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

This book is good if you take it for what it is: a wealthy white woman who rates high on the hippie scale reflecting on what worked personally for her journey to sobriety. There is, of course, value in reflecting on the myriad ways that gender and social conditioning contribute to the efficacy of addiction treatment. In that respect, this work is valuable. That said, many of the recommendations given by the author (yoga retreats, massage, therapists, nutritionists, etc) are out of reach for the majority of people. The author's story is interesting and her recovery is a good case study of the importance of the need for an individualized approach to healing. As long as you don't take it as gospel but instead as a work from which you can pick what you find intriguing or effective and leave the rest, it's a good read.

Take note, however, that the author does repeatedly evoke sexual assault and violence as both an illustration of the evils of alcohol and a metaphor for the impact alcohol has. I found that distasteful and unnecessary. If you find yourself triggered by such mentions, I'd avoid this book.

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ashleycmms's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

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hanelliott7's review

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.25

Though I found parts of the authors experience incredibly powerful and insightful and the information shared in the first half of the book engaging and eye opening, the latter half of the book falls apart with a lot of “do this because it worked for me” sort of recommendations such as drinking hot lemon water, doing yoga, and many references to traveling to Italy (which we can all definitely afford and do at a moments notice). I think overall this book provides great insight to the history and insidious nature of alcohol culture but the #girlboss theme throughout the book mixed with some critique on the editing/writing style left me skimming the last half. It felt like someone edited in “social justice disclaimers” and notes after the book was written including the last chapter on how much of an activist the author is (but then also makes the claim that Gandhi was “addicted to his cause?). The author also leans hard into shock value from sharing explicit details of her story to randomly talking about her sex life or other trauma with little warning or care. There is a sharp turn at the half way mark that goes from powerfully connecting her experience with research and history to feeling like you’re watching a morning routine video on YouTube sponsored by her recovery program. Recommend for those interested in the topic of living alcohol free but know what you’re in for.

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