Scott Tinley, a lifeguard from Del Mar, has published a new book exploring the concept of rehabilitation beyond substance abuse. Titled 'Rehab: Collected Stories and Essays on Resolution, Resiliency and Return,' the work draws from his personal experiences as a retired athlete and recent heart surgery patient. Tinley aims to challenge stigmas surrounding rehab in various life contexts.
Scott Tinley, a seventh-generation resident of Southern California and current lifeguard in Del Mar, released his latest book on March 7, 2026. The publication, 'Rehab: Collected Stories and Essays on Resolution, Resiliency and Return,' compiles stories and essays that examine rehabilitation in broader terms than traditional views tied to addiction.
Tinley, who has authored books on endurance sports and historical fiction about the Vietnam War, explained the timing of this project. 'I could not have written this book in my 40s or 50s,' he said. 'I needed to get my ass kicked by life again and again to offer a mature look at what rehab is and what it is not.'
As a retired professional athlete with emergency medical training and a history of injuries, Tinley recently underwent rehabilitation following open heart surgery. This experience prompted reflection on healing processes. 'I found the entire complex of rehabilitation too focused on the return from substance abuse and poor choices instead of the notion that always and already we are all constantly trying to improve our lives through various definitions of rehab,' he stated.
The book addresses stigmas related to rehab for drugs and alcohol, while also covering physical ailments, injuries, illnesses, and life's transitions. It is structured into four sections: rehab from events that went wrong; rehab from injury, illness, and disease; rehab of life’s struggles; and rehab of life transition and change.
Tinley, a lecturer at San Diego State University where he teaches courses such as Sport in Society, Sport Philosophy and Ethics, and History and Philosophy of Physical Education and Sport, views rehab as a universal endeavor. 'Rehab ain’t just learning how to live without drugs, booze or violence,' he noted. As described in the book's introduction, it represents 'the most egalitarian aspect of our human health care, an equal opportunity project for the everyman trying to make their lives better on Day 2.'
'Rehab' is available in paperback on Amazon.
