New Books Reveal Hidden Battles With Alcoholism

Wednesday June 24, 2009

Two new books were released this week that reveal the behind-the-scene struggles of two highly-functional, successful personalities with their long-time battle with alcohol abuse problems. One was written by an astronaut who once walked on the moon and the other by a child star who became the president of the powerful Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and actress Melissa Gilbert promoted their new books this week in media interviews.

Long Journey Home for Aldrin

On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were suddenly the most famous people on Earth when they became the first to step on the moon. In his book, "Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home From the Moon," Aldrin chronicles the entire history-making experience from liftoff to splashdown, but also details the tough times that followed.

Aldrin appeared on NBC's "Today" to talk about his new book this week. "Today" published an excerpt from his book, "Buzz Aldrin’s journey from moon to alcoholism," on its website.

"But rather than admit I was running out of options as my drinking habits intensified, I chose to find new friends in different bars," Aldrin writes about his descent into alcoholism.

Magnificent Desolation
ISBN: 9780307463456
Harmony Books, June 2009

She Drank More Than a Half Pint

Melissa Gilbert gained worldwide fame as Laura (Half Pint) Ingalls on the long-running television series "Little House on the Prairie," but she also starred in more than 45 television movies and miniseries since the series ended in 1984. In her book, "Prairie Tale," she discusses her relationships with Little House cast members and the challenges of her life after her child star career.

In an interview with momlogic.com, "I Drank Three Bottles of Wine a Night," Gilbert talked about her book and how she turned to a glass of wine to try to sleep at night and how that glass of wine turned into three bottles a night.

"I was standing in the kitchen and drinking my customary glass of wine while making dinner. He [youngest son Michael] said, 'Mommy, you're not going to drink more wine, are you?' It was just like getting punched in the stomach. I realized this was not the mother, wife, or person I wanted to be," Gilbert told momlogic.com.

Prairie Tale
ISBN: 9781416599142
Simon Spotlight Entertainment, June 2009

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^{Photos: Price Grabber, NASA}