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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker
3 reviews
schorlett's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Vomit and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
emfass's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
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.
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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
schenkepanky's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Anyone who drinks alcohol should read this book, if only to create awareness of how alcohol is serving them and to rethink the role it plays in our society. This book offers such a shift in perspective, destigmatizes sobriety, and offers support and compassion to anyone rethinking their alcohol use.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
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