Allen Carr – Easy way to Control Alcohol
There is no doubt that the most popular self help book for people with alcohol problems is this one by Allen Carr.
He achieved his deserved reputation with his initial book about stopping smoking, and such was its success that he’s now written two books dedicated to drinking. This one is for those who want to regain control, but don’t want to stop completely.
If you don’t want to buy the book, but are interested in the cognitive approach that it uses, try having a read through our articles and worksheets on relapse prevention.
would you please tell me how I can purchase this book. on How to give up Alcohol. I live in victoria Australia
Thanks. Gill
Gill, check amazon.com :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Control-Alcohol/dp/0572028504
Some of the bigger book stores in Melbourne should surely stock his books too? Alternatively, contact Penguin Books – last time I checked, they allowed people to order directly from them.
PS: Allen Carr’s method worked well for me, but for nicotine addiction. I have not tried the books on alcohol, but I should think that they work just as well.
Hi, the description of this book above is incorrect as anyone who has read it will vouch for. Nowhere in this book does it imply that you cut down on your drinking, it is purely to help you stop altogether, so the description is incorrect. Saying that it is a brilliant approach to alcohol misuse and is highly recommended, it worked for me so far, sober 4 weeks now and no intention of going back to my old ways.
that’s all.
sheila
Allen was absolutely correct. The “little” monster is easy to bypass. However, once I take a drink, the “big” monster is insatiable. I have quit drinking after repeatedly trying to cut down. Each time I did that the big guy won, and I decided that he was not going to win any more! I don’t HAVE to drink, so, I don’t, and I am loving my new energy and fun-filled life!
I read Allen Carrs book Easy way to Control Alcohol 3 years ago, not for wanting to give up but to control drinking. Since reading the book I havent had any alcohol since. I have no interest in drinking and do not want to drink again!
This book is fantastic.. read it. It will change your life!
I have just finished reading this book from start to finish and it is absolute nonsense!. The whole premise of the method is that ‘no will power will be required. The author rambles on chapter after chapter attempting to ‘remove the brainwashing’ that we all have regarding alcohol using ideas which to anyone who has been a regular drinker , or in fact addicted to any substance, can clearly see straight through as being utterly untrue. He then tells the reader to simply take the last drink and give up.. and thats it,, ….. thats the wonderful method I had just shelled out £8.99 for, along with a few ‘rules’ to follow which arnt worth the paper that they are printed on other than to rehash the rubbish from the main body of the book. .. now if that is not the ARCHETYPE of the ‘will power’ method then I don’t know what is..
the book is a glorified version of the ‘get rich quick’ type scams that are advertised in the classifieds of newspapers or on spurious websites and ebay listings!
this book is a con and WILL NOT WORK!! DO NOT BUY
I totally agree with you Paul, this book is written to try and change the readers opinions towards drinking to support the decision to ‘stop’ – its a complete con! It relies on the fact that if you have purchsed the book in the first place you are likely to be considering a health behaviour change and are therefor much more likely to suceed. It also implies that the readers life will be changed forever, which again suggests it will work better for readers who want to change their lives. Clearly the answer with alcoholism is to simply stop, as it is unlike a REAL disease were you cannot simply chose not to have say ….. Cancer, TB or Salmonella? The book is biased as it intentionally targets those most motivated to suceed (but then, they were the ones who REALLY wanted to quit anyway).
just finished book – have only been sober (but hungover) for 1 hour but this book is the first thing that has given me light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. I guess I’ll let you know how it goes, but I think the critics are missing the point. The author offers a unique perspective and one that makes real sense. He has allowed me to let go of one of the big obstacles I previously had to giving up – the ‘fear’ of actually doing it. I am genuinely excited at the prospect of quitting. I too was pretty miffed at the the idea that I may want to quit entirely instead of ‘cutting down’ as the title suggests – I almost didn’t finish it but I’m glad I did. Even if you wanted to reduce your drinking I still think it would help.
One criticism – it can be a bit hard to ‘wade’ through so I would suggest reading it twice to get fully appreciate what is being said.
