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The Easy Way to Stop Drinking | 
| Author: Allen Carr
Publisher: Sterling
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.75
You Save: $6.20 (41%)
New (32) Used (14) from $7.27
Avg. Customer Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 6348
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.3 x 1
ISBN: 1402736479
Dewey Decimal Number: 362
EAN: 9781402736476
ASIN: 1402736479
Publication Date: December 25, 2005
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Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
Carr offers a startling new view of why we drink and how we can escape the addiction. Step by step, with devastating clarity and simplicity, he applies the Easyway™ method, dispelling all the illusions that surround the subject of drinking and that can make it almost impossible to imagine a life without alcohol. Only when we step away from all these supposed pleasures and understand how we are being duped to believe we are receiving real benefits can we begin to live our lives free from any desire or need for drinking. The Easyway™ method centers on removing the psychological need to drink—while the drinker is still drinking. Following the Easyway™: • You will not need willpower • You will not feel deprived • You will lose your fear of withdrawal pangs • You will enjoy social occasions more • You will be better equipped to handle stress The Easy Way to Stop Drinking is a landmark work that offers a simple and painless solution to anyone who wants to escape from dependency on alcohol without feeling deprived.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 buy it! July 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you want to quit, buy this book now. It works. Take it from a hard drinker of 20 years. It works. Get it, turn off the TV and read it.
Focus on the substance, not the drinker July 4, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Mr. Carr's approach to alcoholism is different from most--he focuses on the substance--alcohol, not the drinker. He persuasively argues that it is an insidious poison that has no beneficial qualities and threatens anyone who drinks it. He likens it to the pitcher plant, which is a type of passive Venus fly-trap, in which the insect voluntarily enters a trap. The trap contains nectar and leads towards a progressively steep chute. After entering the plant, the insect is surrounded by hairs that point only in one direction--downwards. I think the reason Carr encourages the reader not to jump to the end of the book is that much of the benefit is in being persuaded of the unredeemingly poisonous, yet gradual and insidious nature of alcohol. He also makes the case that the alcohol high for an advanced drinker is largely the absence of the temporary discomfort of abstinence. At the same time, the craving that characterizes many abstinent alcoholics is a product of a deep-seated belief that they are missing something pleasurable or psychologically necessary for their genuine happiness. By attacking this perception in its various ramifications, Carr persuades that only a person utterly convinced of the toxicity of alcohol and the illusory nature of its psychological benefits can quit and not look back with a craving. Although the book can be criticized for occasional overstatement and unnecessary asides, I think its essential points are valid and important to understand for anyone trying to quit. For those who find its factual assertions obvious and and its style poorly written, perhaps they should publish a better book with their superior understanding. So far, I've read few if any that are better.
Allen Carr's Easy Way Review June 9, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I read Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Drinking with a critical, but hopeful open mind. I wanted to believe that just by reading this book that he would convince me to give up drinking without regret, and without the need to use willpower. I liked that I didn't have to give up drinking during the book. That gave me some time to put off that dreadful day.
I read steadily, but had no desire to finish it in record time. I was always sober when I read it, but always looked forward to my nightly ritual of beer and scotch and falling asleep on the couch. His book really spoke to my personal situation. However, I began to dread getting to the end, but also wanted to get to the end to get the magic instructions. I read the rules to agree by before going on. I wasn't sure I agreed with them 100%. I tried rereading some chapters that really spoke to me. I read the instructions. They seemed common sense. I didn't think that was going to do it for me. I read the chapter on the final drink. A little disappointed, I went home to have my final drink. I couldn't have just one. I had my usual, and felt the usual in the morning. It sucked.
The next day I picked up the book again and started reading. I reread the instructions. I reread some chapters.
I kept reading the book, finding a lot of solace in breaking false drinking associations, and reminding myself daily that alcohol ravages time, energy, love, and money. Four things we can never have enough of. I made a habit of reminding myself of how great it is that I am free. I will not mourn the drink, nor envy those who drink.
I am wary that I may eventually let my guard down, and enjoy reading a chapter or two again to reinforce my decision. I will also say that those who like AA, may not like this book, as it is counter to what they may have been taught or what works for them. The prospect of taking it a day at a time, and learning to live with the desire to drink, to me, it seems only feeds your mind that you are giving something up and that you are the only one in the way of that pleasure. As Carr would say, "What a morbid prospect!"
To be fair, it has only been 20 days of living life outside of that prison. But I am optimistic, and I encourage anyone with an open mind to read the book, and if it doesn't speak to you on the first read, go back and reread the chapters that speak to your doubts. The book spoke to my personal situation, but I doubt would have worked for me even 10 years ago.
Did Carr convince me to give up drinking without regret, and without the need for willpower? I don't know. I would like to say, Yes, Absolutely! But I admit there is a small doubt in the back of my mind that the lessons will wear off. I believe he did give me a very logical view of what alcohol is, and what it has done to me. I feel good about my decision. I look forward to living my life without the addiction of alcohol.
***UPDATE****7/8/2008
I am still alcohol free after 7 weeks. I feel better than I have in years, and am genuinely happy that I am not drinking. Carr's method is still working for me.
Carr's method works! May 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
After drinking heavily for nearly 25 years, I have quit thanks to Alan Carr's Easy Way method. In a nutshell: the author examines the reasons why we drink, and then methodically exposes the flaws behind those reasons, stating again and again that our 'reasons' are, in fact, 'excuses.' Little by little he removes the desire to drink, and how can one miss what one does not want? Other reviewers have remarked on Carr's simple writing style, and it's true - he's not a great author, but he does have a great message.
Changed my life March 12, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
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.
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