The Best Quit Alcohol Books 2020 & 2021
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The Best Quit Alcohol Books 2019, 2020 & 2021 – If you are looking to quit alcohol in 2021 make sure you arm yourself with the best sober books you can get your hands on. I have been updating this comprehensive page of book reviews since 2019 and regularly add new books to ensure you have an excellent resource when it comes to finding a book that will help you change your relationship with alcohol.
Updated January 2021
When I quit alcohol I found sober books to be a huge help when it came to changing my thinking about how alcohol featured in my life. Instead of picking up a glass, I picked up a book (in fact I picked up plenty of books).
I ended up buying and reading just about every quit drinking book I could lay my hands on in an effort to expand my knowledge and learn new tactics as I worked towards an alcohol-free life. Even now, a long time after I quit alcohol I still read ‘Quit Lit’ to ensure I stay focused and remind myself of why I cut drinking out of my life.
Intensive Stop Drinking Bootcamp – More Details Here
When I began working on cutting alcohol out of my life I discovered that there are some sobriety books that are ‘must have’ when you want to quit alcohol and others that I felt were a good read, but didn’t really do much in terms of helping me make a true and lasting change. below I have listed what I believe to be the best quit alcohol books for anyone looking to change their relationship with booze, the list spans quit drinking books I have read and reviewed in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
At the bottom of the page you will also find books that can compliment sobriety and help with personal development, but are not specifically about quitting drinking.
Scroll down the page to see the full list of the best quit drinking books – this page is updated regularly with new releases and reviews of books that myself and people in the Be Sober community are reading.
The Sober Survival Guide – How to Live a Life Free From Alcohol
By: Simon Chapple
#1 Best Seller on Amazon.
OK, this is my book, of course I am going to put it first on the list! If you would like the first 10 chapters of my book for free, use the form at the bottom of this page and I will email them to you straight away.
Regardless of this fact, The Sober Survival Guide is a number 1 Bestseller and the perfect companion for anyone looking to make a change. The book is split into two parts, the first gives the reader real world tactics to help them address their relationship with alcohol and change how it features in their lives. The second part deals with specific challenges that come up as the months and years go by and shows readers how to approach just about anything that might arise. Such as going on holiday sober, the work Christmas party or what to do if you quit drinking but your partner won’t make a change.
AMAZON BOOK OFFER – The Sober Survival Guide has discounts on Amazon and you can get it for less than a cup of coffee and a pastry right now – click the image below to grab your copy.
Or, you can get the first 10 chapters free below.
I wrote the book for anyone who is worried about their drinking and wants to make a positive change to their life. Readers of The Sober Survival Guide have said that it made a real impact and helped them on their journey to alcohol freedom. If you want to quit alcohol forever, or explore what a life without drinking might look like for you, add this book to your reading list.
Get the Sober Survival Guide on Amazon UK here or Amazon US here.
The Sober Survival Guide Book Review – by Lois Badey (a/k/a the Sober Bookworm)
Quitting alcohol is a journey of self-growth, awareness, and mind and body connection. The Sober Survival Guide is an invaluable compass for anyone who wants to give up drinking. Simon Chapple – The Quit Alcohol Coach, shares his tactics for successfully leaving the liquid demon behind in your life.
The Survival Guide leads you to a path where you will examine your beliefs about alcohol and discover the limitations that hold you back from conquering dependency.
For example, does alcohol:
Make you relaxed?
Ease your anxiety and worries?
Make things more fun?
Taste good?
You will uncover truths behind these questions and gain insights into how your mind and body have become dependent on alcohol. You will explore ideas and strategies to stay motivated, and you will feel like a winner every step of the way.
A successful businessman and marathon athlete, Simon is himself a survivor of alcohol, liberated from drinking after more than two decades of a love affair with red wine. He transformed his life with freedom and is now a certified This Naked Mind alcohol coach who helps thousands of people explore and change their relationship with alcohol for the long term.
The Sober Survival Guide is written with both compassion and realism. Simon presents strategies that are achievable and easy to master. With the Quit Alcohol Coach at your side, you will feel empowered and excited to launch your sober journey, a journey that will set you free forever.
Scroll down for more quit alcohol book reviews
The best books for stopping drinking in 2020 & 2021 – in no particular order:
This Naked Mind – Control Alcohol
By: Annie Grace
This Naked Mind by Annie Grace was a game-changer for me and played a major role in helping my successfully stop drinking alcohol for good.
It was the first (and only) book I have ever read twice in a row and it helped me totally transform my relationship with alcohol.
Annie takes readers on a powerful journey of self-discovery by sharing insights and challenging limiting beliefs around the benefits of alcohol.
