This Book Changed My Life

[CS04]

This Book Changed My Life

I will look at the library, and I understand getting a message across, but sure as hell don't want to be called a pea brain. I love information, but I do not want to be dumbed down.

[cellist_by_night]

This Book Changed My Life

I'm mid-way through the Jason's book and am finding it very enlightening and entertaining in equal measure. It's one of the most useful books I have read so far regarding alcohol cessation, as it is not all doom and gloom but, rather, it focuses on how great life can be when you're alcohol free. I needed to read a book with that tone, rather than "you have an incurable disease" kind of tone. I also love the fact that it's written by someone who used to drink very heavily and has therefore "been there", as opposed to being written by a doctor or other medical person who has not "been there". Have been reading it at work during lunch, on the train, on the treadmill, in the sauna...and its big "in your face" lettering on the front cover has been attracting many a sideways glance!

Another book which I would rate highly is Tania Glyde's "How I gave up drinking and lived". Tania tells the story of her life as an alcohol and drug addict (pretty graphically and often leaving nothing to the imagination!), the suicide attempt that finally triggered the process of giving up and getting her life back, and her life without drink/drugs. It is certainly not for everyone, but I find that I go back to the book again and again to read once more about her personal journey. She gave up alcohol in 2002, but I read a while back that she suffered a mild stroke having been sober for several years. This in itself was enough to make me think very seriously about the damage I was doing to myself.

Cellist x

(Going strong on Day 9!!)

[daisy45]

This Book Changed My Life

I am another big fan of Jason Vales book. I think he really opened my eyes to how we have all been brainwashed. I think that is why, when we try to stop, there is always someone who can't understand why you would bother when you're 'not that bad'. There will always be someone who drinks at your level or less or more and each has a need to make that feel normal (unless they are lucky enough to see alcohol for the poison it is and face reality and start living).
I've been messing about stopping and starting for a year now. I really feel like if I want my life back I have to stop kidding myself. Only I can make excuses. And only I can fix this. This is the reality.
Great thread guys. Superscrew, great post, as always.

[Unwasted]

This Book Changed My Life

CS04;1243093 wrote: I will look at the library, and I understand getting a message across, but sure as hell don't want to be called a pea brain. I love information, but I do not want to be dumbed down.

CS - I was trying to be funny. He doesn't say anything to that effect. I should have put (my words) in parentheses........... sorry.

Cellist - I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment about the attributes of the book - the fact that he lived it, how he makes us realize we're losing nothing and gaining everything, etc. It really changed my outlook like nothing else I'd ever read (and I've read many books on the subject). Thanks for the other book recommendation and well done on the beginning of your sobriety. Keep it going because it gets better and better!

Daisy, the brainwashing aspect was huge for me too. The things we took for granted, right?!! I just saw an article today about a researcher who falsified his findings on the benefits of red wine - investigation ongoing. It's true that most of the research has been funded by people with vested interests like the alcohol industry itself - kind of like the way the pharmaceutical industry funds most of the drug research. I read something profound not long ago about how the alcohol industry goes to great lengths to make sure we view alcohol differently from other drugs. The truth is, if alcohol were just being "born" (for lack of a better term), it would be categorized as a Class 4 drug and have to be dispensed by a doctor.

Knowledge is power! Thank you Jason.

[redhorse]

This Book Changed My Life

Wow Wow Wow. It arrived this morning and I have just spent the entire day reading it. Didnt even cook today,just ordered take away.

IF YOU ONLY EVER BUY ONE BOOK ON ALCOHOL ADDICTION THEN MAKE IT THIS ONE!!

The best book ever and I have read a ton of alcohol literature. Loved it. Im only sorry I didnt have something like this to read years ago. Just one problem though. Every time I will reply to someones posts I will want to tell them to buy the book. It will honestly change your views on alcohol completely.

[stella123]

This Book Changed My Life

I also loved this book just couldn't put it down and it put everything into perspective for me!!!!
Currently i am reading Diary of an alcoholic housewife, also enjoying this finding many thing I can relate to, ie, cocktails in the afternoon, that was a favourite pastime for a Saturday afternoon, no more!!!!! thanks Jason Vale!!

[scottish lass]

This Book Changed My Life

Good Post UW, I have not read the book, but now I am seriously considering it!

[Unwasted]

This Book Changed My Life

The best book ever and I have read a ton of alcohol literature

Redhorse, I concur 100%..........this book helped me shift my thinking more than any other book and I've read many. SL, you should definitely read it.........

So glad to see that this thread is still alive and that the word is still getting out about the book. It may not be a miracle cure-all, but it should definitely become part of the no alcohol arsenal!

