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Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
Stephen J. Della Valle is brutally honest in his biography, Rising Above The Influence. He was in middle school when alcohol and drugs began to take over his life. He "lived to get high." Violence, crime, and addiction went hand in hand. While Valle is quick to point out that he is not offering excuses for the life he led, he shares the loss of his mother and the lack of attention from his parents. Parents do make a difference in a child’s development and behavior. Steve was incarcerated so often he knew the guards by name. Eventually Steve went to rehab (more than once). Today he is a changed man.
Rising Above The Influence has pictures of his family. Velle’s narrative will bring tears. All therapist and counselors should read this book. He is brutally honest, leaving out nothing. I believe Rising Above The Influence can be a warning to some and offer hope to others. Valle is proof that you can rise above addiction. I suggest giving this book to friends that need encouragement to get through their addiction.