As readers delve deeper into their true beliefs and realise that much of what they thought was true about alcohol is, in fact a lie they are empowered to make a life-changing choice to find freedom from alcohol forever if that is what they choose. It worked for me and I am confident it can do the same for you.
You can buy This Naked Mind – Control Alcohol on Amazon here.
The Sober Diaries – How One Woman Stopped Drinking & Started Living
By: Clare Pooley
The Sober Diaries was a great read. It is more ‘memoir’ than ‘tactics’ and I wouldn’t recommend it as a specific tool to quit drinking. But I would recommend having it on your quit alcohol book list as the book allows you an insight into Clare’s life and enables you to see how she dealt with the challenges of quitting drinking and coped with everything that came up in her new sober life.
This book is the story of a year in Clare’s life. A year that started with her quitting booze having been drinking more than a bottle of wine every day. It sees her starting a hugely successful blog, then getting and beating breast cancer. By the end of the year she is booze free and cancer free, two stone lighter and with a life that is so much richer, healthier and more rewarding than ever before. Sober Diaries is an upbeat, funny and positive look at how to live life to the full.
You can buy The Sober Diaries – How One Woman Quit Drinking & Started Living on Amazon here.
How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days – Stop Drinking & Find Freedom
By: Simon Chapple
#1 Hot New Release on Amazon US & UK.
My second book feels like it should have been the one I wrote first, before The Sober Survival Guide, but I guess that is how these things sometimes work out!
I wanted to write a book that gave readers a very clear and structured path to quitting alcohol and I believe that is exactly what I have created with this powerful piece of ‘quit lit’.
Readers work through one chapter a day and answer questions at the end of each chapter to allow them to reflect and experience breakthroughs as they grow stronger on their journey to freedom from alcohol.
The book is split into two parts, the first 25 days is all about setting readers up for success by arming them with everything they will need to navigate an alcohol-free life. In the second half readers are asked to make a commitment to taking a break from drinking and then continue reading one-chapter a day as the book supports them as they go forward.
I believe this is a game-changing book that will help anyone who wants to break free from the alcohol trap.
You can buy How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days on Amazon here.
Click here to instantly download a free sample of the book now
Alcohol Explained
By: William Porter
I loved this book, it helped me understand alcohol and make decisions about how I wanted it to feature in my life. I would recommend this to anyone who has become curious about their relationship with alcohol.
Alcohol Explained is the definitive, ground-breaking guide to alcohol and alcoholism. It explains how alcohol affects human beings on a chemical, physiological and psychological level, from those first drinks right up to chronic alcoholism. Alcoholism and problem drinking seems illogical to those on the outside, indeed it is equally perplexing for the alcoholic or problem drinker. This book provides a logical, easy to follow explanation of the phenomenon and detailed instructions on how to beat it.
You can buy Alcohol Explained on Amazon here.
The Alcohol Experiment
By Annie Grace
Annie Grace’s follow up to This Naked Mind is a 30-day programme with a difference. Each day, it will show you a new way of thinking about booze, and ask you to look a little closer at why we drink, what we get out of it, and whether it’s really the alcohol that’s giving us what we want.
This is another must have quit alcohol book and comes highly recommended if you are worried about your drinking or questioning how alcohol should feature in your life.
You can buy The Alcohol Experiment on Amazon here.
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
By: Catherine Grey
I thoroughly enjoyed The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober and feel that this is also a must have if you are curious about quitting drinking and what an alcohol-free life might look like.
In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shines a light on society’s drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies.
Much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you’re a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you’ve already ditched the drink.
You can buy The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober on Amazon here.
Kick The Drink…Easily!
By: Jason Vale
I enjoyed Kick The Drink…Easily! It is another book I would recommend for your sober bookshelf. It is informative and provides plenty of insights and tactics to help readers work towards a life free from alcohol.
There is no such thing as an alcoholic and there is no such disease as alcoholism! (as society understands it). Whether you agree with this statement or not, one thing is for sure, you will never see alcohol in the same light ever again after reading this book. Jason Vale takes an honest and hard hitting look at people’s conceptions of our most widely consumed drug. Jason’s major argument is there is no such thing as an ‘alcoholic’ and that we are conditioned to accept alcohol as a ‘normal’ substance in today’s society despite the fact that it is the major cause of many of today’s social problems and a wide range of health issues. This book is much more than a simple eye opener, it will: change the way you see alcohol forever; show you how to stop drinking; help you enjoy the process and enjoy your life so much more than you do now without having to drink alcohol. So open your mind and take a journey with Jason to explore the myths about the most used and accepted drug addiction in the world!
You can buy Kick The Drink…Easily! on Amazon here
Quit Like a Woman
By Holly Whitaker
OK, I know I am not a woman! But I loved Holly’s book.
