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Aster

The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: Discovering a happy, healthy, wealthy alcohol-free life

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Description

Going sober will make you happier, healthier, wealthier, slimmer and sexier. Despite all of these upsides, it's easier said than done. This inspirational, aspirational and highly relatable narrative champions the benefits of sobriety; combining the author's personal experience, factual reportage, contributions from experts and self-help advice. Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish whirligig of Drink, Make horrible decisions, Hangover, Repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures. But this book goes beyond the binges and blackouts to deep-dive into uncharted territory: What happens after you quit drinking? This gripping, heart-breaking and witty book takes us down the rabbit-hole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers, through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and breakups. In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shines a light on society's drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies. Much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you've already ditched the drink, you will love this book. "An icon of the Quit Lit movement" - Condé Nast Traveller "Brave, witty and brilliantly written" - Marie Claire "Catherine Gray is an exceptional writer. Her exquisitely crafted thoughts on the joys of being sober are not only deeply honest and pragmatic, but she manages to infuse tons of humor. This is a delightful, informative, and compelling read for all those who are sober or seeking sobriety." - Sasha Tozzi, Huffington Post columnist "Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying" - Alice O'Keeffe, Guardian Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aster


Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 18, 2018


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1912023385


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 87


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.05 x 7.75 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #14,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #13 in Journalist Biographies #16 in Alcoholism Recovery #272 in Personal Transformation Self-Help


