The Easy Way to Stop Drinking: A Revolutionary New Approach to Escaping From the Alcohol Trap by the Author of the EasyWay to Stop Smoking

First off, anyone that has rated this poorly surely didn't read it, or read it closed minded only to dispute it. The book offers up a lot of what you already know but don't, or try not to, think about. I have a kegerator plus bar in my dining room and was up to at least a pitcher of beer per night every night (and much more sometimes) while drinking my entire weekends away. I am 40 and have been centering my activities more and more around drinking. One thing I have done for over 5 years (to convince myself I didn't have a problem perhaps) was to go completely dry every January. It has become tougher every year to do that. The month seems longer every year and from day one I have looked forward to February 1st so I can grab that first beer. I have known, for a long time, that I really needed to cut back or stop drinking all together. Even though I controlled, to a certain extent, my drinking, it definitely was a problem. Somewhere online one day a few months back I read a blog that was talking about AA. I have never liked AA (not that it may not be right for you), but I was sent there after a DUI and couldn't stand the BS the, "old timers," told. To me it was more of a free therapy session for old drinkers than anything that could really help me quit. And the smoking killed me. Finding non-smoking AA meetings was almost impossible. Again, it may work for you and I'm not knocking it for everyone, it just wasn't at all right for me. Anyway, I was online and someone was talking about their drinking and going to AA. Someone posted a response that just said, "if you really want to quit drinking, just read Allen Carr's easy way." Intrigued, I looked it up after reading these very reviews and bought it. I didn't really believe a book on this would be a life changer. But I wanted to see what it was about. When it arrived I started on it right away. Looking back, there is nothing miraculous here, but miraculously I lost my urge to drink completely. For the first time in years I came home, looked at the kegerator and passed it by. His writings made so much sense to me that I kept finding it difficult to understand how I didn't realize it all these years. The more it made sense, the less I wanted to drink. Years of drinking, so much anticipation in January to get to February. Sitting at work looking forward to getting home so I could start drinking. Going to my kids baseball and football just hoping it would be a quick game so I could get home to my precious kegerator! Avoiding getting more education or going on trips that could interfere with drinking (all of my trips were all-inclusive so I could drink as much as possible). Finding friends that could share my drinking with me and excluding most of those that didn't. All of those great drinking years and traits were wiped out in about a 100 pages of reading. Something that I didn't really think could happen. And the best part, I have no desire to touch the stuff. Once the desire is gone, the problem is gone. I stopped and looked at my bar this morning, and instead of thinking of a drink, I thought to myself that I should sell it. Same fate that the kegerator is going to meet. The bottom line is that this book works and is great. I have passed some big tests. Halloween party where all my friends were drinking. I didn't even come close. I have a trip scheduled that is not all-inclusive. I'm going to get my scuba certification while there. I have wanted to for a long time but because it took up three full days, it would have ruined my drinking time. Not now! I'm in to my second month now. This would have been unimaginable three months ago. My brother asked me why I wasn't drinking. I told him because I'm done thanks to a book. He asked to borrow it, he read it, and he's over a month now without drinking. I can't say enough about this book. It is great! Buy it and start living your life again. *UPDATE* It's been over a year now since I read the Easy way. I'm going to be honest here. I have drank a few times. Sold my bar and kegerator. Wasn't sad to see those go. A few times over the course of 2010 (4th of July, halloween and a trip to Cancun) I did drink. I didn't drink near as much during those few times and I had NO problem not drinking afterward. The months just melt away without even thinking about booze. It's great. I'm truly free at this point! Will I drink again? I don't think about it but perhaps once in a while. *UPDATE 2* 12/15/2013 Wow, has it already been 4 years? So I thought I would update my review and let everyone know how things are going. I'll be brutally honest. I have been drinking this year (not even close to my pre-Easy way years), but more this year than the last three combined. I found the thoughts of easy way have become a bit vague. I don't get wasted like before, I am far from drinking every night, but I suddenly realized that I'm drinking a couple of times a month. Back on the slow slide down I guess. After last weekend I woke up and felt like #$%@ and tried to figure out how I got to this place again. So I pulled out my copy of Easy Way, read through it, and was like, "DOH!" It was just as good a read as the first time and by page 100 I was like, "enough of this!" No more drinking again! The price I paid for this book has probably saved me about 10,000 dollars over the 4 years at this point. I'd say that's the best investment I've ever made (and that's not including my health). Did I mention that when I first read Easy Way I weighted 310 pounds (6'2" tall). After quitting drinking I dropped to 260 after about a year and a half. I've held steady at 260 now for all four years (without dieting or exercising). Those 12:00am plates of nachos after drinking all night also were cured by Easy Way! Best of luck to everyone.