This book is brings into the light the sickness that exists in our society that drives us toward an unattainable perfection and lives we never bargained for and what we do to manage that impossible situation. It’s about an addictive chemical that we have been fooled into believing is the answer to every problem, a healthful staple of our diet, our key to connection and power. It’s about a system that limits our ability to question whether we should be consuming that addictive chemical and one that, when we do become addicted, forces us into male-centric “recovery” frameworks (i.e., Alcoholics Anonymous) that not only run counter to our emerging feminist and individualist ideals but actively work against them, boarding us through yet another system that requires submission to male authority, self-silencing, further dissolution of self, and pathologised femininity.
In other words, this book is about what makes us sick and keeps us sick. It’s about our power as women—both as individuals and as a collective—and how alcohol can keep us from it. And most important, it is about what is possible when we remove alcohol from our lives and destroy our belief systems around it. This is the truth about alcohol, and the thing about truth is once you know it, you can never un-know it.
You will never look at drinking the same way again.
You can buy Quit Like a Woman on Amazon here
Recovery – Freedom From Our Addictions
By Russell Brand
Russell Brand’s Recovery book is a Sunday Times Number 1 Bestseller, but then again, he is pretty famous and has a huge following, so it comes as no surprise that enormous numbers of people would read his books. He has done some amazing work when it comes to helping people change their lives and inspiring others and I have huge respect for him.
He also speaks a lot of sense and has a very wise approach with his delivery, although he can use vocabulary that flies over the heads of some people (me included), I have also found that people seem to either love him or hate him, with very little middle ground.
Personally I love him, but I didn’t manage to finish Recovery – Freedom From Our Addictions. The book follows the Alcoholics Anonymous process of taking twelve steps, but with Russell’s own take on it.
I got stuck on the step around having a Higher Power, I am not religious so I couldn’t use God, but I was committed and kept searching and ended up with ‘The Universe’ as my higher power (thanks Google) – but it felt false, as though I had shoe-horned it in because I needed to have one to complete the steps. I felt a sense of internal conflict because I knew it was a false belief and subsequently I ended up deciding that this process wasn’t for me, I didn’t feel like I was being authentic.
That said, I know it has worked for thousands of people and I certainly don’t want my experience to put anyone off, this is simply what happened in my individual case and the book is about Russell Brand and what worked for him, not me.
The book is not solely about drinking, which may put off those who are looking for ‘Quit Lit’ in relation to alcohol, bear that in mind when making your decision about which books you might want to read.
Russell Brand has found freedom from all addictions and claims his book will do the same for you. He believes his system offers nothing less than liberation from self-centredness, a new perspective, freedom from the illusion of suffering and is for anyone who is willing to take the necessary steps.
So maybe that is it – maybe I just wasn’t willing? Maybe I didn’t look deeply enough inside myself…
You can buy Recovery – Freedom From Our Addictions on Amazon here
Easy Way to Stop Drinking
By Allen Carr
Book review by: Lois Badey
There is an Easy Way to Stop Drinking, and it’s not through willpower. Allen Carr’s methodology obliterates both the need and the desire for alcohol well before you get to the last chapter and take your last drink. Over the course of 25 concise and brilliantly written chapters, Carr dispels all of the myths and rationalizations entrenched in the subconscious mind. You will have no fear, whatsoever, of quitting drinking by the time you finish this book. You will feel and know that you never, ever want to drink again.
Allen Carr’s wit, humour, and infallible logic keep you turning page after page with interest and excitement to become sober. Similar in content to Jason Vale’s Kick the Drink Easily (Vale worked for several years as a therapist in Carr’s clinics and wrote Kick the Drink after Easy Way was published), Carr’s book is a quicker and lighter read. Don’t let that fool you! Carr offers no wiggle room for illusions about the monster in your subconscious.
The Pitcher Plant is one of the most powerful chapters in Easy Way. Carr explains how this insidious plant exhibits similarities to drug addiction. The chapter is so convincingly written that the
analogy is used frequently in sobriety books. For example, Annie Grace relies on it throughout This Naked Mind and the 30 Day Alcohol Experiment.
replicated the quit smoking program and created Easy Way clinics for alcohol addiction. A nonsmoker and nondrinker for more than 23 years, Carr passed away from lung cancer in 2006 at
the age of 72. He attributed his substance free years as the happiest in his life.
You can buy Easy Way to Stop Drinking on Amazon here
Sober Positive – Happily quit drinking and discover the unlimited possibilities waiting for you beyond alcohol
By Julia Carson
Sober Positive is a great book and Julia Carson is a wonderful human-being, I was honoured when she joined me on a recent live Q&A where I discovered how humble she was and how much she truly cared about helping others with alcohol problems through sharing her own story.
