The entire title of Side Trips From Cowboy is relatively long, but it’s a critical description of the nature of the work: Side Trips From Cowboy: Addiction, Recovery and the Western American Myth. The narrative explores three separate themes: the nature of addiction and recovery, the Nez Perce story and one man’s search for the mythic figure, Cowboy. In braiding them together, author Sandy Compton reveals himself and parts of Western American history as well as what he calls “mythtory,” the combination of myth and mystery that overlays all of history. Compton’s take on addiction as a recovering addict is revealing, sometimes startling, often educative and somehow comforting, particularly if you are or know an addict — in recovery or not.

320 pages, 6 X 9 inches, © 2009 from Blue Creek Press — $16.00

`”A brave book.” — Marcia Vanderford, co-owner of Vanderford’s Books.