I thought I would add my experience to the reviews of others'here. I am 46 years old, and have been drinking since my teens. Like most drinkers I started off drinking beer at college parties, and then progressed to spirits in my twenties. Later in life, and for about the last 15 years I've realised that I have a real problem with alcohol. I have a professional office job, which despite my drinking problem, I have been able to hold down fairly well, apart from the days when I've been too hungover to go work. In recent years, my daily routine is to head to the pub after work for a few beers to "wind down" and then I'd pick up a couple of bottles of red wine to have before, during, and after dinner. Most nights I'd end up just passing out on the couch with the TV still going. This has been a daily routine and the extent of my life for the past 10 - 15 years. I have tried many times to stop, but invariably without success. I've tried all the available medications; Antabuse, Campral and Revia (Naltrexone), but I found that none of them were really helpful. I've spent thousands of dollars on sessions with psychologists, who really only help in helping you to come to terms with "your troubled past" as if somehow that's going to magically cure one's alcohol addiction in the present. I've also tried AA, acupuncture and hypnotherapy. In short, I had reached a point where I had tried just about everything to quit drinking, but the most I could last without succumbing to temptation would be just one or two days tops. On the rare occasion where I used willpower not to drink, I would just feel miserable and irritable because I couldn't have a drink. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I would be a regular heavy drinker for the rest of my life. Basically I had given up on giving up. A month or so ago, a friend of a friend recommended the Allen Carr book, and after doing a google search and finding the book here at Amazon I thought it might be worth giving it a go - especially after reading all the positive reviews. The book only costs about the same as a bottle of wine I figured, so not too much to lose if it didn't work out! I finished the book over 3 or 4 days, and that was two weeks ago. I can honestly say that since finishing the book, I haven't had a drop of wine (or any alcohol) to drink. I realise that two weeks isn't very long in the grand scheme of things, but it's the longest I've gone without alcohol in over 20 years. I can also say, that I have no desire to drink, and I don't feel that I am missing out on anything by not drinking. I think this is one of the great fears of a heavy drinker - the dismal prospect of a life without the crutch of alcohol. In his book Carr dispels all the fears and myths about alcohol and explains that alcohol is an addiction like any other. While we all might realise this already, he puts his case forward very clearly, using logic as the basis to both support and dispel some of the approaches of AA, and also to challenge some of the prevailing wisdom of so called "experts" in the field. I don't know how Carr's book works, but it does. He says that we can quit without willpower, and the weird thing is, that after reading the book I found that I could. It is nothing short of amazing. I really don't know how else to describe it. Chapter by chapter he exposes some of the myths about alcoholism, including the myth that it is an "incurable" disease, and that alcoholics must be vigilant about never touching another drop. He also challenges the view that giving up alcohol is difficult and requires a lot of willpower, hence his approach called "Easyway". His style has drawn some criticism for being repetitive, but I think that's partly how it works. He reminds us of key points over several chapters and uses useful analogies that we can relate to. Importantly he is never condescending. He understands what it's like to be struggling with alcoholism and presents his case for overcoming the control alcohol has over our lives with passion and conviction. One thing to consider if you are thinking of about buying this book is that Carr's approach is all or nothing. In other words, he says that we must give up alcohol completely. So it is not a book I'd recommend for those seeking to simply "cut down" their drinking. For the first time in my life I feel that I have finally escaped the alcohol trap, and it is purely down to reading this book. In the introductory chapters, all Carr asks is that you keep an open mind, and that you read the book from beginning to end (ie don't skip to the end), and then follow the instructions at the end. Bizarrely, Carr asks that you continue drinking until you reach the last chapter, but naturally only read the book when you are sober. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who feels that their life is being overtaken by alcohol and wants to stop completely. I'm amazed at the results even in just this short period of time. Clearly Carr is on to something as evidenced by the experiences of other reviewers here like Big Mac. If you are like me, and have tried many times to quit without success, I would really recommend this book to you. It might just help you in the same way as it has helped many others.