#13 in Journalist Biographies:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Well worth the read
Format: Paperback
I loved everything about this book. I made me laugh, and I was able to relate. Proud of myself to have finished the whole book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026 by Roxanne Hobbs
    • A Book You Will Want to Read More than Once
Format: Paperback
Whether you are sober curious, newly sober, or in long-term recovery, Catherine Gray’s 2017 book, The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is a great resource. Catherine understands alcohol addiction from personal experience, and quickly earns your trust through an honest account of her journey to sobriety. Her sense of humor, even about some of the darker chapters of her life, demonstrates that she transcended addiction to find joy in sobriety. Her message is clear; sobriety isn’t easy, especially in the beginning, but it is well worth it. With this book, Catherine created a road map to sobriety. Topics covered include tips on staying sober, navigating social situations, the science of addiction, dating and sex, dealing with hardship, busting stereotypes, and finding a sober community. She also includes a citation page at the back of the book to list the sources for her material. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is a pleasure to read. Catherine is a professional writer and editor who has worked for magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour. In the preface, Catherine explains how the book came about. “After writing I felt a lot less like drinking. Writing felt like tipping the jumbled contents of my head onto a table and slotting them neatly together, like a jigsaw puzzle.” She writes the book in a casual, personal style which is entirely appropriate and fitting. It is extremely well-written. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is a great value and well worth adding to your sober toolkit ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2019 by John Sheldon
    • Read 5 books on reducing alcohol consumption - this was the best by far
Format: Kindle
Well written - reads like a novel but makes you question the role of alcohol in your life & particularly the health risks of any consumption at all. I exercise 5-7 times a week play golf pretty much every day have an annual medical check up and have been vegetarian for over 40 years -BUT when I understood that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption I decided to stop my relatively modest intake - this book was the best by far in helping me. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2022 by Swiss Quality
    • Encouraging and Affirming
Format: Kindle
I didn’t abuse alcohol until a series of unfortunate things happened to me. Then it became my go to for self-soothing. Self-Pity leads to Self-Soothing, which leads to Self-Destruction. Numerous negative encounters. Embarrassing lapses in who I am. Nearly killing myself or others driving in that condition. Etc. I stopped in July of 2024. The last alcohol in my mouth was after a horrific binge - and was going the opposite way (throwing up double-vodkas). I find it ironic that my body was clearly saying ‘ENOUGH’ - we’re getting it out. Life is so much better but Catherine’s book captures my feelings so much better. Funny. Humble. Vulnerable. But Committed and Steadfast. Great read. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2025 by Sando
    • My favorite quit lit book on the market My favorite quit lit book on the market
Format: Paperback
Review Image by Aundrea
I have been dealing with some degree of problematic drinking for years. I don't drink often, but when I do it's all out. About 3 years ago I knew this was escalating and could become a bigger problem. We had moved to a lake house where the vibe is "party all day every day". I've always been an avid fitness enthusiast, enjoyed healthy eating and spending time with my family. Drinking heavily doesn't work with those values. Anyway, I started seeking resources to help me try to change my drinking, or quit drinking. I bought this book about about 6 others in a short period of time and read them all. This was by far my favorite. Catherine adds a humorous twist to her writing style that makes it easy to read and feels like a friend is telling you a story. There are plenty of personal anecdotes and lots of great practical advice ("30 tools for the first 30 days" is my favorite). She also makes me excited to not drink. It's not this change to dread, it's a choice that leads to so much happiness and goodness. She actually gets me excited to not drink. I use this book for fuel when I am feeling tempted. I have not reached my 100% long term goal of not drinking at all, but I have cut back about 80%, averaging drinking once a month. I just restarted this book for the 4th time with the intention of being completely alcohol free. It's July, when all the social things are happening, but I'm reading this (and some other quit lit) as ammunition to get through the summer happily sober. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022 Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022 by Aundrea
    • Drinkers need a headline too. This book is for you.
Format: Paperback
Who writes reviews about books like this? I do. This book has helped me understand so many underlining issues that occur with your first taste of alcohol to your last...if you are lucky enough to still be alive and well enough to stop. The main thing to know about this book, she writes with her heart and walks you through such a mess, whose life is this anyway? It's yours. Mine...those of us who fall victim to the believe alcohol is just a substance made from nature. Hangovers go away right? She dives into the metaphysical on this one that I had never seen before. Her book is riveting and her silly British humors drove me to work some of the exercises to help cope with my addiction, they aren't that difficult and sadly easier to do than any recovery day. The good news is that you can recover and so can your body from the damages reaped upon you, she explains this process in surprising detail. This is a must read book if you don't want to be preached to; if AA has no meaning for your generation, and belief system - she found a way and so can you. Finally, the last part of the book digs deep into the commercialization and acceptance theory of this particular substance. She illustrates how politically and commercially powerful and oppressive this addiction can be. Make no mistake, an uphill battle for all of us afflicted with this disorder. Good Luck. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022 by Echo5Tango
    • Eye Opening -- in the best way
Format: Paperback
Wow. I am SO grateful for this book. She deftly opens a door to a whole other way of looking at life. So non-judgmental, thought-provoking, and best of all, beautifully written. This might be the most important book I've ever read.
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2025 by Placeholder
    • My favorite 'quit lit' by far!
Format: Paperback
I read a lot of what we ex-drinkers fondly refer to as 'quit lit'. Reading other people's journey to sobriety is uplifting and strengthens our resolve. Katherine Gray's book is my new favorite for many reasons. Her writing is so personable, you feel like you're chatting with your best friend. Her authenticity and honesty is refreshing, and while almost all of the quit lit books take you to the bare bones of 'rock bottom' the difference with Katherine is you never feel like she's embellishing. Everyone's 'rock bottom' is different. Hopefully, as a society we learn to raise that bottom and make it more acceptable to pursue sobriety. Alcohol; the only drug you have to justify not taking. Katherine says her rock bottom was not that bad, not that dramatic, but I disagree. You can feel the pain her drinking was causing her, can see the toll it took on her relationships. Although she was never that 'bad girl' like Sasha Scoblic, her bottom was definitely bad enough. I highly recommend this to anyone whether you think you want to quit or not. It's a great story of courage. It's a great story of self-examination and having the grit to know when you've hit your maximum. It's proof positive that human beings are capable of great things, and are stronger than we think. It's important to share our stories, especially those that highlight our strength and humanity, and Katherine has given us a damn fine example! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2019 by QTRN

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