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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In Man Up. Sober Up., Ryan Penley chronicles a turbulent battle with addiction, which entails hospitalizations, arrests, and pivotal moments of reckoning, alongside advice on conquering addiction linked to his journey. Stressing trauma's link to addiction, Penley urges self-examination and acknowledgment of addiction's distributive impact. An incarceration comes on the heels of grave charges, and he turns to physical exercise and a pursuit of solace through reading. Penley homes in on objectivity's role, advocating for seeking truth from diverse sources, namely professionals. Penley parallels honesty, a linchpin in overcoming denial, with trust's importance in recovery. Stoicism, especially controlling the controllable, and embracing positivity are cardinal to Penley's perspective. Merging philosophical insights from various thinkers, he advocates for commitment, resilience, and forward-thinking in fostering enduring sobriety. Penley's journey spotlights personal growth, self-belief, and strategies like community support and resilience-building as the keys to overcoming addiction's grasp.
What I really love about Man Up. Sober Up. by Ryan Penley is that he doesn't use only his own experiences and proactive measures to outline the steps provided in his recovery program; he does exactly as he suggests in the book by looking to sources beyond ourselves for advice and answers. Penley walks the walk by echoing the influence of greats like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus from Stoicism, drawing on the philosophies of Joe Dispenza and Napoleon Hill, and dishing up Bruce Lee and Jordan Peterson's advice on commitment and routines. The writing is clean and straightforward in a way that makes it completely accessible to all readers, as well as being intelligent enough not to make those on an above-average plane feel like they're being pandered to. Penley approaches the topic in a conversational style. It's tough love, but the type that can only come from a person who wants you to succeed. His raw honesty can be occasionally jarring, but it's intentional and effective. The steps are actionable and detailed, so they can be comfortably retraced. I can see this book doing a lot of good in the hands of those who need it the most. Very highly recommended.
