In the months after I quit drinking, I dove into the world of “quit-lit”—the genre of books focused on sobriety, sober curiosity, and the role of alcohol in society.
These books helped me come to terms with the reasons behind my decision to quit drinking, reminded me of what I was walking away from, and gave me a lifeline as I moved into a new chapter (quite literally).
Heralded as one of the preeminent voices on recovery, Knapp catalogs her experience with alcoholism, relationships, overachievement, and sobriety. Reading this book, I was able to relate to her perfectionism, wanting for more, more, more, and searching for a better way of living.
*Favorite quote: “The hard things in life, the things you really learn from, happen with a clear mind.”
This book will be extremely relatable and cathartic for anyone who has ever engaged in binge drinking to the point of blacking out. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this and was nodding along the whole time. Hepola is overwhelmingly honest about her experience with alcohol and her struggle to give it up in order to gain herself.
*Favorite quote: “We drink to get away from ourselves — and then we wonder how we got so lost.” - Sarah Hepola
Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker
The most direct of the books I read, “Quit Like a Woman'' pulls no punches. Whitaker is unapologetically aggressive about her disdain for the role of alcohol in our society. Her take on the way alcohol is viewed and consumed is refreshingly honest and eye-opening, especially if you’ve never taken a moment to consider how alcohol is perceived.
*Favorite quote: “Alcohol is the only drug in the world where, when you stop taking it, you are seen as having a disease.”
Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington
As the title suggests, this is a book for anyone considering stepping away from alcohol for the myriad of health, wellness, and social reasons. Warrington is one of the leading proponents of the Sober Curious movement and challenges readers to consider the effects that alcohol and subsequently sobriety can have on mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
*Favorite quote: “For many of us, getting Sober Curious begins with a simple question: Would my life be better without alcohol? To discover the answer for yourself, all that remains is to put the cork back in the bottle, open your eyes, and see.”
The Sober Lush by Amanda Eyre Ward & Jardine Libaire
The most pragmatic and yet “woo-woo” of the books, this is a must-read for anyone who has quit alcohol (for any period of time) and gone, “is this all there is”? Without the “magic” of alcohol, life can sometimes feel…dull? This book flips that notion on its head and provides quick chapters with ideas for finding indulgence, peace, beauty, and realness in the small moments of life.
*Favorite quote: “The most accurate way to know the future is to create it.”
So far, these are the books that have resonated with me the most based on my personal experience and what I aim to gain from sobriety. Comment below if you have any recommendations I should consider!
