The Easy Way to Stop Drinking: A Revolutionary New Approach to Escaping from the Alcohol Trap

"I was both sceptical and hopeful as I sat down to read Allen Carr's book. And I finished it completely sceptical.

Honestly, I beleive Carr's "masterpiece" is one of those "get-rich-overnight-doing-nothing" books that nowadays find their way to the reader via spam. And the author's sole purpose was to make some money out of other people's predicament. (I know Mr Carr has passed away and "de mortibus nil nisi bene", but I am simply sharing with you what I beleive is true).

Just a few points below to explain why I disliked the book so much:

1. The author claims to have been alcohol-dependent himself, but as you read this book it becomes obvious that he does not know what it really means to be an alcoholic and what withdrawal symptoms may do to one. (He claims there won't be any! My eye!).

2. Most of the "facts" so wordily expostulated in the book are just platitudes known to every heavy drinker (alcohol is unhealthy and strong drinks don't taste good - well, really?)

3. Where he tries to open your eyes up to something, in most cases it comes out as an awkward misinformed statement. (Why alcoholics want to drink more and more? - Well, because alcohol dehydrates your system. It makes you thirsty - that's why you always want more beer. [Yeah, sure!])

4. In quite a few cases the author tells blatant lies. (It is a common myth, he claims, that alcohol relaxes and cheers people up. It is not true, he says. [Isn't it? Has the author ever been to a student party?]

5. His magical "instructions" that come at the end of the book are nothing but the usual quack incantations (never regret your decision, enjoy life, etc.)

To make things worse, the book is poorly written, plain repetitive and boring. It did nothing to help me out of my problem. All it did was insult my intelligence.

My advice on buying it - don't!"
~ Written on 2008-10-02

"I don't usually review books unless they really are good, either it's fiction or non-fiction. In this case it's non-fiction and it WORKS!

I was heavy drinker for several years now and lately had started to get more and more hints from friends that I had to do something. Not that I lost my job or anything that serious (at least not until then) but I was drinking more than I wanted to, spending more money and had already hurt some people that are really important to me. I saw the reviews for this book and decided to buy it!

Halfway through I was sure I was going to stop drinking for sure and indeed I did! No deprivation at all. No willpower needed. Allen Carr explains to you the real truth about alcohol and why it is easy, so easy, to stop. Since then I have been feeling better, haven't missed on anything and enjoy every occasion more.

This book really is a life changer for those who really want to change! I strongly recommend it.

Oh, and by the way. This book paid for itself on the first day I quited drinking on account of those three scotch whiskeys that I used to have each day ;)"
~ Written on 2008-01-01

"Allen Carr's book has helped me to stop drinking. Six times, so far. That's the problem. It hasn't helped me to stay off the sauce. The longest I've managed is three months. It motivated me to put down the bottle. But it hasn't stopped me from picking it up again."
~ Written on 2007-09-21

"Upbeat self-help guide to putting the cork in the bottlellen Carr, author of the international bestseller The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, applies the same principles - see the poison for what it is and put it down - to help people deal with alcohol dependency. Carr says alcohol, like nicotine, is an addictive, poisonous drug that offers no benefits, only illusions. He forcefully disputes the long-held Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) belief that alcoholism is a fatal, incurable disease. In fact, he maintains that this fundamental AA tenet, largely supported by society and the medical profession, helps perpetuate alcoholism - which he calls a "plague on this planet." Instead, he says, you can cure your alcoholism, and he can tell you how. We recommend this book to those who want to know more about this strategy for putting a drinking problem behind you forever.
"
~ Written on 2007-07-27

"I've given this 4 stars rather than 5 as I felt there was emphasis put on his work with smokers and also reference to a smoking way of thinking. I didn't find this helpful. However the book is so easy to read and I felt more empowered because Allen Carr did not want me to stop drinking or reduce my alcohol whilst I read it.

I saw descriptions of 'me' written down on the page and I realised I didn't really want to drink. Well no, actually I do, but know I can't due to medication - this and my health were the two reasons for stopping.

Over the last 2½ weeks I've drank what I would normally drink in two nights so I'm very pleased with this. Although I haven't stopped entirely I may do in the future.


I was surprised as I expected to read it and then not stop but I've proven myself wrong.

This book really does do what it says in the blurb!"
~ Written on 2007-05-03