Julia Carson quit drinking in February 2017 before going on a journey of self-discovery and growth. During that time she created a detailed road map to help anyone who wants to stop drinking navigate their way to sobriety.
The book tells the story of Julia’s own, very personal story as well as sharing her advice for quitting without feeling a sense of loss or deprivation.
I love that the book has such a ‘Positive’ outlook and works with the reader to quit drinking and be happy about it – this aligns with my own experience and philosophy that we lose nothing when we quit and gain so much.
Sober Positive allows readers to explore their relationship with alcohol and enables them to navigate the maze of addiction to a point where they find a way out and never look back.
Sober Positive is a highly rated and a must have for your sober bookshelf!
You can buy Sober Positive on Amazon here
Alcohol Lied To Me
By Craig Beck
A hypnotist and marketing entrepreneur, Craig Beck utilizes the power of repetition and imagery in Alcohol Lied to Me. He puts forth irrefutable reasons why you need to conquer the “evil clown” in your subconscious. Each chapter is accompanied by one of his coaching videos to further convince you to become sober.
Alcohol Lied to Me includes a section on vitamins and supplements deemed helpful in detoxifying and reducing inflammation in the body. While the chapter is informative and consistent with books on alcohol and nutrition written by medical experts, you should consult a physician about Beck’s recommendations.
Beck’s stop drinking techniques include:
- Make a commitment to quit
- Question and change your beliefs about alcohol
- Vitamin Supplements
- Thought-Field therapy to battle cravings
- Subconscious programming
In the early days and weeks of your new sober journey, examining your beliefs about alcohol and immersion in knowledge will carry you through to success. When combined with other reading and tutorials, blogs, and videos, Alcohol Lied to Me will help shine light on your path to freedom.
You can buy Alcohol Lied To Me on Amazon here
Best Stop Drinking Books in 2021 – Make sure you add these awesome sober books to your 2021 reading list
It doesn’t seem like that long ago at all that I created my reviews above of some of the best stop drinking books that are available in the market for 2019 & 2020. It’s been an exciting year for the sober movement. With sober curiosity gaining even more wide spread traction, there have been some new authors who have published books on sobriety, along with well-known authors bringing out new additions. I therefore, wanted to take the time and introduce and review a number of those books to you.
When it comes to ‘Quit Lit’, you are certainly spoilt for choice. When I started my sobriety journey, one of the first things I did was read books from others who have been on the journey I was embarking on. I found it to be a tremendous support and guidance for what was to come and how to deal with it.
So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on the best stop drinking books for 2021.
#1 – How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days By Simon Chapple
Yes, I know, this is my book and I have mentioned it previously, but I had to give it a place! With an arrival date of 24th December, 2020, I am extremely excited for the launch of the book to the public. After the success of ‘The Sober Survival Guide’ being the leading seller on Amazon for sobriety, I am nervous yet excited to see how my new book will be received.
As the title suggests, I have based the book on 50 days of starting sobriety. The book is split into two parts, where the initial 25 chapters focus on the first steps of quitting alcohol. The remaining 25 days focus on what you need to do to remove alcohol from your life. The idea is that you read 1 chapter each day to aid with your recovery.
The book has been well received so far by other sobriety experts with reviews including the following:
‘AN INSPIRATIONAL MANIFESTO’ – Annie Grace
‘SIMON IS FABULOUS – YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN!’ – Clare Pooley
You can buy How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days here
#2 – The Alcohol Experiment (Expanded Edition) By Annie Grace
I love this book! I love Annie as a writer and commentator on sobriety. You may have already read her awesome book This Naked Mind books, which has proven to be extremely popular and is a personal favourite of mine. She has now launched ‘The Alcohol Experiment’ – expanded edition, which is a 30-day alcohol-free challenge. If you are looking to kick-start your sobriety journey, then this is certainly a must-read for you.
It’s already receiving excellent reviews online, with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Audible and 4.2 out of 5 on Goodreads. You will not be disappointed with adding this to your collection.
You can buy The Alcohol Experiment (Expanded Edition) here
#3 – The Sober Curious Reset By Ruby Warrington
Having previously released her ‘Sober Curious’ book in 2019, which proved to be a critical success, Ruby Warrington now invites her readers to embark on a 100-day challenge to dramatically rethink their relationships and attitudes toward what they drink. Each day consists of certain exercises, insights and observations which really will get you thinking about your connection to drink and why you drink. I was so impressed with this read that I wanted to showcase it in my list as I genuinely believe my readers will benefit from picking this up.
