The Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety

by Bert Pluymen

Answering yes to these questions sparked Pluymen's realization that life could be so much more fulfilling if he was sober. This book is Bert Pluymen's story of struggle and triumph over alcohol addiction. It also contains insightful, witty, uplifting, and wryly humorous stories of the many people Pluymen met who were also searching for sobriety. This is an informative book that will shed new light on how alcohol abuse can ruin people's lives--even if they thought it could never happen to them.

Genres: Self Help

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

Reviews

[Anthony Faber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book, with a reasonable amount of the science behind addiction, as of the late nineties. If you look at AA, which he's big on (although he does mention other approaches in an appendix at the end), as being kinda irrational, you probably won't like this book much. The life stories of alcoholics he gives are skewed away from the "guy ends up in the gutter" horror stories, and that's probably good for a lot of people who think that unless and until you end up in said gutter, you're not an alcoholic.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many cool chapters about the effects of alcohol on the body. Lots of information. But, I think that it relied too heavily on personal stories from alcoholics. That comprised about half of the book and seemed to be a way for the author to relay that alcohol effects people from all walks of life. I can appreciate that, but I didn't really get into the stories of the super successful people who were functional, but drinking too much and then they went to AA and got all better. Maybe that sounds cynical, but oh well. Heavy and almost exclusive reliance on treatment programs and AA. These are sound and well proven techniques used to control alcoholism, but I guess I was hoping for something more and varied.

* one note to add: i did like the way that the author focused on people who have a drinking problem, who may be unwilling to describe themselves as alcoholics because they are highly functioning. This is the author's own story and I feel that it is a situation that many people find themselves in, but are confused about the severity of the problem. The author helps to define such "problem drinking".

[Pandora Pilant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to understand guide that doesn't have exercises in the book but, gets you thinking. I would recommend this book to anyone that is struggling with alcohol.

[Ava An · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy of read and series of illustrations of true stories were interesting. Well cited and researched. Anything you need to know about the subject is in it.

[Ryan Bell]

Having read approximately five million books on this subject over the last several years, it bears mentioning that I discovered some info here (re: alcohol's effect on the brain's biochemical makeup) that I actually didn't know. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, so i'll just say that if you are someone with a more-than-passing interest in this subject, this is one of the better books out there. Very down-to-earth and readable.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of the book is about the author's life as a high-functioning alcoholic. The second half of the book is filled with stories about other recovered alcoholics. I didn't find anything in the book revelatory, but I'm not sorry I read it. I'm just glad I read it quickly. I would not necessarily recommend this book to anyone, unless you are really trying to read every book you can find about sobriety.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book - not preachy, but an intelligent way to think about how to stop over-doing stuff (in this case alcohol) in one's life.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Especially if one is unsure about AA.
Got me to start going to Women's meetings and I realized you don't have to be a Blue-book thumper to get help at AA.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a life-changer, hands down.