Wow--lot's of positive reviews! Carr gives great advice, unfortunately most of it is either flat out wrong, or unsupported by any citations to medical studies and research. He's a Brit bean counter who quit smoking almost thirty years ago, and turned that into big business. He doesn't need drugs, or smokes or booze, because he's completely high on Carr. I don't know about you, but when I want medical advice, I go to a doctor, if I wanted psychological insight, I'd go to a psychologist, and when I want my tax return done--then--then--I'd go to an accountant. Alcohol has no benefits? What does the Mayo Clinic say? Let's go to their website... Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It may: * Reduce your risk of developing heart disease * Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack * Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes * Lower your risk of gallstones * Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes Carr says there are no witdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol? Let's take a look at some other qualified opinions from the Web... Within six to 48 hours after not drinking, visual hallucinations may develop for the more seriously alcohol dependent. They can also involve sounds and smells. They can last for a few hours or up to weeks at a time. Also within this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures can occur, then alcohol withdrawal becomes dangerous if not medically treated. (As an attorney involved with criminal defense, I've known plenty of alcoholics--one of my clients was hospitalized several years ago with prolonged halllucinations and almost died when he tried to quit cold turkey. Guess he hadn't read Carr's book). AA is worthless... which Carr does not say, but he intimates as much, and here he does hit home... let's look at the stats... from numerous web sites... Alcoholics Anonymous has a very low success rate for long term sobriety. Most studies reveal that it only has about a 2.5 percent success rate for over 5 years of sobriety. Some statistics have it as low as .01 percent Consider there is at least a 5% cure rate with NO treatment, and AA has a success rate of zero or less than zero. (Yeah, we all know some guy whose life was saved by AA, so what? Stats are not anecdotal, and the guy probably could have quit without "the fellowship.") Carr says in his book he has a 90% success rate (for his smoking program at least) but bases this on requests for refunds. Do we know what his long term alcohol success rates are, and how they were determined? Didn't find that stat in the book based on facts, did you? An unsupported claim is not necessarily identically equal with the truth. This book has obviously done some good for some people. It could also do a lot of harm to others. Caveat Emptor and bottoms up!