I would DEFINITELY recommend this book.
I have read hundreds of books on the subject, being a suspect alcoholic, and this book just nails it. Having tried and failed at AA, I was looking for something new and this book makes you see alcohol in a completely different light. It removes all the stigma associated with heavy drinking and explains in a very down to earth way the reasons we drink to excess and have difficulty stopping. It totally challenges all our views on drinking, social drinking etc and makes sense. I have not had a drink since reading this book 7 months ago, and I highly recommend for anyone who thinks they may have a problem with booze.
H- posted this on the other Allen Carr thread but I bought The EasyWay to Control Alcohol so re-posted below. Such a help reading your comments, feel far less alone…
A few weeks ago ready the EasyWay to stop smoking, having smoked for for 20 years(all my adult life) and I was astonished and delighted and still am to discover that I KNEW with euphoria when I finished the book that I would never smoke again. Critically, I KNEW I would never WANT to smoke again and have closed that chapter of my life, with true joy at being free.
I so want to feel the same about drinking – outwardly I am rarely seen obviously drunk but I sneak few sips of wine in the morning and then usually end up topping up all day drinking a bottle of wine a day at least… madness really and it’s making me ill. Just a few years ago I felt myself to be quite the glam 30s drinker, now I can see it’s controlling me. So I obviously want to feel the same joy about stopping drinking as I do at being a non-smoker and while the messages are both clearly EasyWay, I was still half clinging to the idea that I could ‘just cut down alcohol’ (why? it’s poison after all!) until near the end, so will re-read more slowly and absorb with a view to really quitting. Many thanks and best wishes to all on here – Allen Carr is such a force for good!
14 months sober after reading this book, Ive never looked back, if you read it and read it properly, it works. Ignore those people whining that its not what they thought, the principles involved are deceptively simple. If you have a drink problem, read it, could save your life.
I read Alan Carr’s book and had my last drink on 20th October 2011 and have not had any desire to drink at all. I went out with my work colleagues for a Christmas do and drank water but I still had a very good time and enjoyed myself for the first time without making an idiot of myself. I read the book a second time straight after the first just to make sure I understood all the points he makes. I was drinking at least a bottle and a half of wine every evening for the last 20 years. On Christmas Day, I thought I would have just one glass of wine with dinner but after just one sip, poured it in my husband’s glass !! Not only do I feel better I can also feel it in my pocket – spending £70 per week on wine is just unaffordable. If you want to quit please read the book with an open mind – it really does work.
Francesca I am so happy for you well done you. Be proud of yourself. I have just bought the book and am on chapter 20 at the moment I understand what I am reading and I have an open mind. I really do want to give up and I bought this book believing it would change things but so far I am not seeing a difference even though I get what is being said. My crux time is when I’m stressed with all the rubbish life throws at me and I have had more than my fair share over the years as I’m sure many people have, the difference is now unlike before I don’t want to turn to it anymore but I’m not sure I have the faith in myself to be able to change things I want to I really do…
Hi All,
I read this book in June 2011, and stopped drinking for 7 weeks.
Am quite a heavy drinker, and felt fine! I actually made a conscious decision to start drinking (as it started warming up here in Melbourne, and I love beer on the balcony.)
Anyway, I’m now back to square one. Still have the book and considering reading it again, but the thing I’m worried about is that if I read it a second time, and it doesn’t “work” again, will that screw up my chances of using this approach.
If money were not an issue, I’d be on the next plane to London to do the seminar (as the Smoking book didn’t work for me, but the seminar worked perfectly).
Any advice on someone who failed the first time trying again with the same book?
Thanks!
I re-read the book and went another year without, then a holiday came up and I was back to square one; think maybe I felt it was too easy to stop that I would just stop afterwards. I think if you cant get to a seminar, just re-read. Maybe try the other version – very minor differences – Theres Stop Drinking for the US and Control your Alcholol for the UK markets. Seminar is very good and put the jigsaw together for me.