The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

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I was sent this book for review, and put off reading it for quite a while because I really hadn't expected to enjoy it. I was wrong. It's wonderfully light-hearted, and not at all preachy (well, maybe a tiny bit, towards the end). Catherine Gray uses honesty to arresting effect in this really engaging book. She tells her story with no holds barred, and I can't think of a better book to inspire anyone who thinks that their drinking might be a problem. But she goes beyond just horror stories to look at alcohol's role in our society and make you sit up and take notice even if you don't think you're a problem drinker. She also spends a lot of time on the positives and alternatives, making a strong case for the idea that we've all forgotten a little (or never learned) some of the sober social skills that we would've learned in a society with a healthier attitude to drink, and some ideas on how to develop them as things stand. Because of all this, I think this book is for everyone, not just people who worry about their drinking.

Yeah, and I mean that that is what we can do to help the people coming up behind us is obviously, you know, attraction, not promotion, don’t preach, because that really turns people off. So if people are curious, and they ask about it, tell them the truth, tell them how much better it is. We’ve only scraped the tip of the iceberg of the many reasons this book teaches that you shouldn’t drink alcohol. But just consider that giving it up means a healthier life. No more hangovers, facial bloating, bloodshot eyes, or nights you can’t remember what kind of trouble you got into. I met Catherine online in a secret non-drinking Facebook group 8 years ago, when she was first starting her life without alcohol and she has been an inspiration to me ever since. Now she wants us to start being honest with ourselves about our own relationship with booze. How many of us are actually drinking the recommended maximum of 14 units or less a week of alcohol, and how many of us are drinking 14 on a Friday night without even trying? Yeah, I think I think it’s a really interesting thing, that these two things can coexist. At the same time. It’s, it’s more nuanced than if you were once addicted to something, then you’re addicted to it forevermore. Because I am not currently addicted to alcohol. I don’t crave it, I could, I don’t. But if I if I needed to, I could have it in my house and not drink it.

And so many of the books just ends when the when the day one comes along, or they maybe have one chapter or two chapters, about what sober living feels like. And so it feels like it’s all dark, there’s not enough light.

Ever sworn off alcohol for January and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us.

This book is a well written eye opener. What I love is that it spikes a lot of critical thinking. While I’d always like to think that I treat people with kindness and consideration It’s made me aware not to ask non drinkers inappropriate questions or make judgments based on our drink culture conditioning, instead I will have more of an understanding and much better etiquette towards sobriety. So even if you’re not considering taking the plunge and going sober you can still walk away from this booking having learned a thing or two. A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice.' - Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind It definitely made me reevaluate some of my attitudes towards alcohol. The way she spoke about “a spectrum of dependency” rather than healthy/unhealthy drinkers made the book very accessible.