This book was bought out of sheer desperation as ive found nothing that has helped me cut down or cut out the alcohol. I am a legal secretary for a law firm, married with 3 kids and a highly functioning alcoholic who has conditioned myself to drink daily to deal with the stress of my life. Carr hit home when I read in this book -"when did we ever confuse everyday responsibility with stress?"- that really made me open my eyes. For the past 9 years I have been unable to go more than a day without drinking myself into a hazy fog, only to fall asleep and wake up the next morning dehydrated, irritable, moody, bloated and feeling as though I never went to sleep. What a fisade to play through that, day in and day out. Snapping at my kids, mumbling under my breath, overall feeling like crap and yet- id been brainwashed all these years to think that 5:00 meant "time to drown my stress when I get home" again! How stupid I have been. The daily alcohol consumption actually created a greater need for the stuff, along with bringing my anxiety and mild depression to the surface like a red hot pimple. YUCK. My life has been- go the beach (pack the beers!) go out to dinner (lets have a drink!) wedding reception (wheres the wine?) friends are coming over for a bbq (stock up the liquor cabinet!).. Just like his logic with the smoking book (which I quit smoking 3.5 years ago with this book!) he makes so much sense in that the very stress you are trying to drink away will STILL be there when the booze are gone and the hangover kicks in! Only making your day so much worse. How controlled I have been all of this time! Im only 3/4 of the way through his book but stopped cold turkey about 1 chapter in and havent missed the mess. Im going on 7 days and man, I just cannot express how wonderful it feels to fall asleep on my own, wake up on my own feeling like i slept! I have tons of energy, remember everything I said and did LAST night, right down to my posts on facebook (oh the stuff I posted while imbibing, owch).. I remembered to kiss my kids at bedtime.. i remembered to lock the cars ! I am 100% more productive and am just wondering why I felt the need to self medicate my life when it was infinetely so sweeter without that crap. AND we've discovered we're saving $15 every other day.. between my husband and I and our incredibly high tolerance, well, we were making excuses for spending so much on booze. All I can say is im going to finish this book over the long weekend and have no desire to start that vicious cycle all over again. On a side note, I have had a throbbing achy neck for a year along with severe and miserable dry eye syndrome.. I researched these medical dilemas and viola! Excessive alcohol consumption fires up your bodys inflammatory responses! Imagine that.. my neck ache is gone and I havent used eye drops in 3 days. I will update in a few weeks.

I am on day 14 without a drink after reading this book. You might think this is not a big accomplishment, but I have not been able to go for more than three days without a drink for the past two years. The funny thing is, I feel like I have been sober for a very long time. This book really does change the way you perceive alcohol and makes you question why you drink in the first place. Please pay no attention to the people who give this book less than 5 stars. This book works. I read a review where someone states the book is poorly written and the information is repeated needlessly. I completely disagree. I believe the author does repeat certain facts throughout the book in order for the information to sink into our hard headed brains. My wife dragged me kicking and screaming to a bar with her friends the other day, and I wasn't even tempted to drink. I looked at all of the drunk people stumbling around and I thought, wow that used to be me. I then asked myself, are they really enjoying themselves? The answer is no. The book covers all of this of course. I even held a beer for my wife's friend while they danced and I didn't even feel the slightest temptation to sneak a drink. Last night, my Son and I lay down on the trampoline and looked up at the stars and we talked for about an hour. We just talked about whatever we wanted to and I really had fun. I thought to myself, I am so glad I quit drinking because if I hadn't, I would have been half drunk by now sitting by myself wishing everyone would just go to bed so I could drink more. Instead, now both my Son and I have a wonderful memory of spending time together. I am so happy that I found this book and got control of my life back. If Allen Carr was still alive, I would love to shake his hand and buy him a soda. ****UPDATE**** It has now been 3 months since I read this book and I have still not had anything to drink. I find now that I have been tempted to drink alcohol in a different way. Now, I sometimes get the slightest temptation to just have one drink. I have that little voice in my head that sometimes says, you are not really an alcoholic, look how good you are doing. One drink wont hurt. One of the things that I do when I have these thoughts is to think back on the book. One of the final steps at the end of the book says to never doubt the decision to quit drinking. I am in the military and at a new duty station now, but before I left my last duty station, I would periodically go out with my wife and friends to a bar. Initially, I hated going, per my previous post. But later I found that I could tolerate going out to bars etc... without having a completely miserable time. I still find it amazing that I was able to quit drinking in the first place. I guess this is proof that the book does work. It worked for me. ******Update***** Just a quick update 3/11/2009 Wow, it has been a year now and I am still not drinking and very happy overall. It looks like I beat this thing for good thanks to this book. Now, if could just lose 15 pounds..... :) ******Update***** Another quick update 12/25/2010 Still not drinking. I also managed to lose 22 lbs by reading Allen Carr's Easyweigh book. I wish the best of luck to everyone fighting this battle.

