Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol

I read this book for Bad Bitch Book Club, and will preface my review by saying I do not have any experience with substance abuse/addiction, either personally or in my immediate family.

As many others have written in their reviews, Whitaker's privileges in the way she was able to get sober (and in general, live her life) come through loud and clear, and it's not a great look. She throws in some intersectionality with racism in the final chapters, which makes it seem like an afterthought. She also seems to compare her fight against addiction/alcoholism with the Stonewall riots in her conclusion, which...just...no.

I found some of her language and instructions to be berating instead of an invitation. In discussions with the BBBC group, I also learned that some of the science she backs her claims with doesn't necessarily hold up. (e.g. Anything can be poisonous, including water, if you take a big enough dose.)

I do think Whitaker made a very interesting and compelling case for the whys and hows of addiction and recovery. I was especially intrigued by the concept of why a recovery program (Alcoholics Anonymous) that asks an addict to submit and break themselves down might not be helpful or effective for oppressed identities where society already does that to them regularly. I also know that AA has been helpful for many people, and Whitaker doesn't leave much room for the option. Lastly, I firmly believe that a necessary component of surviving anything--including, y'know, life in general--is finding authentic connection to yourself and to others, and I appreciated how much time she took to discuss this and how one might go about it.

Content Warnings

thespinystacks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

3.0

I can appreciate what the purpose of this book is, and it has many many great points. However, I found it difficult to reconcile the author talking about overcoming her many, many battles ( very admirable) with addictions of different natures, while also using Wikipedia as a source, and terms like “fingerbanging”. Maybe it was her attempt to remain a woman of the people, I’m not sure, but it was a source of a disconnect for me.

I found the book jumped between a sort of in your face retelling of the Author’s story, littered with random quotes and occasional statistics.

Where it resonated for me, was in the beginning and the comparisons between cigarette culture, and modern day drinking culture. These parallels were great. Also the lessons towards the end, regarding friendships, routines, and adjustment.

All in all, there is a toxic drinking culture, yes, and we need to educate ourselves around it.

Content Warnings

More...