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Alive and Kicking: A Story of Crime, Addiction and Redemption in Glasgow's Gangland
 
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Alive and Kicking: A Story of Crime, Addiction and Redemption in Glasgow's Gangland (Paperback)

by Irvine Welsh (Foreword), David Bryce (Author), Simon Pia (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
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Alive and Kicking: A Story of Crime, Addiction and Redemption in Glasgow's Gangland + Crime + Reheated Cabbage
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  • This item: Alive and Kicking: A Story of Crime, Addiction and Redemption in Glasgow's Gangland by Irvine Welsh

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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Mainstream Publishing (27 Oct 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1840189894
  • ISBN-13: 978-1840189896
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 222,487 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #77 in  Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Alcohol & Drug Abuse
    #95 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Law & Disorder > Issues > Drugs

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Product Description

Product Description

From running with the infamous Calton Tongs to running Calton Athletic, David Bryce's life story is a remarkable account of crime, violence, alcoholism and drug addiction in Glasgow's gangland. A respected 'hard man', Bryce worked his way through most of HM's prisons in Scotland before an epiphany in 1977 made him realise that he was a hopeless alcoholic who needed help. A five-year battle followed, during which he sank into the abyss of heroin addiction before finally getting clean. In 1985, in an effort to help others who were struggling against substance abuse, Bryce set up Calton Athletic, a football team and social group made up solely of recovering drug addicts. Reformed gangster Jimmy Boyle was one of the first to have faith in Bryce and Calton Athletic, but the club eventually won widespread respect. Gordon Brown, then a young MP, was so impressed that he wrote an article for "The Observer" which led to a TV film starring Lenny Henry and Robbie Coltrane. In the '90s, Ewan McGregor, Irvine Welsh and the Trainspotting crew sought Bryce's advice and friendship during the making of the internationally acclaimed cult film, while Robbie Williams begged to switch nationality and play for Calton Atheltic in an 'England v. Scotland' celebrity charity match. Bryce's uncompromising belief that the only way to come off drugs is to go cold turkey and stay completely clean saw him clash with government agencies over the 'harm-reduction' policy of recent years. The club's statutory funding was withdrawn in 1998, but today Calton Athletic are still providing an invaluable lifeline while the 'official' drugs policy has become increasingly discredited. "Alive and Kicking" is an inspirational tale of survival and success against the odds.


About the Author

David Bryce was born in the East End of Glasgow in 1949 and continues to live there. He is still the director of Calton Athletic Recovery Group. Simon Pia is a journalist and is currently the Scotsman's diarist. He first met David Bryce when he wrote an article about Calton Athletic for the Sunday Herald.

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought. Should be on every teenager's book list., 2 May 2008
This is an interesting read as it covers the life of a self confessed junkie without the slightest attempt to glamourise or excuse.

The style is a little basic but, hey, this is an autobiography by someone who has spent too much time on "the wild side of life" & literary style was not high on the agenda.

Salutory lessons abound within this book & none more so than the fact that the sooner society faces up to the real problem of addiction in whatever form the better but yet there is hope as well.

Inspiring if only from the aspect of what have we done with our lives from a more privileged position?
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6 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars top notch read, 18 May 2006
By Andrew Hogg "bosshogg" (larkhall) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
a good read gives you an insight how junkies / alkies can rise out the gutter and better there selves the author seemes quite genuine. Another good reason why never to try hard drugs or soft drugs for that matter.
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