What if addiction is not a moral failing, character defect, or shortcoming you are powerless against? What if it is a maladaptive survival skill which was once adaptive and useful, only now it is causing harm?

As a therapist liberated from alcohol addiction, Paul Cherry offers a new and empowering path as a counter argument to the traditional 12-step model. He integrates modern psychology, psychotherapeutic theory, and Buddhist teachings to guide the addict who is still suffering with actionable and compassionate steps to go beyond sobriety and to achieve true liberation from addiction.

The prevailing 12-step model has helped millions achieve sobriety, but it was created in a different era for different needs. Addiction science and research has evolved and changed our ways of seeing this age-old problem over the past 80 years, but the standard treatment has not changed much. Neither the relapse rate or stigma associated with addiction have changed, and shame and powerlessness have remained the overall theme.

Blazing the Longest Path reimagines this theme for modern seekers of recovery. You have the power to achieve both sobriety and liberation. You do not need to live in shame and powerlessness in the hidden shadows of your suffering.

This book offers a compassionate, evidence-informed approach that honors the wisdom of the past while embracing new understandings of addiction, trauma, and the human capacity for transformation.

Whether you're beginning your recovery journey or seeking to deepen your existing practice, this guide illuminates the path forward with clarity, hope, and practical wisdom.