Why We Drink Too Much: The New Science of Alcohol

by Charles Knowles

In Why We Drink Too Much, Dr Charles Knowles tackles the complex relationship we have with alcohol, blending the latest scientific findings with historical anecdotes and his own personal insights. It' a journey through time, exploring how alcohol has shaped our history, our celebrations and, for some, our struggles. Knowles breaks down the science of why we drink, from the neurological effects of alcohol to the societal pressures that shape our drinking habits, making intricate research accessible and engaging.

Whether curious about the history of your favourite drinks or looking for a deeper understanding of its role in human culture, Knowles presents a thoughtful examination of why alcohol remains humanity's favourite – and most enduring – drug.

Why We Drink Too Much offers a fresh perspective on alcohol, perfect for anyone looking to navigate the nuanced world of drinking with greater awareness.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Federica Raguseo · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has toyed with the idea of getting rid of alcohol from my life for a while - this was a rather interesting read. Let me explain. Having a drink with friends is all fun and games, and I have never really had an issue with “stopping” drinking or alcoholism of any kind. But - as a I get holder - the negative sides of alcohol have gotten more and more significant. What used to be a few hours of hangover, now is a full incapacitated day after even just a couple of drinks. Not to mention the low mood and anxiety that follows for DAYS after having one too many. I now have a drink only on special events and even then … the question that has been poking my mind is, is that even worth it? So I was looking for some extra reading to make up my mind. A science based book on the effects of alcohol to weight out pros and cons of permanent sobriety. I must say - this book answered a few of my questions but I was not really the target audience for it. It deals with the personal experience of Dr Charles Knowles-a very successful surgeon with alcoholism problems and it goes through the science of addiction, explains the effects of alcohol in our body long term and compares it to other substances. I found really interesting how the author never demonises alcohol but also does not blame those who find themselves in a position of addiction. The conclusions? Those are for the individual reader to take. Knowing that alcohol in any quantity is toxic and that some people might be affected more strongly by it … what would you do? Especially considering our whole society uses alcohol for means of socialisation and acceptance? I would have liked to see more on the studies and the actual science behind the question “why we drink too much”. A lot of it becomes slightly repetitive and laying in common knowledge (but perhaps the knowledge is only common to me as a scientistj.

[Amber Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've cut down massively on my drinking this year and reading this book confirmed all of the positive benefits I have noticed from doing so.

Written by a surgeon who has struggled with alcoholism his whole life, to the point where he was doing surgery while drunk (truly terrifying!), he explains the reasons why we drink, the psychology, the cultural pressures and attitudes behind it.
I found it fascinating. Every few chapters there would be a chapter written by his wife which gave an interesting point of view from someone who was directly impacted by her husband's addiction and his drunken actions.

Highly recommend for anyone thinking of cutting down on alcohol or who just wants to understand why we tend to drink more than we should, even if we don't really want to.

[Korrina Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The early chapters of this book contained fascinating science about the impact of alcohol on the brain. It was refreshing that the author is himself a recovering alcoholic and the discussion around mental illness and its relationship with alcoholism was interesting. I found myself slightly pulling away during the later chapters related to AA and spiritually, but still, the author raises valid points and encourages open-mindedness in this regard.

[Ross Demirel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alcoholism explained by an alcoholic

This book proves that there is always something new we can learn on a topic hundreds of years old. Alcoholics don’t drink like normal people and they enjoy alcohol differently

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting scientific perspective but includes a bit too much AA.

[Abi Pellinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be really interesting to read in December because it's a time where Brits tend to drink even more to excess than we usually do.

It was a very interesting non-fiction. Dr. Charles Knowles is a surgeon in the UK and he actually is a an alcoholic. I was going to say former alcoholic, but it's usually something that sticks with you for life. He was a functional alcoholic. He was able to hide his drinking and it never impacted his work, but it impacted his life significantly. And he talks about his own personal impacts and how this had an effect on him and his family.

But he also then delves into the science, both the social science side of things and how people become addicted, but then also the more physical science and the chemical science about how addiction occurs and how it can keep people trapped in here. I thought this was a really interesting book. Very, very glad that I picked this one up.