[bungle]

This Book Changed My Life

I read this book a few months ago (after reading many before it) I have to honestly say the Jason Vale book is the one that done it for me I have been ' FREE' since and would defiantly advise others to give it a go. :goodjob:

[limers]

This Book Changed My Life

I love the Cant acronym too but im changing it in my mind to 'constant and never ending TORMENT!" Cos it was a torment for me,will I wont I, how many then, 4,5,6,(I was a can drinker),constantly driving myself nuts!!

[FlyAway]

This Book Changed My Life

Unwasted I agree that this book should be a part of anyone's "no alcohol arsenal." Even though it's been months since I initially read it, parts of this book keep coming to mind as I encounter different situations and events in my life. It really has changed my thinking. I reread it or parts of it every couple of months.

[Janice]

This Book Changed My Life

I've just read this book and its changed my life too. 2007 I first found MWO, lost count how much AF time I did ...30 days, 60 days, 100 days but each time I went back to drinking thinking I could moderate 'this time'.

There is no magic pill for this addiction but for me this is The Magic Book because it really turned my thinking around. I now feel truly free of this poison we call alcohol, whereas before during my abstinence periods I felt deprived & grateful that I had 'got through' each day. Looking back, I realise I wasnt truly free. I returned to drinking because of fear....fear of never being able to drink again. Now I would feel truly deprived if I took a drink today, deprived of the great way I feel..3 weeks AF and feeling healthy, confident, motivated, happy...the list is endless. Would definitely recommend it.

[LillyE]

This Book Changed My Life

Hey Unwasted, I FINALLY listened to you and bought this book. Will let you know how i find it. I also bought the memoir 'Unwasted' - is this where your handle comes from or just a coincidence? I'm enjoying it so far - very nicely written though I'm still waiting for her to get to the positives of sobriety rather than the negatives - half way through.

Lilly

[Unwasted]

This Book Changed My Life

Hi Lilly,

Glad you bought the books. I've also read Unwasted, and yes, it wa the inspiration for my screen name here. I've found that reading books by people who had a problem with drinking and are now sober helps me immeasureably. Between that and MWO, I've been sober for almost 7 months now. I went to AA a few times, but eventually stopped. It just wasn't "me" but I found it helpful for a short time.

Good luck with the books. The Vale book isn't necessarily a cure all, but it did help me change my thinking and stop glamorizing alcohol. I finally saw it for what it is after reading the book.

xx,
UN

[LillyE]

This Book Changed My Life

Unwasted;1327670 wrote: Hi Lilly,

Glad you bought the books. I've also read Unwasted, and yes, it wa the inspiration for my screen name here. I've found that reading books by people who had a problem with drinking and are now sober helps me immeasureably. Between that and MWO, I've been sober for almost 7 months now. I went to AA a few times, but eventually stopped. It just wasn't "me" but I found it helpful for a short time.

Good luck with the books. The Vale book isn't necessarily a cure all, but it did help me change my thinking and stop glamorizing alcohol. I finally saw it for what it is after reading the book.

xx,
UN

Hi Unwasted!

My resistance initially to reading the Vale book came from the fact that I found the Carr Quit Drinking book - which a lot of people here seemed to say was very similar - not very helpful, even though Carr's smoking book really helped me quit smoking. I think for me it just felt like too much of a rehash of the smoking book with 'cigarettes' replaced with 'alcohol'.

While it's true that the Vale book has a lot that is similar in terms of content and tone there is something about the things he's saying, and how he says it, that is really resonating with me in a way Carr's book didn't. I think maybe I'm just particularly receptive to his line of thinking at the moment because I've been working on changing my attitude to drinking in a lot of the ways he talks about, so it's a great reinforcement. I gobbled through almost half of it in a night

I also love reading books about people who's found happy sobriety and books about recovery in general and find it very helpful. I also was very moved by Caroline Knapp's 'Drinking a Love Story'. Your posts have helped me so much too, so if there are any other books you've found really useful I'd love to hear about them.

AA doesn't sit well with me either for a lot of reasons but I am contemplating going if only to meet some people IRL dealing with similar struggles. That alone could be worth it though I really can't see myself buying into the whole 12-Step thing for a number of reasons. I think that's fine too though. It's fabulous it works for so many people but it's not necessarily for everyone. I also think it's hugely problematic that it's the ONE solution that's almost universally proposed to people with drinking problems. There needs to be more than a one-size-fits-all model so I'm glad to see some other organisations springing up though here at least they still seem fairly limited.