Ruby’s previous book ‘Sober Curious’, was such a success (in my opinion) because she didn’t preach about alcohol abstinence. She invited people to consider the benefits of an alcohol-free life and this is expanded upon in her latest read, ‘The Sober Curious Reset’.
Due to the book only just being released, there are no current reviews at the time of writing this, however, I know this will be as much (if not more) of a success than her previous releases
You can buy The Sober Curious Reset here
#4 – Happy Healthy Sober By Janey Lee Grace
Janey Lee Grace is a well-known television presenter and radio DJ. She is also leading the way in creating some fabulous ‘Quit Lit’. Her latest addition is ‘Happy Healthy Sober’, I found to be one of those books that once you have picked it up, you can’t put it down. The clear message behind the pages is to ditch the alcohol to discover the best version of yourself. She looks into the fact that the first 30 days of sobriety are the hardest. There are some excellent tips and learning techniques to help put you well on your way for your sobriety journey.
With a core focus on self-care, wellbeing, changing your mindset and using exercise to help with removing alcohol from your life, the book really did resonate with me on all levels.
You can buy Happy Healthy Sober here
#5 – How to be a Mindful Drinker By Club Soda Community
Although published a year ago, this still makes my top reads for 2021! Club Soda Community do some amazing work on spreading awareness on alcoholism and sobriety. Last year they published the ‘How to be a Mindful Drinker’ book which is not slowing down in popularity. I read this book this year and I can see why!
This book is for anyone who knows they have to (or want to) change their drinking habits but aren’t completely clear on the end goal. There is definitely a message of sober curiosity behind the pages, where they get you to look at your drinking habits and implement the steps to becoming a mindful drinker. I absolutely loved it from start to finish and highly recommend to anyone looking for superb ‘Quit Lit’.
You can buy How to be a Mindful Drinker here
#6 – The Dry Challenge By Hilary Sheinbaum
This fantastic read by Hilary Sheinbaum makes my list because I loved the feeling of this book. She has made what can be a difficult subject matter, a really enlightening, insightful and light-hearted read. Hilary explores sobriety in modern society and the challenges we all face and I feel she does this with beautiful writing.
In this book, Hilary explores the months where quitting the booze it widely accepted in society as a whole, such as ‘Dry January’ and ‘Sober October’. She gives her own take and tips on how to remove alcohol from your life for 30 days and the benefits you will likely experience from doing so.
You can buy The Dry Challenge here
Do you really need a book if you want to quit drinking alcohol?
I love that there is so much literature out there in the market for anyone who is sober curious or wants to completely remove alcohol from their lives. I am also extremely proud to be part of the incredible sober community. Being a relatively new author, receiving the feedback I have so far on my book ‘The Sober Survival Guide’ and my latest edition ‘How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days’ is truly amazing.
I am proud to be a part of this community because we are not in competition with each other. We are here to support each other and to provide advice, tools and tactics to people who need help with removing alcohol from their lives so they can experience the joys and benefits of sobriety.
I could never have stopped drinking without learning and educating myself and I found that the best way of doing this was by reading (and listening to) books about quitting alcohol.
There are 5 stages to become sober:
- Unaware – When we are living in ignorant bliss and deny we have a problem.
- Aware – When we realise we have a problem but don’t know what to do about it.
- Education/Learning – When we start to take action and create a plan to become free from alcohol.
- Practice – When we begin to bring what we have learned into the real world.
- Mastery – When we no longer drink and no longer think about alcohol.
Too many people attempt to quit with willpower alone, willpower is rather like a muscle, over time it gets tired and wears out. Instead of relying on willpower you can use a powerful stop drinking book to provide you with the best strategy, tactics and support to stop drinking with the minimum discomfort.
'Your windshield is bigger than your rearview for a reason; the mirror is there to help you glance back at where you’ve been, but if you focus too much on it, you’re going to crash.
We are ALL affected by our past and we are ALL reminded of it now and again, but we cannot live in it unless we want to repeat it over and over again. We need to learn from it, take lessons from it, know what’s good (and not good) for us, and adjust accordingly. Mistakes are only mistakes until we learn from them and then they become lessons.'
Love this from the Your Tango blog, it sums up the need for a forward focused growth mindset in sobriety and life in general.
#keepmovingforward #positivequotes #positivity #yourtango #growthmindset #growthquotes #motivationalquotes #motivation #soberquotes #sobrietyquotes #lookforwardnotback #leavethepastbehind #movingforward #quotestagram #selfhelpquotes #positivemindset
Having an amazing time in #Japan and managed to head south out of Tokyo for a few days today to Kamakura by the ocean.
The drinking culture here is totally different to the UK, but all the bars are full, not many AF options either, but I wouldn’t want to visit such an amazing place and spoil it by boozing.
