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Allen Carr's Easy Way for Women to Stop Smoking

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Now women can kick the cigarette habit, too, using a version of Allen Carr's revolutionary Easyway Method created expressly for them.
Carr's The Easy Way to Stop Smoking sold nine million copies worldwide; his method succeeds because it helps smokers eliminate the psychological craving for a cigarette even before they throw away that last pack. Filled with inspiring stories and quotes from real women who have battled nicotine addiction, this follow-up addresses the unique difficulties females face when they decide to quit. Carr and Francesca Cesati focus on those issues of special concern to women, such as weight gain, increased stress, and smoking during pregnancy—making this the perfect gift for any woman who lights up…and wants to stop.

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

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784 people want to read

About the author

Allen Carr

408 books282 followers
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.

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5 stars
560 (51%)
4 stars
259 (23%)
3 stars
155 (14%)
2 stars
73 (6%)
1 star
45 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Megs ♥.
160 reviews1,320 followers
October 12, 2011
I was finally able to stop smoking in Feb. 2011 after smoking for 10 years. I really do believe this book helped. Even if you aren't ready to quit you should check this book out. It's a no nonsense helpful book!
Profile Image for Crystal.
21 reviews
July 3, 2017
This really just feels like an extra large pamphlet to sell an overpriced 5 hour seminar.
Profile Image for Kelly.
280 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2011
It may seem like common sense, but it really is all about the attitude when you quit. This really did make a difference for me. Recommended!!
Profile Image for Catya (LizBenAt).
24 reviews
March 16, 2015
I decided to stop smoking after getting over the flu - since I noted how I didn't miss my precious cigarettes while I was ill.
But I knew I'd likely start again soon if I didn't make a change.

A good friend recommended this book to me and claimed it had helped her quit four months ago.
Previous to reading 'Easyway' I was only going to stop for the health reasons, still believing it would be something to 'give up' rather than something to be rid of. I even claimed to like it, as many do.

It's now my eleventh day in and it doesn't feel hard at all, even though I'm actually surrounded by heavy smokers a lot.
I'm turning 26 and this year in september it would have been my 12th year of smoking.

I'll give my copy of the book to my best friend who also told me she wants to quit but don't know if she can do it.

As Carr states in his book: If you're a smoker just give the book a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to win!
15 reviews
Read
August 3, 2011
i did it wrong! i gave up before reading the book and have started smoking again since finishing it. i will come back to this one.
Profile Image for Tania.
1,440 reviews353 followers
September 12, 2014
It's easy to stop smoking. I've done it hundreds of times.

Let's hold thumbs it works this time!!
Profile Image for Katie Brock.
9 reviews2 followers
April 18, 2017
I quit smoking about a month ago after reading Allen Carr's Easy way for women to stop smoking. I knew going into it that I was going to quit on the day that I did no matter what.

The first couple of days that I quit no book, patch, pill or anything other than a coma could have made easy. I was angry, I was aware that I wanted to be unkind.

After the first couple of days though... the ideas in this book started to play out in my mind. I would see people smoking and I didn't want one. I was able to be around people when they were smoking (my husband and other family) and I had zero desire to smoke. This book helped me to change the way that I thought about smoking. I wasn't sad that I quit, I was relieved.

I did recommend this book to my family. I don't know that it will work for them because I think that you have to make the decision to be done smoking before you quit.
1 review1 follower
June 25, 2013
Yes, it was repetitive but it really helped to get the main points ingrained into my head. And hey smoking is repetitive too, so I'm not gonna complain about that! While I have not read any of the previous editions, the "for women" part seems a bit gimmicky. Aside from the chapter dedicated to smoking dyrng pregnancy and the letter excerpts from women, I'm not really sure how it targets women. Nonetheless, after a couple of weeks of struggling with willpower methods I picked this book up and read it as fast as I could. Even before finishing I noticed that my desire to smoke was decreasing, the taste was horrible, and I knew this was the tool I needed. Although I didn't feel like smoking that final cigarette, I did, and it was disgusting.
Profile Image for Lory Marshall .
63 reviews
January 8, 2016
So... if you follow each step perfectly then you will quit smoking forever, that's what this book boasts.. However, if you read the book all the way through, the last step is to never smoke again. WELL OF COURSE YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU FOLLOW ALL THE STEPS! One of the steps is to succeed! ... Let's just say, I wasn't impressed with this method. However, the book does bring up some nice common sense that smokers don't usually think about.. so 3 stars it is!
Profile Image for Maggie.
Author 3 books22 followers
July 31, 2008
Strangely enough, this book seems to have worked. I thought it was pretty monotonous when I was reading it, but I have gone over a week without a cigarette, and honestly, other than a few cravings a day or two after I stopped, I haven't missed them at all.

