"Eleven Years a Drunkard" is a powerful and heartbreaking memoir that sheds light on the devastating consequences of alcoholism. Thomas Doner's candid account of his struggles with addiction and the resulting loss of both arms serves as a stark warning to others about the dangers of excessive drinking.
Doner's writing, done with his teeth due to his disability, is raw and moving. His story is a testament to the destructive nature of alcoholism and the impact it can have on every aspect of a person's life.
The book is a reminder of the importance of seeking help and finding the support needed to overcome addiction. Doner's journey serves as a powerful example of the resilience and determination needed to break free from the cycle of addiction.
Overall, "Eleven Years a Drunkard" is a compelling and eye-opening read that offers a valuable insight into the harsh realities of alcoholism. It is a sobering reminder of the importance of making positive choices and seeking help when needed.
Book Description:
He tells of the shame, misery and pain which alcohol brought on him, and will bring to anyone whosoever be tempted by the pleasant feeling it produces at the time of drinking. It doesn't bring one home to shelter but drives them away. It leads one to forget the evil it brings and tempts one to pursue more for the pleasant feeling it produces. This "pleasant feeling" produces many murderers in our land. It doesn't push the sufferer to ask for help but to lie about the drinking. Once Satan has a foothold he wants an even tighter grasp.
He exhorts - you boys, to learn this lesson, "If you do not take the first drink, you will not be tempted to take the second." And if you take the first drink do not take the second or the monster will have done its work and will surely lead you to a third and a fourth and to associate with the inmates of taverns until you are committed to prison, executed in the gallows, a cripple or to a drunkard's grave.
Filth, drunkenness, crime and blasphemy, Doner writes, are the rewards for stepping in this Snare of the Devil. - Summary by Curt Walton