If you are concerned with your drinking and don't feel AA or a group setting is a thing for you, you may want to try this. A good theory and it did help me. REading a book won't do it by itself but its a good aid to stopping if you feel you need one. If you are involved in another method to curb/end your drinking, this is very good by putting into words the reasons we fear trying to quit and how we put too much importance on the reasons, overestimating the effects. Valuable but not, in my opinion, a stand alone method unless you have the resolve of a superman/woman. If you have a problem, my thoughts go out to you. Not an easy place to be. Good Luck. Update 29 June 2013 For what its worth the book alone did NOT do it for me. I needed the fellowship and methods of AA to keep me sober. 90 days now and its a different life. If you used this book and it kept you sober then God Bless you and drive on. If you are a severe alcoholic, this may not work for you by itself. It IS a good supplement to more traditional methods in my opinion. All the best in your Quest for Sobriety!

I found this book exactly two years ago and will be forever grateful that I did. I am a professional with a career, a wife, a mom, a good friend. But I had a big problem. I was trying to control my drinking, and yet would inevitbably end up drinking more. I felt awful, guilty, out of control. I tried a few self help methods, but wasn't ready to check into rehab or an AA group. Serendiptously I found Allen Carr's book. I read it, followed it, and stopped cold. It was "easy" in that once I read the book I knew I wouldn't go back, and that I had a tool to refer to when I felt a little shakey at the beginning. But once I had that last drink I was DONE. The book gives you the tools you need to stop and to actually feel great about it. "Easy Way" is not a literary masterpiece, and it's not your typical addiction book. However, it's roots are solidly planted in cognitive-behavioral psychology, with lots of common sense ideas sprinkled in. It may not be high-brow, but it makes so much sense. After I stopped drinking, I began to look around at how alcohol and other drugs are viewed and used, as Carr suggests. He states that alcohol is really the last socially acceptable drug, and that even the most casual and responsible drinker is dependent. I started observing my friends, acquaintances and strangers after reading the book, and realized how true this is, as you will if you are willing to look. I've noticed how friends who have to give up alcohol for even a short time miss it terribly. If they are stressed they can't wait to have a drink. This is no accident, but a consequence of using a drug. These are people who don't drink daily, rarely drink more than one or two drinks, and usually have alcohol with meals or socially. I have no problem being with others who drink, going to bars or clubs if I feel like it (though I seldom do), and it's so liberating. In fact, one of Carr's important points is that once you quit with his method there is no reason to avoid friends and loved ones who drink. This is the case for me and is one of the things I really am amazed at. AA and other programs are adament that once you are an alcoholic, you are always an alcoholic; that you are always at risk. Carr begs to differ. Once I realized what alcohol is and what it does to the body, I would never go back. Since finding "Easy Way" I have gotten the greatest compliment of my life. I was at a dinner with some friends and their kids. One of the kids said "... You are high on life, everyone else is high on their drinks!". I am so glad my happiness shows so clearly. Finally, I have a teenager and am now able to engage him in conversations about drugs (alcohol, pot, smoking etc.), and I feel I have a real chance of innoculating him against the pressures in our society to use and abuse drugs. Many parents I talk to think that learning to drink responsibly is a good idea, and that it would be strange if their kids didn't experiment. After reading "Easy Way" my message to my child is that alcohol is a drug, and once you try it, it pulls you in gradually and imperceptibly as do all drugs. AND IF YOU DON'T DRINK, YOU CAN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL. My one concern is that perhaps additional assistance would be necessary with a multiple drug habit. And certainly there is no problem getting help from a program. But I swear by "Easy Way"! But I hope if you are having a problem you'll try this book. April 2013 - Just went to Amazon to buy this book for a loved one with a drinking problem and looked at the reviews. I forgot I had written this in 2008, and it is 5 years later. So here's the update: I am still happily free of alcohol cravings and haven't had a drink in seven years. Every now and again I pull out my copy of "Easy Way" to review it. Alan Carr's method has worked like a charm form me. I will never go back, and am profoundly grateful that I found this amazing book all those years ago. Thank you Mr. Carr! Update 1-15-15: Still happily sober, and still so grateful to Mr. Carr and his book. Don't wait, read this one!