#tokyo #kamakura #tokyonight #tokyoneon #kamakuratemple #japaneseshrine #buddhisttemple #japantravel #tokyotrip #ramen #japaneseculture #japanlife
Wow! Rock Bottom & Rising has won the GOLD medal at the @nautilusbookawards for the best Addiction Recovery Memoir.
The book has 21 incredible stories by real people who have quit alcohol and turned their lives around, it is a truly inspirational read.
So this award is for everyone who contributed to the book, congratulations and thank you!
#bestbooks #nautilusbookaward #nautilusbookawards #nautilusbookawardwinner #sheldonpress #hatchettebookgroup #hodderandstoughton #addictionbooks #adictionmemoir #alcoholbooks #sobrietybooks #soberbooks
Woohoo! Just seen one of my books on the shelf @theworksstores #anxiety #anxietybook #theworks #bookshop #selfhelpbook #bookstore
Just finished recording a piece with @itvnews about the growing number of people quitting alcohol and the sobriety movement as a whole.
It airs next week, so look out for my shiny head on your TV screens.
#itv #sobriety #itvnews #sobermovement #sobercoach #tvinterview #newsstory #alcoholfree #soberlife #sobrietyrules
These two inspiring books from leading sobriety coach Simon Chapple are out today!
Read more...Repost @sheldon.press
Featuring contributions from some of the most well-known personalities in the Sober Space, Rock Bottom and Rising brings us real, raw, relatable stories from individuals who’ve found joy in an alcohol-free life.
The perfect companion to Rock Bottom – The Sober Life Journal captures the essence of journaling and provides space to grow and develop as you embark on a sober life. With hundreds of writing prompts, pages for reflection, focus, inspiration and guided exercises, this beautiful new journal supports your intention to create something lasting and meaningful to accompany you on your journey to an alcohol-free life.
Ideal for anyone contemplating a sober life come the new year, or from #dryjanuary.
Find out more in our bio.
——
#RockBottomandRising #SoberLife #Sober #SobrietyCoach #Sobriety #StopDrinking #Freefromalcohol #AlcoholFree #SoberBook #SimonChapple #BeSober #Howtogosober #quittingalcohol #teetotaller #teetotal #alcoholism #aa #cutdown #alcoholic #thisnakedmind #addiction #problemdrinking #soberjourney
Scroll down for even more book reviews.
Other Categories of Books – not related to quitting alcohol, but highly recommended for self-improvement and development:
Untamed – Stop Pleasing, Start Living
By Glennon Doyle
Glennon Doyle has struggled with and overcome her own addiction to alcohol, but Untamed is not a book about quitting drinking. I would describe it as a manual for life that is beautifully woven together through Glennon’s ability to tell stories with warmth, humour and passion.
Untamed is essentially a memoir, but it is not like any other memoir I have ever read. Every page has brilliant lessons for life weaved within the story of Glennon’s journey and it is so wonderfully written that I could not put the book down. In fact, I plan to read it again very soon.
The book really makes readers stop and think about how they are showing up in the world, especially in relation to pleasing other people and not being the authentic version of themselves.
Untamed was the best book I read in 2020, it is pitched to women readers but from a male perspective I simply adored this book, the audiobook version is brilliant too and Glennon has narrated it herself.
I could write so much more about Untamed, but I don’t want to spoil it, just get yourself a copy – you won’t regret it!
You can buy Untamed on Amazon here
Loving What Is – Four Questions That Can Change Your Life
By Byron Katie
Book review by: Lois Badey
Thoughts manifest our beliefs and actions. They steer us into happiness or misery. Agonising thoughts materialise into problems. In the Book, Loving What Is, Byron Katie imparts the technique of self-examination to reveal the awareness of unconditional self-love. The resulting truth dispels the personal limitations rooted in negative thinking.
Katie’s inquiry technique centres on key probing questions
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
How do you react when you think the thought?
Who would you be without the thought?
Katie unpacks each question and shares dialogues with clients as examples. The questions lead to a Turn Around – the point where the truth releases harboured, self-deprecating thoughts. Through in-depth exploration of seemingly simple questions and answers, Loving What Is shows how to defeat anger, frustration, stress, fear, and anxiety. Katie’s view is that when acceptance of reality begins, “insanity” ceases.
Katie’s style, both in writing and in person, is warm, relatable, compassionate, and nurturing. Loving What Is became the basis for Katie’s “The Work”. The Work has been taught to thousands
of people, helping them “wake up to reality”.
Loving What Is pertains to every aspect of life: Relationships, Family, Children, Trauma, Self-Judgments, Addiction, Work, Money, Life and Death Situations, and World Events. A particularly
effective technique for achieving sobriety, Annie Grace applies this methodology in the 30 Day Experiment and The Naked Mind. TNM Coaches such as Simon Chapple rely on the four
questions as tactics for combating negative thinking and cravings and resolving inner conflict.
