Sobriety Books= Staying Sober Curious
Are you thinking about becoming sober curious? First of all, what does it mean to be sober curious? According to Ruby Warrington, the author of Sober Curious, it means asking yourself “Would my life be better without alcohol?”
That one question can lead you to evaluate how much you drink, with whom, where and when? It can lead you to ask yourself how you feel after you’ve had that maximum recommended 1 (women) or 2 (men) drinks. And most importantly, it can lead you to wonder why alcohol is in your life at all.
At one point in my life, I drank to the point of blackout on a regular basis. I wanted to change my ways, and I did, slowly. But I was still a habitual drinker before I became sober curious. I took a solid break from drinking (a little more than a month) and began to devour books on sobriety stories and sober curious support. These books served as fuel to my fire.
There are so many sobriety/sober-curious books out there that are eloquently written, logical, informative, raw and passionate. I want to share the books that I’ve read in the past year that have made me feel all of the feelings involved in my sober curious journey. They have changed the way I think and the things that I know.
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My Sober Curious Book List
We are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life, By Laura McKowen
An eloquently written book! Some books are so well written I sit there and WISH I could write like that! Every single word she wrote made perfect sense. This writer is talented and depicts the feelings and emotions behind her actions while she was addicted to alcohol. The author is a mother and, again, I felt empathy and shock at what alcohol addiction, or even just dependency, can do to us strong and loving mothers. It’s a very inspiring book indeed!
The Biology of Desire, By Dr. Marc Lewis
Ok this book may not be for everybody. But if you want to get into the nitty gritty of WHY our brains become addicted to alcohol then this is the book for you! It can be hard to follow at times but it sure is a wonderful thing to be exposed to knowledge regarding how and why our brains (an extremely important organ as it relates to addiction) become addicted to all kinds of things! Written by an addict turned professor, the scientific information provided in this book served as a surprising relief for me! Knowledge is power!
This Naked Mind, By Annie Grace
The author of this book is a marketing genius. In the beginning of the book, you feel as though something is being pitched to you but that’s because what she’s “selling” is sheer knowledge and honesty about what alcohol does to our brains, our bodies, our emotions and, overall, our lives. This is another writer that tells her own story and provides information to perfectly you wonder if she’s a poet. Don’t miss this book!
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, By Dr. Anna Lembke
This book is an eye opener when it comes to how many things in our current environment, we can become addicted to. As I read, I was made aware of all of the ways that we are encouraged to overindulge in our society. Written by a psychiatrist, Dopamine Nation reveals why so many people these days are addicted to a wide variety of things. It’s an eye opener and provides some valuable information on addiction and how to take back your power so that you’re in control.
The Happiness Trap (Second Edition): How to Stop Struggling and Start Living, By Russ Harris
Now this book doesn’t talk about addiction at all. It talks about how to live a life that is aligned with what we hold dear aka our “values.” It introduces, in simple terms, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which is a therapy that teaches you how to handle negative emotions so that they don’t control your actions. All the mechanisms introduced in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), if practiced, help you to engage in behaviors that align with your values regardless of any unhelpful thoughts, feelings, or emotions. There are 6 principles introduced in ACT that help you to achieve psychological flexibility. In a nutshell, this book helped me to FINALLY stop habitually drinking. I now have an insatiable desire to learn more about ACT in whatever way I can! In fact, here some blog posts on ACT if you’d like to learn more!
– Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Motherhood: Let ACT Make Motherhood a Smoother Journey
...and 3 More From my Wishlist...
Alcohol and You: How to Control and Stop Drinking, By Lewis David
I like to understand what alcohol does to our minds and bodies. With this knowledge I’ve found it easier to say no to alcohol on a regular basis. Mind you, I do have an occasional drink BUT when I do, I have all the knowledge of the danger and poison that alcohol is to a person. That helps me to stop after one. This book will surely add to my toolkit of knowledge.
Mindful Drinking, By Rosamund Dean
Sober curiosity doesn’t mean that you’re completely sober and this book simply shares knowledge on sober curiosity. I don’t know if I’ll ever want to be completely sober because I do enjoy a drink with my husband or a friend at lunch. So I like to read sobriety stories and information on sober curiosity alike. This book will add to my awareness of sober curious behavior.
Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions, By Russell Brand
Have you ever read a book written by a comedian. Well, they’re pretty darn funny. I think Russel Brand is hilarious and ridiculous and I want to give his book a go! Apparently, he’s gone through a long journey through addiction and has come out on the other side a happier, more mindful and self-aware person. His story is sure to enlighten me!
I hope this list inspires you to delve into the world of authors that have shared their stories and knowledge after grappling with their own alcohol consumption or addiction. We can learn from their bravery!
Have you read any of these books? If so, please feel free to leave comments!
Feel free to leave comments regardless! I love to hear from my readers:)
Until next time,
Kristi
Written by Kristi, August 3rd, 2023