*****Update March 4, 2012****** I am now 15 weeks drink free. I find I no longer need the book close. Every so often the goblin Carr spoke of appears and tells me I want a drink. I am now able to acknowledge the thought of a drink and then quickly move past it. Carr's method works for me. I no longer think of myself as a person who used to drink. I am now a person that does not drink and the idea of my drinking past no longer has much meaning. I know I am never going back to that place. Thank you Mr Carr. *****Update October 2 2011******** Since July I have not wanted a drink and have abstained without issue, but this past week I traveled for a new job. I was away from home and feeling overwhelmed by the new job. To make things worse, the group I work with go out for drinks after work. It was hard. I wanted a drink to allow me to check out of this reality and to make matters worse I have to be around it in a bar. Luckily, I have brought a copy of Allen's book with me. I went back to my hotel room and read the parts that I had marked. Yes, I travel with the book. I felt like I was on the willpower method since I felt like I was deprived. All it took was a quick re-read of the sections on how drinking has not benefits. Once I was reminded, I was back on track. I decided to add this to my comments as I am a firm believer that re-reads are needed so one is reminded often as to the fact that there are no benefits to drinking. None. Society and people who drink will try to convince me otherwise. With Allen Carr's words close at hand and my willingness to read them often, I can say with great happiness, that I am only three months from being a year without a drink!!!! Oh and I wanted to add, since I have not been drinking for 9 months, I have saved lots of money that I would have been spending on drinking. Because I am not hung over, I exercise more and eat less since my inhibitions are not lowered (I know when to stop eating). I have lost 25 pounds. I have my high school weight back!! I never expected to be this healthy. I have not idea it was even possible. But I want to add, that even if I had not lost an ounce, I would be much happier being out of the prison. The weight loss is icing on the cake. **** Update July 2011 ***** Strange thing happened. For the first time in seven months since I had my last drink, I wanted one badly. I cannot explain why, but I felt deprived that I could not have a drink. I all of sudden felt that willpower was thing keeping me from drinking. Willpower not being the Easy Way, I went back to my copy of the book that had marked sections that spoke to me seven months ago. After the first read, I was reminded as to why I stopped drinking and what would happen if I started back. I feel grounded again. The urge to drink is completely gone. Allen Carr came to my rescue again. **** Update June 2011 ***** I am now 6 months drink free. I have the book close by if I need it, but never once have I felt I did. Carr's message is still with me and I have no desire to drink. My life has changed in ways I never thought possible. I am an athlete again, my relationships are better, my mind is clear. I will always be grateful to Carr and his message. What makes a person an "addict"? Don't know. What I do know is that I am a 42 year old woman who started drinking at 14. Over the past 3 decades my drinking progressed to the point that I drank every single day, I planned my life around drinking, and got to a place where I was completely miserable and did not think I would ever get out. Then in January 2011, Atlanta was snowed in and no one could go anywhere for a week. The night before I had a wonderful blessing of being at a book store and seeing Allen Carr's book. It looked like a silly title, but something in my head said get it. I did and the next week I sat in my chair and read the book 3 times. I cannot articulate the change that came over me. It has been the most profound experience I have had in my life. It has been 3 months and I have not even wanted to have a drink. My life has completely transformed. I had no idea what I was missing. I know I will never ever go back to that life and I have Allen Carr to thank for that. *****Update January 2013 ****** Still drink free. Still do not want one. This is a big month. This marks two years.