Between Breaths cover art

Between Breaths

A Memoir of Panic and Addiction

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Between Breaths

By: Elizabeth Vargas
Narrated by: Elizabeth Vargas
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About this listen

Books for a Better Life, First Book winner, 2017

Beloved former ABC 20/20 anchor Elizabeth Vargas shares the truth about her alcohol addiction and anxiety disorder in a shockingly honest and emotional memoir.

From the moment she uttered the brave and honest words, "I am an alcoholic," to interviewer George Stephanopoulos, Elizabeth Vargas began writing her story, as her experiences were still raw. Now, in Between Breaths, Vargas discusses her accounts of growing up with anxiety—which began suddenly at the age of six when her father served in Vietnam—and how she dealt with this anxiety as she came of age, eventually turning to alcohol for a release from her painful reality. The now-A&E Network reporter reveals how she found herself living in denial about the extent of her addiction, and how she kept her dependency a secret for so long. She addresses her time in rehab, her first year of sobriety, and the guilt she felt as a working mother who could never find the right balance between a career and parenting. Honest and hopeful, Between Breaths is an inspiring listen. Winner of the Books for a Better Life Award in the First Book category Instant New York Times and USA Today best seller.

©2016 Elizabeth Vargas (P)2016 Hachette Audio Addiction & Recovery Alcoholism Art & Literature Entertainment & Celebrities Journalists, Editors & Publishers Women Celebrity Memoir Substance abuse Addiction Memoirs

Critic Reviews

"Read this book. If you love the sunrise and you want to see courage—the kind that stumbles and falls but rises and rises again. With love of family. And work that saves. My dazzling friend and colleague, Elizabeth Vargas, has stared straight into the lethal heart of addiction with the eye of a fearless journalist. She has written a book for us all about truth, bravery, and the hope that a new day brings."—Diane Sawyer
"What my colleague Elizabeth has produced is not only a compelling read but also an act of true courage. This book is going to help a lot of people."—Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier
"This gripping memoir of addiction takes readers from the highs of Vargas's successful news career to the low of alcoholism, and through the grace of recovery."—Publisher's Weekly
All stars
Most relevant  
An honest and raw memoir. I felt quite emotional near the end of her story.

A very honest story.

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This account of an addiction played out in someone so public is well written, passionate, desperate at times and incredibly insightful for fellow addicts and those close to them.

Beth writes well, succinctly sharing the ongoing depths of depravity reached before her bottom was reached. The price paid is huge, but the freedom and wisdom now gained in sobriety and recovery, similar to many before her and many afterwards, is greatly and humbly admired.

This book is real. And as a fellow addict I have a growing appreciation of the sacrifices, daily disciplines and constant surrender and deep gratitude needed to live in freedom. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Because the alternative, another drink, means death and destruction for many.

Thank you Beth for your courage and honesty. I know you will inspire many to remain sober... One DAY AT A TIME!!!

Keep breathing

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It took three hours into this book before she started talking about her alcohol problems. The reason I purchased this book. But by that time I was bored of listening to her story that I stopped. Don’t buy this book if you are wanting to hear someone’s story about alcoholism. Or if you do you can fast forward the first 2+ hours. Very misleading to say this book is about alcoholism when it takes SO long to get to the point.

Not about alcoholism

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.