In addition to reading Loving What Is, supplemental resources may be helpful in mastering The Work. There are numerous videos on YouTube by both Byron Katie and one of the lead facilitators for The Work, Ernest Holm Svendsen. Further information on The Work is available at www.thework.org.
You can buy Loving What Is on Amazon here
Running on Empty – Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect
By Dr Jonice Webb
Book review by: Lois Badey
Running on Empty by Dr. Jonice Webb exposes the hidden influence of emotional neglect as the cause of our adult struggles with esteem, worthiness, anxiety, motivation and purpose.
Understanding the roots of self-destructive patterns is essential to moving forward with a happy and healthy life. Limiting behaviours derive from some form of physical or emotional neglect or trauma and unfortunately, those behaviours originate from our parents or others in the formative years. As adults, we are also influencers of children.
The aim of Running on Empty is to “provide concrete solutions for invisible wounds.” You’ll first look at your own experiences through a self-assessment questionnaire, which is available online at
www.drjonicewebb.com.
You’ll then read and learn about the 12 types of parenting styles that either undermine or bolster self-esteem. Through case studies, Dr. Webb clearly illustrates and
explains the cause and effect of behaviours and attitudes that impact children.
The strategies in Running on Empty are effective for identifying and resolving emotional neglect. Gaining perspective on the connection between your past and your present will help you on your journey to sobriety. Carefully written with a clear and articulate style, the book does not blame parents or adults or you or you as a parent. Rather, it shows you how to fill in the gaps so as to repair or prevent emotional damage.
You can buy Running on Empty on Amazon here
Psycho-Cybernetics
By Maxwell Maltz, MD, FCIS
Book review by: Lois Badey
Have you ever had that winning feeling? Like the time you knew you’d get the job? You’d win the match? You’d ace your exam? Or for some reason you can’t explain, does quitting drinking feel different this time? In Psycho-Cybernetics, Maxwell Maltz connects this phenomenon to the enormous processing ability of your subconscious mind.
First published in 1960, Psycho-Cybernetics became a foundational and timeless resource for motivational coaches and therapists of all kinds. Gurus like Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy use the teachings of Maxwell Maltz to help people achieve success through the practice of mind-body connection.
In his work as a plastic surgeon, Dr. Maltz observed that some of his patients could never find happiness. No matter the beneficial outcome from cosmetic improvements to their faces or bodies, various patients continued to believe they were ugly, worthless failures. Dr. Maltz subsequently developed what would become a groundbreaking strategy for visualisation, mental rehearsal, and relaxation.
In Psycho-Cybernetics, you will:
- Learn how to set and achieve goals of absolutely any kind
- Figure out how to solve difficult situations and break down obstacles
- Understand that your past is a tool you can leverage
- Realize the freedom of practicing therapeutic forgiveness and compassion
- Recalibrate your outlook on life
The book is chock full of examples for you to clearly grasp mastery of the techniques. In the revised version, Matt Furey includes reflection exercises at the end of each chapter to help you internalise your reading. Psycho-Cybernetics could become a prized tool for any aspect of your life, but especially your sober journey. For more information on the practice of positive outcome thinking, visit the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation website, www.psycho-cybernetics.com.
You can buy Psycho-Cybernetics on Amazon here
In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts
By Gabor Maté , MD
Book review by: Janet Kennedy
Really worth reading, especially for the detailed information on how the brain works, but maybe not the first book to jump into.
Hungry Ghosts is an interesting in depth look at what happens in the brain with drug use, and the role of childhood abuse in the creation of addictions. I think it is designed more as an advocacy for treating drug addicts compassionately rather than a self help book. However, any of his insights do apply to those of us who are trying to get alcohol out of our lives. Maté openly explores his own addictions and his work reinforces what Annie Grace talks about in her books.
I would divide the book into 4 sections:
- Stories of addicts he has worked with, and the trauma they have endured that has led the to where they are.
- Detailed description of how the brain of an addict works.
- Advocacy for treating addicts as human beings who are in a dire situation due to their past abuse by other people and society. Treating addicts as criminals is expensive, ineffective, and just plain stupid.
- Treatment options, including AA. He is very big on AA although he admits that it did not really work for him.
It is tough going at times, as some of the stories of his patients, and the details of animal testing are disturbing.
Maté repeats himself a lot, but I think that is because he is primarily targeting those in the medical community, police, and politicians: people who can make a change in the addict’s life by changing how they interact with them. He wants the addicts to be seen as a human beings, who with compassion can be helped, rather than scum who need punishment and even further hardship.
