Book Picks for When You’re Exploring Sobriety
Quit Like a Woman, Holly Whitaker
There’s a reason why this book is the one Miranda orders from Amazon during a drunken haze on an episode of Sex and The City. It has become the ultimate handbook for helping smart, professional women uncover some of the hidden ugliness of alcohol. It aims to challenge traditional views on alcohol and addiction, particularly those aimed at women. Holly Whitaker shares her personal journey with alcohol and discusses the societal expectations and norms that contribute to women's relationships with alcohol. Overall, "Quit Like a Woman" is part memoir, part social commentary, and part self-help. It challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with alcohol and offers an alternative perspective on recovery, with a focus on empowerment and self-discovery. The information Whitaker shares will have you questioning the WHY of your alcohol intake and everything it does to you physically, emotionally, and socially. It’s the first book that ever really made me see alcohol in a completely different light. The knowledge in the book stays with you when you are contemplating the cocktail menu on a night out.
Sober Curious, Ruby Warrington
This is a great book for anyone questioning or wanting to explore their relationship with alcohol even if you’re not struggling with an addiction. It approaches drinking from the lens of being the judge and jury of your experiences. The book promotes the idea of mindful drinking, encouraging individuals to be more conscious of their alcohol consumption and its effects on their physical and mental well-being. It invites readers to consider the role of alcohol in their lives and whether they are making intentional choices. It doesn’t make you feel stuck in one category for the rest of your life like many other sobriety tomes. It allows you to navigate and personalize your own experience. Maybe you’re someone that feels ok having a drink here and there. Maybe you’re someone who feels poorly after one drink. As the book implies, you get to be curious and explore what the right lifestyle choices are for you and that notion can always change as well. This book is such a hit precisely because of its flexibility and ease.
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Katherine Grey
If you're looking for inspiration, practical tips for sobriety, or a personal narrative about someone's journey to quit drinking, this book could be a great fit. The book chronicles Gray's personal journey to sobriety and explores the positive aspects of living an alcohol-free life. It combines memoir with everyday advice and insights. Her writing feels like talking to a friend with a bit of science and data thrown into the mix. Do you ever wonder what happens after you quit drinking? This gripping, heart-breaking, and humorous book takes you down the path of that not-so-unreachable alternate reality. The unexpected joy of life with zero hangovers through sober weddings, sex, holidays, and breakups. Even if you’re not considering taking the plunge into a sober reality you can still walk away from this booking having learned a thing or two.
