Allen Carr dug deep into the western pop culture and he presented some good points.

To rate such a book is a little bit tricky: Not the book was amazing, but the message is. The book itself is very repetitive, but if you need such a book, you need repetition.
If I think about it: The message is great, it is communicated in an easy and comprehensible way, there is definitely a need. It follows: The book is great, too. But not in an artsy kind of way. But true Philosophy: How to live well!

As a whole, this book was instrumental in me quitting alcohol. I was ready and the book re-affirmed some views, while giving me new perspective.

I have minor quibbles but none with bringing up because the end result was very effective. I am now 45 days sober, and will never drink again. This book is a big reason.

I highly recommend it to anyone on the fence about their alcohol consumption.

I’ve been sober curious for a while now. This book came up in conversation with a good friend and I’m happy to have read it! I’m not looking to make a grand declaration of never drinking again, more questioning the social norms of why we drink, when and how much. I think a lot of his wording is dated, but I took a lot away from this! Would love to get my hands on a copy of this book (I listened to it) and reread/highlight certain parts of it!

Man where do I start?

Let me just say that this book is not for everyone. And what I mean by that is that this book is really only for people who are in that state of mind where they finally ask themselves "what is alcohol truly doing for me?" Those people are in such a vast spectrum in various stages of life, yet all who have come to the same conclusion: that perhaps alcohol really isn't what it seems to be, and you are starting to realize that.

Allen Carr's ingenious writing style is so witty and comical, yet at the same time so logical and insightful that you may very well get through this book in a few days Nonetheless, if you absorb the writing page-by-page, detective style as Carr suggests, you will no doubt come out with such a different state of mind on what alcohol is. Such that I can confidently say I see no need for drinking alcohol after subjugating my body to that poison for practically sixteen years of my life. And give Carr's method credit, I don't feel nervousness or anxiety about avoiding the drink; I feel excited and ecstatic about being free from the pitcher plant!

This worked for me!

I’ve been completely sober since reading this book - ten years ago! My drinking was destroying my life and my relationships. I felt out of control. It actually took me months to finish this book because I was afraid it would work - that’s how much I felt I needed/enjoyed alcohol, despite all the awful repercussions.

Not only do I not drink, I don’t miss it. Not even a little. That is the greatest thing about this.

Edit: it’s May 2021 - I’m still sober, no relapses. I’ve never regretted quitting drinking. I still don’t understand how this book helped me so effectively, but I continue to recommend it to people all the time. Whether you’re doubting it’s efficacy or you’re scared of a sober life (I was) you’ve really got nothing to lose in giving it a go. I hope it works for you! Stay strong & remember every single day sober is progress, even if you relapse. Keep going, keep trying - you’ve always got that potential to get where you want to be.

May 2024 - as above. Still sober, no relapse. Whatever age you are - 21 or 71 - whatever stage you’re at - thinking about it, preparing for it, trying for the first time, trying for the tenth time - keep going.

I read this book with the intention of it helping me with my 2021 new year's resolution of not drinking alcohol. Now that I've finished this book, I'm certain I'll never drink alcohol again.

This is the only book I've read on quitting alcohol that got to the point: Alcohol is a poison. Don't drink it. The idea is that we've been brainwashed into believing that alcohol isn't so bad, and is even beneficial in moderation. The book seeks to undo that brainwashing.

I can see why some US readers wouldn't like the book. He's very English and somewhat quirky in the way he writes. He's completely upfront about what people won't like about him and about the book. I found that refreshing.

The one thing I didn't like about the book was the way he addressed myths, such as alcohol gives you courage (do people really believe that?) and that alcoholic drinks taste terrible and we only like them because we got used to them (not true for me).

The first half of the book, though, was all I needed. I completely lost my taste for alcohol and haven't even thought about having any since the day I started reading the book.

Alcohol has always been a huge interest of mine. I did wine studies, I love wine and even though according to all standards my personal alcohol consumption is considered to be low to moderate, I’m interested in reducing it even further and constantly looking for new motivation sources.

As many smokers found another Allen Care’s bestseller useful, I decided to read this one, and TBH, since the very beginning I was full of scepticisme regarding this week, and this didn’t change by the time I finished reading it.

Loud statements without any scientific proof. A book full of insults towards alcohol producers, alcohol anonymous foundation and basically every single opinion or method which is not his.

I found Allen Carr arrogant, lacking empathy, red neck (a statement that all the wines and spirits lack of taste and sommeliers are charlatans = are you damn kidding?).

Even though, I will continue studying this subject and significantly cut my alcohol consumption by two glasses of wine per week maximum (without any help from this author or this book), I found that this book might be dangerous for people who tend to feel guilty about their decisions. It might be too extreme, too brutal for those who really suffer from alcoholism and need help and compassion, not arrogance and Nike-style motivation.

I’m also thinking that the effects acquired from this book won’t last, and this is a very short effect kind of book, like “The Secret” and it might end in an even worse alcohol consumption than the one a reader had at a starting point.

To avoid absolutely. Watch better Dr Hubermann video which lasts 2 hours, and is supported with pure science.

Just finished this book today on my 39th day alcohol free. This is my second go around of quitting drinking and this book helped TREMENDOUSLY to change my view point from: “I am missing out on something I genuinely enjoy, and my life won’t be as fun without it” to “I can’t believe I ever fell for the alcohol trap, I can see it so clearly now that alcohol is nothing but a devastating poison that I have no interest in consuming”. That may sound a little drastic but this book along with a few sobriety blogs I’ve read really have shifted my perspective that much.

The key isn’t to control your drinking as the title states, it’s to realize that the only way to control your drinking is not to drink. Life is so much more enjoyable without alcohol and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like they drink too much or aren’t living their best life with alcohol. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that it was a little wordy and repetitive in a few places.

After hearing Nikki Glaser talk about how mind changing this book is, I had to buy it. The book really changes your perspective on alcohol and helps you realise that you really don’t need it (although before reading the book, I thought that I did).

Absolutely the best book I ever read!!!