The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

I was surprised how good is the book. Good written. Very easy to read.

The opening line of this review is a bit of a cliche, but this book really is 'a great source of inspiration and know-how for anyone worried about their drinking and wanting to quit'. There now, I've said it. And like most cliches, it's really true. I finished it in two sittings, hooked as I was by a fluid prose style that alternates effortlessly between painful anecdotes, and joyful solutions, from a young life well lived, and lessons well learned - the hard way. If you're reading because you drink too much (binge / blackouts, etc) and want to quit, then you will undoubtedly recognise your own behaviour, and relentless string of catastrophes, in the episodes of excess and subsequent fallout that Catherine Gray writes about so candidly. This is just one of the ways that she manages to connect with the reader and, perhaps, why this reader felt so driven to keep going. There's a sense that you are in knowing, experienced, 'safe' and unpatronising hands, and as the author's own journey progresses, that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. It's never preachy or obvious, just honest, heartfelt, practical, and real. This is not just a self help book - although it does (for me, at least) achieve the ultimate goal of those books - it's much more than that. It's more like an entertaining, utterly engrossing journal; shared with the reader so that they too may reach a similar point of freedom from addiction, and experience the 'unexpected joy' that the author herself has finally found. It's a timely travelogue for those of us looking to forge a new path for ourselves (techniques discussed in the book) and, to stretch the metaphor further, keep our ships from crashing against the rocks... and sinking. I imagine I'll return to the text often, as there are lots of useful quips and quotes, references, and links to groups and services that I know are going to be very useful, if not vital, in my own recovery. Highly recommend.

Un libro duro de leer pero necesario si te hace falta ayuda y tienes un problema con el alcohol. Va al grano y directo y a veces es rudo, pero te muestra el proceso de cambio a una vida mejor y libre. A mí me ayudó y lo recomiendo.

Despite us having two different lifestyles, this author came off as being completely relatable. I could easily identify with her experience and find that we had many shared opinions. She speaks the same language as the rest of us with alcohol use disorder. She makes it easy to connect with her. After having read This Naked Mind and feeling disappointed with its "salesman-like" tone, The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober was the first book I read which really helped me feel less alone in my battle. I read it during my first sober holiday; During a week where all the adults around me were drinking copious amounts of alcohol every day. This author's story kept me grounded on my path of sobriety and allowed me to zone out and escape the vulnerability I felt while on vacation with several enthusiastic drinkers. I couldn't put this book down! It was captivating, funny and REAL. I can't recommend it enough!

I loved everything about this book. I made me laugh, and I was able to relate. Proud of myself to have finished the whole book.