!