That is a good message to us, and how we need to change our self talk from negative judgement to loving caring messages.
Book review by: Lois Badey
“At heart, I am not that different from my patients – and sometimes I cannot stand seeing how little psychological space, how little heaven-granted grace separates me from them.” A bestselling author and winner of the 2010 Hubert Evans Award Best BC Non-Fiction Book, Gabor Mate´ eloquently and compassionately explains addiction and the emotion and brain science behind it. He writes from a personal perspective, using case studies from his medical experience treating addicts in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Mate´ freely admits to his own struggles with finding short-term relief for emotional pain. By relating case studies of addicts, Hungry Ghosts also becomes Mate´’s testimonial about his quest for resolution to his own feelings of emotional deprivation.
“…I do not equate my music obsession with the life-threatening habits of my Portland patients. Far from it. My addiction, though I call it that, wears dainty white gloves compared to theirs. … But if the differences between my behaviours and the self-annihilating life patterns of my clients are obvious, the similarities are illuminating – and humbling. …”I have come to see addiction as … a subtle and extensive continuum.”
Have a pen and paper handy to take notes because the book covers an extensive amount of information on substance use and other disorders such as work, OCD, and instant gratification – likely the most comprehensive text for laymen ever written. In seven parts plus an appendix, Hungry Ghosts explains addiction and the roots behind it, including trauma, childhood and emotional deprivation, family history and genetics, brain science, and the climate, culture and spiral of addiction in society. The book concludes with Mate´ s Four-plus-One-Step Method for coping with cravings.
Hungry Ghosts is, and will continue to be, a foundational reference for anyone seeking an understanding of addiction and how to come to terms with it.
You can buy In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts on Amazon here
Understanding the Alcoholic’s Mind
The Nature of Craving and How to Control It
By Arnold M. Ludwig, M.D.
Oxford University Press, 1988
Book Review by Lois Badey
“Throughout the book, I use the term “alcoholic” to refer to individuals suffering from alcoholism. Because of the dehumanizing implications, this term is unfortunate, but for stylistic and conventional purposes, it will have to do. I know of no other designation that conveys so much meaning.” (Preface, viii)
Understanding the Alcoholic’s Mind, The Nature of Craving and How to Control It is a foundational book for comprehending the magnitude of the power and influence of the subconscious mind in achieving sobriety. Written in 1988, modern day readers might find it difficult to get beyond Dr. Ludwig’s use of the term “alcoholic”. But if taken in the context of the foregoing quotation, as well as recognizing that Alcoholics Anonymous was the predominant method for achieving sobriety pre-21st Century, readers will find this book an invaluable and timeless resource.
Arnold Ludwig was mystified by the paradoxes involved in alcohol abuse. Alcohol addiction is regarded as a disease, yet the person who drinks exercises freedom of choice in so doing. The person whose drinking is out of control is responsible for their behavior, and at the same time, the dynamic of relationships with friends, family, and the workplace share in that negative dynamic. Many addicted drinkers want desperately to be sober, yet they continue on a path of destruction, helpless victims of themselves. Some drinkers achieve sobriety on their own, while many others need a community and coaching.
In his research and interviews with countless people aiming to achieve sobriety, Ludwig discovered common behavioral tendencies and psychological patterns. Very few books detail the types of scripts created by the subconscious mind to control alcohol use and/or sobriety. Ludwig’s book is insightful and a profound explanation of how the mind rationalizes drinking and how it can be successfully reprogrammed for sobriety.
Scripts that Ludwig found common in alcohol addiction include: (1) Escape; (2) Relaxation; (3) Socialization; (4) Improved self-image; (5) Romance or Hollywood illusions of sophistication; (6) Sensual Pleasure; (7) Disillusionment with the effort of quitting; (8) Delusions about moderation; and (9) a physical and mental Inability to get beyond drinking at all. Ludwig describes these scripts in detail and gives real-life examples of how they played out.
In achieving sobriety, cravings can be an obstacle. Dr. Ludwig explains the psychological and physiological characteristics of cravings in terms of environmental cue, chemical triggers, settings and situations, and emotions. He illustrates these elements of cravings and further describes how the subconscious mind oftentimes tees up a relapse or set back well before the actual faltering moment of returning to the crutch of drinking.
Understanding the Alcoholic’s Mind… relies heavily upon the success of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is important to acknowledge that in 1988, therapies and solutions for alcohol use disorder were very limited. Even so, the book provides a deep dive into the workings of the subconscious mind in the trap of addiction and what is needed to become and stay alcohol free. Anyone struggling with cravings, setbacks, and numerous Day 1 attempts to quit drinking will benefit from this book.
You can buy Understanding The Alcoholic’s Mind on Amazon here
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