The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
Dec 2017 · Hachette UK
4.9star
79 reviewsreport
Ebook
272
Pages
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About this ebook
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'Not remotely preachy' - The Times
'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph
'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying.' - Alice O'Keeffe, Guardian
'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist
'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire
Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. 64% of Brits want to drink less.
Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish whirligig of Drink, Make horrible decisions, Hangover, Repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures.
But this book goes beyond the binges and blackouts to deep-dive into uncharted territory: What happens after you quit drinking? This gripping, heart-breaking and witty book takes us down the rabbit-hole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers, through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and breakups.
In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shines a light on society's drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies.
Much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you've already ditched the drink, you will love this book.
'Haunting, admirable and enlightening' - The Pool
'A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice.' - Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind
'Like listening to your best friend teach you to be sober. Lighthearted but serious, it's packed with ideas, tools, tips and, most importantly, reasons for living a sober life.'- Eric Zimmer, host of podcast The One You Feed
'Gray's fizzy writing succeeds in making this potentially boring-as-hell subject both engaging and highly seductive' - The Bookseller
'Her exquisitely crafted thoughts on the joys of being sober are not only deeply honest and pragmatic, but she manages to infuse tons of humor. This is a delightful, informative, and compelling read for all those who are sober or seeking sobriety.' - Sasha Tozzi, Huffington Post
'No other author writes about sober living with as much warmth or emotional range as Catherine Gray. Her deep insight into the subtle psychologies of drinking, and of life, means that everything she writes is both utterly relatable and stretches our minds. Hers is a rare wisdom.' - Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK
'Not remotely preachy' - The Times
'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph
'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying.' - Alice O'Keeffe, Guardian
'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist
'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire
Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. 64% of Brits want to drink less.
Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish whirligig of Drink, Make horrible decisions, Hangover, Repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures.
But this book goes beyond the binges and blackouts to deep-dive into uncharted territory: What happens after you quit drinking? This gripping, heart-breaking and witty book takes us down the rabbit-hole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers, through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and breakups.
In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shines a light on society's drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies.
Much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you've already ditched the drink, you will love this book.
'Haunting, admirable and enlightening' - The Pool
'A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice.' - Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind
'Like listening to your best friend teach you to be sober. Lighthearted but serious, it's packed with ideas, tools, tips and, most importantly, reasons for living a sober life.'- Eric Zimmer, host of podcast The One You Feed
'Gray's fizzy writing succeeds in making this potentially boring-as-hell subject both engaging and highly seductive' - The Bookseller
'Her exquisitely crafted thoughts on the joys of being sober are not only deeply honest and pragmatic, but she manages to infuse tons of humor. This is a delightful, informative, and compelling read for all those who are sober or seeking sobriety.' - Sasha Tozzi, Huffington Post
'No other author writes about sober living with as much warmth or emotional range as Catherine Gray. Her deep insight into the subtle psychologies of drinking, and of life, means that everything she writes is both utterly relatable and stretches our minds. Hers is a rare wisdom.' - Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK
Ratings and reviews
4.9
79 reviews
Jim Bob
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August 24, 2023
A very good read but very critical of men in almost every instance they are mentioned, very often neglecting how difficult and thoroughly unpleasant their lives must have been around the author in the fulleest throes of her alcoholism over several years. Female friends and associates don't seem to get the same scorn. Just an observation but one that is worryingly prevalent here. Spoiled an otherwise good book.
Jacqui Gilder
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February 18, 2018
Even if you don't think you've got a drinking problem you should read this book. Its truthful, witty, funny and uplifting. It has put a whole new spin on what life without alcohol might look like for me.
11 people found this review helpful
Suzanne Parmenter
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June 2, 2019
Superb! Funny and relatable, a well written book with enough stories to amuse and enough facts and food for thought to inform and inspire. Well done.
7 people found this review helpful
About the author
Catherine Gray is author of five books, including The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober. She's sold over half a million books in English-speaking territories, her work has been published in the likes of Stylist, Marie Claire, The Lancet Psychiatry and the Guardian, and her books have been translated into nine languages. In 2018, Catherine founded charitable campaign Sober Spring, a three-month sabbatical from alcohol, and she now runs it with Alcohol Change UK, for whom she is an ambassador. She's been sober since 2013. Catherine lives in Hove and when not writing she enjoys falling off a paddleboard, giving her plants names like 'Cassandra' and 'Miguel', and spamming Instagram with pictures of dogs.
Instagram.com/unexpectedjoyof
Twitter.com/cathgraywrites
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