When I became super serious about ending my relationship with alcohol, I needed the accountability of real live people, and I needed to hear other people’s stories. Reading books at night replaced my usual habit of binge watching Netflix while drinking glass after glass of wine. I felt like I needed to get my hands on every memoir about sobriety that had ever been written. I am continually learning who I am without booze. These are some of the resources that have helped me on my way.
This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace. This is the first book I read when I was dabbling with the idea of cutting down on drinking. It does a great job of explaining the science behind alcohol addiction, and it offers ways of retraining the mind to form new habits. I learned a lot from this book, and I return to it often.
Sober Curious, by Ruby Warrington. This book helped me feel less like an alien on my personal journey, like maybe there could be others *out there* who are also interested in life beyond booze.
Drink, by Ann Dowsett Johnston. This was an easy read that had me thinking about my patterns with drinking, where they started, and how I could choose differently.
Love Warrior, by Glennon Doyle. Glennon Doyle’s storytelling is raw and honest. She allows herself to be so vulnerable that it helped me think that maybe I, too, can be vulnerable and let myself be seen as I truly am, no alcohol required.
Untamed, by Glennon Doyle. Like with her first book, Love Warrior, Glennon Doyle uses Untamed to share her story and liberate women to unleash their authentic truths and become the people they were born to be. She weaves her sobriety into her story, reminding me that alcohol is not a stepping stone to success.
Quit Like A Woman, by Holly Whitaker. Holly Whitaker goes deep as she shares her personal struggles and uncovers some unsettling truths about alcohol in our culture.
We Are The Luckiest, by Laura McKowen. I first heard Laura McKowen on the Soberful Podcast with Veronica Valli and Chip Somers (an additional valuable resource that I return to often). She tells her story, including both the dark side of alcohol addiction and the bright side of sobriety. She is another female who has chosen the bright side while keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground, and her story is one of vulnerability and inspiration.
Quiet, by Susan Cain. Although it doesn’t intentionally address a life without alcohol, this book helped me accept my introverted nature. As someone who spent a lifetime thinking extroversion was the goal and therefore used alcohol to behave like an extrovert, this book has played a powerful role in accepting my true self.
