Well as you know I am the proud ‘mum’ of a new book – Happy Healthy Sober – ditch the booze and take control of your life. Janey Lee Grace published by McNidder & Grace, of course I want you to buy that one, as it covers the ‘How to get the buzz without the booze, and a wealth of tips and inspiration on optimum health and wellbeing, plus there are contributions from some awesome experts!
So please buy it and leave me a nice review!
But what else? (!)
These are some of the classic ‘quit lit’ books that helped me massively especially in the early days and beyond. They aren’t In any particular order but the first few are my absolute faves and I’d urge you to read at least two of them ASAP – one from each list! Many of these have been guests on the Alcohol Free life podcast too.
On NLP / Power of the mind / motivation…
Annie Grace – This Naked Mind
The one that started it all for Annie Grace – and the title of her podcast and live event. She documents her story and her research around alcohol. I especially liked the fact that she actually went back and drank a bottle of wine alone and filmed the experience.
The 28 Day Alcohol Free Challenge – Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns
A handy guide through a challenge from the OYNB community guys who have done some amazing work encouraging people to fitness too.
Jason Vale – Kick the drink easily
Annie refers many times to Jason Vale and his book which is over ten years old now, kick the Drink easily, less personal more hard hitting and really powerful to train your brain to recognise the hold that alcohol had over you. This was the book that enabled me to stop drinking for a full six months once, why did I start again? Probably because I thought I had it ‘cracked’ and I didn’t have the concept of the joy of sobriety. Don’t miss my interview with Jason on Alcohol Free Life podcast.
Simon Chapple – How to Quit alcohol in 50 days
Encouraging an honest look at alcohol in your life and how to create a sober toolkit for change.
Allen Carr – The easy way to control alcohol
Jason doffs his cap to Allen Carr who he personally trained with to stop smoking (he later became an Allen Carr coach). There’s also ‘The easy way for women to stop drinking’
William Porter – Alcohol explained and Alcohol Explained 2
William has used his analytical brain to really look at alcohol, its effects on us and why we drink. I loved his explanation of the addictive quality of alcohol as its very simple and powerful.
There is also now and excellent workbook
William Porter – Diet and Fitness Explained
Again it’s a very straightforward approach to our relationship with food and fitness.
For inspiration and encouragement…
We all know that emotions not logic ioniser action so while it’s great to arm yourself with the facts about alcohol nothing beats a personal story. Reading Clare Pooley’s book The Sober Diaries was what keep me going, when I wanted to give up I remembered when she had gone through weak points and re- read how she overcome them – we all need someone ahead of us!
Clare Pooley – The Sober Diaries
Clare realised she wasn’t as present for her young children as she would like to be, she started a blog Mummy was a secret drinker which led to this brilliant book, she documents it all the highs and the lows, it’s very relatable especially to parents
Catherine Gray – The unexpected joy of being sober
Possibly one of the best books I have ever read, on any topic!, she is such an evocative writer and takes us through her rock bottom moment through to her surprise at enjoying sobriety! She has also written ‘The Unexpected joy of being single’. A fantastic poignant look at relationships and self love – relevant even if you aren’t single!
Mandy Manners and Kate Baily – Love Yourself Sober
Lots of tips and tools alongside coaching advice, so you can bring your ‘A game’ as mums and as women.
Lotta Dann – Mrs D is going without
I loved this funny memoir from an Aussie housewife and mum, Lotta didn’t have a rock bottom moment, but was definitely a grey area drinker, she documents her struggles with a sense of humour . I also loved ‘Mrs D is going within’. Lotta’s humorous account of her experiences as a ‘spiritual newbie’ and The Wine O Clock Myth looking at women’s drinking habits.
Jardine Libaire and Amanda Eyre Ward – The Sober Lush
A road map for living a lush and sensual life without booze. This book will show you how to keep indulging in life even if you stop indulging in alcohol.
Laura Mckowen – We are the luckiest
Laura questions AA, and without sugarcoating the struggles of recovery, she relentlessly emphasizes the many blessings of an honest life, one without secrets and debilitating shame.
