The Rustling of Leaves: An Adventure of Recovery

By Frank Costanzo

This book is an excerpt from a mid-life journey. Falling from a successful business life into the clutches of alcoholic despair, recovering and building a new life. Ultimately, due to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 059509984X
• ISBN13: 9780595099849
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An inspiration for any reader

Before I read The Rustling of Leaves, I had a few preconceived notions of what this story would tell. I thought It would be another one of those same old "rags to riches" tales that are so often told among various people in recovery. I thought it would be the average run of the mill epics that are often predictable and lacking any real human experience that has been done time and time again. I was wrong.Throughout the book, I found myself held captive by the honesty of Mr. Costanzo's situation. His battle with booze, the courts, the prisons and ulimately himself, was a reflection a man who had managed to survive through an incredable amount of pain and misery. He basicaly was in a place where he had no choice but to surrender to the people, places and events that led him to helplessness and a ten by fifteen foot cell in Folsom prison. He was locked up with nowhere to turn, except to his God and his wife. Thats when started to realized all the problems he caused himself and all of those around him were a direct result of his unwillingness to let go of his own will. That's when he finally stated his long spiritual path that led him to the love that he knows today. The message this reader received was hope. The way Costanzo outlined his understanding of the twelve steps his never ending relationship with God, was moving as well as entertaining. The most effective and lasting memory I have of this book is the timeless love story between Mr. Costanzo and his wife Ginger; it brought me to tears.In my opinion, this book would not only be help for those who are in recovery, but to the average reader that's looking for a story that will bring hope to the hopeless, faith to the faithless and joy to the joyless.

The Rustling of Leaves: An Adventure of Recovery

This book is of interest because it reveals the obsession of the mind of a man that is a recovering alcoholic. In the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book there is a section that reveals that the "disease" of alcoholism and drug addiction is the obsessive "thought process" in the individual. Mr. Costanzo, by giving the readers his life experience of this phenomena, assist others who might find themselves becoming obsessed. This book was a joy to read. An exciting adventure into the mental and emotional process of a recovering alcoholic who moves away from "the program of Alcoholics Anonymous" and begins to "take his life back for himself," rather then depending on a Power Greater than himself. He travels back to emotional hell and comes back to warn us of the pitfalls. I think any person on a spiritual path would enjoy this book. Certainly anyone who is in recovery from either alcoholism or drug addiction would find the pages an eye-opener in regards to their own life in recovery... it uncovered some of my own difficulties in my recovery process.