Does anyone believe a $4.99 book, just over 120 pages, can unlock the prison of alcohol addiciton?
It’s almost offensive to think an “easy way” to beat my alcoholism could come so cheap and with fun cartoon illustrations. But I’m willing to take all the advice I can get, especially something that will give me a fresh look at my life dominating problem.
So today I bought Allen Carr’s, “The Illustrated Easy Way to Stop Drinking.”
My expectations were low. This is obviously a shortened version of the author’s other books about addiction. I was eyeing the longer “Stop Drinking Now” but was happy to find the abbreviated treatment. Honestly, I’m a little tired of the serious books on alcoholism. Why not try something with comics?
I read the book in just under an hour. It wasn’t heavy. It wasn’t detailed. It felt like a pep talk you’d get from Nancy Reagan, “Just Say No!”
However, I did like the core idea in this book. Telling the truth that alcohol is a liar. It adds nothing to your life except misery. That’s a fact we all need to accept. Of course the flaw here is simple, right knowledge doesn’t always lead to right choices.
The other strong point was the author’s discussion of the “little monster” aka chemical dependency. This is the craving for another drink, it starts when our alcohol level begins to decrease. When the first drink has peaked, the monster asks for a second. When the system is clean the next morning, he wants to start again. It’s the insecure feeling that makes us so irrational when it comes to moderation. The little monster kicks and screams until we gratify its demands – namely more booze.
Here’s the key point:
All the other “reasons” we like to drink are lies and empty promises. Really it’s just about getting relief from the demon of chemical addiction. The obvious problem, when you feed the monster he only gets stronger and more determine.
That insight was worth the price of the book.
I’ll probably buy the longer one tomorrow.
Update: Two Weeks Sober!
It’s been sober for 14 days since I read the Easy Way to Stop Drinking and I’m now working through the much longer Stop Drinking Now.
I am totally surprised, but the information in this book has been a real help for me. I can’t explain why I’ve lost my cravings for alcohol, except that Allen Carr’s method has helped me recognize how stupid I was being to believe the lies about drinking. I plan to write a longer review once I finish the next book, but I’m certain this approach has done something positive for my recovery.
It’s the most help I’ve found so far to quit drinking.
Update 40 Days Sober
I’m still working my recovery and have started the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous. The insights of this little book are still making an amazing difference in my thinking. The easy way to quit drinking is a powerful tool. This little book was key in helping me accept the truth. Alcohol is not my friend and by giving it up I am losing nothing.
I’m reading the longer version of this book and will post a review in the next few weeks.
[…] Those thoughts didn’t last long because I know that drinking would only make the monster strong again, besides my problems are all way to critical for a cloudy head right […]