Holly Whittaker – Quit like a woman
Holly gets at the root causes that lead women to overindulge and provides the tools necessary to break the cycle of addiction, showing us what is possible when we remove alcohol and destroy our belief system around it.
Augusten Burroughs – Dry
Not for the faint hearted, there are no fluffy bunnies or rainbows in this hard hitting account of several rock bottoms from the best-selling author of Running with scissors – this is as grimy and dark as it gets, jaw droppingly beautiful writing. Also Lust and wonder, another memoir not specifically about addiction but the challenges of his sobriety underpin it
Jo De Rosa – Quantum Sobriety
Jo was an alcohol and cocaine addict who found freedom through meditation, she offers a very mainstream approach to meditation and mindset, even if you are new to spirituality this book offers manageable meditation exercises
Lisa Smith – Girl walks out of a bar
Lisa was a hot shot lawyer apparently functioning well till she wasn’t – When she finally faced up to the fact that she needed a drink to start the day she sought help. Check out the podcast episode with Lisa too.
Ruby Warrington – Sober curious
Oh what a title!, Ruby is originally from the UK but living in New York, This book covers mindful drinking and encourages how we can deal with ‘sober firsts’ (first birthday, wedding etc).
Sarah Hepola – Blackout remembering the things I drank to forget
A rock bottom to recovery story.
Amy Liptrot – The Outrun
A beautifully descriptive memoir which takes Amy from addiction grime and grunge of rehab in London to the windy wilds of Ireland – I swear you can see into her soul!
Rebecca Weller – A happier hour
A light-hearted memoir from an Aussie ‘grey area drinker’ This book really highlights how suprising it can be to find joy in choosing not to drink.
Amber Tozer – Sober stick figure
A raw and real memoir from a US gal who went to AA As you can guess from the title there are some great stick figure illustrations of Amber.
Russell Brand – Recovery freedom from our addictions
I love Russell but this isn’t for everyone – it’s his highly irreverent take on the 12 steps with a lot of f**ks in there!
Jack Trimpey – Rational Recovery
Thought the ‘wine witch’ was a phrase coined by a sober influencer in recent years? Nope this absolute classic book is about how to recognise the ‘addictive voice’
Millie Gooch – The Sober Girl Society Handbook
If you cringe with embarrassment when reminded of your wild antics at girl’s nights, or blackouts are becoming a problem, this is a book that will should you another way, tips and advice on how to stay sober in a world that revolves around drinking,
Laura Willoughy, Jussi Tolvi, Dru Jaegar – How to be a Mindful Drinker
With contributions from The Mindful Drinking Community, this draaws on highly successful behaviour-change tools and techniques towards moderate drinking habits, so that you can live the life you want and put alcohol in its place
,,,and heres more that I love but don’t have time to write about just now!
Sigman, Aric: Alcohol Nation. How to protect our children from today’s drinking culture Sigman, Aric Body Wars: why body dissatisfaction is at epidemic proportions and how we can fight back.
Haidt, Jonathan: The Happiness Hypothesis
Cameron, Julia: The Artist’s Way
Ware, Bronnie: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying
Rossi, Julia: The Mood Cure
Rossi, Julia: The Diet Cure
Rossi, Julia: The Craving Cure
Thomson, Janet: The Placebo Diet
Khechara, Star; In Beauty (or is it called The Facelift Diet?
Vale, Jason: 7 1bs in 7 days Super Juice Diet
Porter, William: Diet and Fitness Explained
De Rosa, Jo: Quantum Sobriety
Nix-Jones, Shann: The Kefir Solution: Natural Healing for IBS, Depression and Anxiety
Hamilton, David; I heart me Hay House
Hamilton, David Why Kindness is good for you Hay House
Northrup, Christiane: Why Goddesses never age Hay House
Jean-Roberts: Wholly Aligned
Dawn Godfrey, Heather: Essential oils for the whole body
Dawn Godfrey, Heather; Essential oils for Mindfulness and Meditation Inner Traditions International
Harrold, Glenn: De-stress your life, A new approach to reducing stress in your everyday life
McLaren, Karla Embracing Anxiety: How to Access the Genius of This Vital Emotion,
Hobson, Rob; the Art of Sleeping
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