This Naked Mind

If you drink more than you want to and you're having a hard time slowing down or stopping, this book might be the pep talk you need.

It sets out to demythologize alcohol and alcohol addiction: The problem isn't with you, the drinker. You're not "an alcoholic" and you don't have an "addictive personality" or "poor willpower." The problem is with alcohol, the addictive drug. You drank too much of it too often and now it's rejiggered your brain. That's what it does. It does it to some people quicker than others, but it'll do it to anyone eventually, given enough exposure.

A big part of the problem, Grace says, is that alcohol has a mythology behind it that makes it out to be a delight rather than a slow poison. This is upheld by the desperate justifications of addicts-in-progress and fueled by the alcohol industry. So part of the solution is to carefully erase this mythology and replace it with the facts about what alcohol does to your physical and mental health, your aspirations, your friendships, your family, etc. Come to look upon alcohol not as a treat you are being denied but as an enemy you are destined to defeat once and for all.

The book is extremely repetitive. You may find this helpful if your brain is a little foggy from overindulgence, or if you like to read in short bursts here and there. Myself, I found the repetition annoying. I also found some of the "science" to be unconvincing. Grace didn't come across to me as being a knowledgeable authority on some of the matters she writes about, so much as a determined advocate.

But it seems to help some people to no longer feel they have to or want to drink, so more power to it!