The Little Book of Quitting

by Allen Carr

Allen Carr’s international bellseller, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking , has sold more than six million copies worldwide and helped to turn countless smokers into nonsmokers. The Little Book of Quitting crystallizes 120 key points of the Easyway™ method in a concise and readily accessible format. Carr’s method can enable any smoker to quit easily, painlessly, and permanently without needing willpower, suffering withdrawal pangs, feeling deprived, or gaining weight. This is the perfect pocket refresher for those already applying Allen Carr’s method, and a great starting point for all those who want to quit the Easyway™. Allen Carr discovered the Easyway™ to stop smoking in 1983—after his three-decade-long, 100-cigarette-a-day addiction had driven him to despair. First published in 1985, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking has sold over six million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than twenty languages. In addition to his books, Allen has established the Allen Carr clinics, now operating in countries around the world.

Genres: Self Help

125 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Allen Carr was a British author and the founder of the global Allen Carr’s Easyway method, renowned for helping millions overcome smoking and other addictions. Born in Putney, London in 1934, Carr began smoking at 18 during National Service and struggled with the habit for over three decades. A qualified accountant, he finally quit in 1983 following a revelatory visit to a hypnotherapist. The experience didn’t directly cause him to quit, but it led to two key insights: that smoking was simply a form of nicotine addiction, and that withdrawal symptoms were minor and psychological in nature. These revelations inspired Carr to develop a revolutionary approach to quitting, one that did not rely on willpower, scare tactics, or substitution therapies.
Carr’s philosophy centered on removing the smoker’s fear of giving up. He argued that smoking merely relieves withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette, and that the supposed satisfaction gained is merely a return to the non-smoker’s normal state. Through live seminars, books, and multimedia resources, the Easyway method encourages smokers to continue smoking while they reframe their beliefs, ultimately extinguishing their final cigarette with clarity and confidence.
In 1985, Carr published The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, which became a bestseller and was translated into more than 45 languages. The success of his London clinic led to the establishment of over 100 Easyway centers in 35 countries, offering seminars to treat smoking, alcohol dependency, sugar addiction, and even fear of flying. His method’s credibility was bolstered by independent clinical trials, including studies in Ireland and the UK which found it as effective—if not more so—than standard cessation methods. This led to its adoption by NHS-approved services in England.
A key element of the Easyway clinics is that all facilitators are former addicts who successfully quit using the method themselves. They must complete extensive training and become licensed members of the Association of Allen Carr Therapists International.
Throughout his career, Carr also co-authored a wide range of Easyway books addressing various addictions and behavioral issues, often collaborating with Robin Hayley and John C. Dicey, the current Chairman and Global CEO of Allen Carr’s Easyway. Dicey, whom Carr mentored, continues to lead the organization’s development and public outreach.
Carr died of lung cancer in 2006 at age 72, though he had not smoked for 23 years. He attributed his illness to second-hand smoke exposure during seminars. Before his death, he remained committed to his mission, challenging governmental ties to nicotine replacement industries and advocating for wider access to his method.
Carr’s legacy continues through his clinics, books, and online programs, which have reached over 50 million people worldwide. His message remains consistent: quitting is not a sacrifice—it’s liberation.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but unfortunately I still puff, but not as much though. That at least leaves me with a goal. One day I will be a quitter for good. I hope.

I am going to give it another round. This is #3. It has been 14 days. That's not too shabby. Hey, any of my goodreads buddies who see this encourage me. "You can do it Dee?"

[Bina Artiste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this guy has good intentions, I do not like that he doesn't believe that smoking should be substituted for healthy things. Comparing smoking to having a flu or disease, and trying to substitute one of those doesn't make sense. Smoking is a habit. You need to break that habit and form healthy new ones instead at the same time. Having a flu or disease, you just want the cure, and then try to be healthy and avoid getting it again. (Unless you're a masochist and love being sick!)

Forgive my rambling, I just don't agree with that point in his book.

[Tjoel2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read November 2012

[Dan Lurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Condensed version of his Easy Way to Quit Smoking book. I made a few abortive attempts since reading that one. Going to give it another go.