Profile Image for Rickki.
20 reviews
August 12, 2013
It has been 10 day without smoking, and I'm doing Quite well with it. Every time I think I want a cigarette, I say to myself, I am a non-smoker. I have smoked for over 25 years...Read it... It will help you with your thinking of Not smoking. 8/11/13
Profile Image for Kay Hinds.
1 review
November 20, 2016
It worked for me!

I'm now on day 6 of being a non smoker - I'll admit I wasn't convinced when I bought this book, but it cost a lot less than a packet of cigarettes so I thought I'd give it a go.
Let's hope this is a lifetime change!
Profile Image for Silencio.
18 reviews11 followers
July 13, 2010
If you want to stop smoking, you don't need this book. It's annoying and makes you smoke more and more. It doesn't help you to quit smoking, if you want to quit, you will already.
Profile Image for Annette.
8 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2012
i hated the book and didnt help me at all i still smoke
1 review
July 29, 2012
Everyone I know who has read this including myself, has quit smoking from this book. Do it! Don't be afraid of the book!
Profile Image for Amy.
10 reviews
February 25, 2013
Honestly didn't even finish the book. I loved the positive approach and the fact that it was concerned with mental aspect of smoking. Cons: repetition and boring.
Profile Image for Anabell.
19 reviews13 followers
December 27, 2015
It is now almost 1 year since I read this and I haven't smoked one single cigaret since. (Smoked for almost 14 years)
would definitely recommend this to anybody who would like to stop smoking.




Profile Image for Freya Lawrence.
24 reviews
August 18, 2023
2 stars because I know Carrs easy way has helped many people become non-smokers, and because some of the ideas (towards the end) were good for me.

I do think, however, that all Carr does is encourage a positive attitude towards stopping, and a negative attitude toward nicotine, and what smoking actually is (through reinforcing the same ideas again and again).

I will say the way Carr spoke about any ‘willpower methods’ was frustrating, essentially telling the reader any other way won’t work and encouraging everyone to visit his centres or read his books will! — interesting eh!

Having already stopped smoking a few weeks before reading this I didn’t really find it groundbreaking, insightful or ‘magical’. Maybe if my attitude was different towards smoking (that I actually still wanted to) it may have helped more (?)
Profile Image for Evangeline Rowe.
5 reviews6 followers
January 7, 2020
I’m finally free! I’ve been smoking for 7 years and used the willpower methods just over a year ago and lasted 7 months but gave in after just 1 cigarette. I’m so excited to be free and regain my health, money and time. Thank you for giving me to tools to set myself free from the nicotine trap!
Profile Image for Klara.
1 review
November 8, 2017
I've already read this 3 friggin times - and it didn't work :-( But I absolutely loved it!
Profile Image for Liz.
1 review1 follower
February 15, 2013
Excellent book - doesn't say anything you don't already know but makes you think about why you're smoking and how much you actually need to smoke. I've quit many times using patches and lozenges ( with a sly cig here and there) and always felt like I'd given up something against my will. Now I'm not using any NRT's and generally feel quite happy about quitting, although there are still days when I've thought about buying a pack.
Profile Image for Jennifer Melnyk.
145 reviews20 followers
August 30, 2016
Considering that the author is a man, I was skeptical about anything he'd have to say about quitting smoking for women. Fortunately, he did collaborate with a woman who definitely made an impact on this book!

While I haven't quit smoking, I have read this book. And I will be reading it again in January, to quit for good.
Profile Image for Radek.
115 reviews6 followers
September 24, 2012
Mój były manager powiedział "paliłem przez 10 lat, przeczytałem tę książkę i przestałem palić. z dnia na dzień". Zainspirowało mnie to i chciałem ją przeczytać, a ponieważ w Empiku była tylko wersja dla kobiet, pomyślałem, że różnica może być głównie w przykładach. I chyba miałem rację. W każdym razie, obala sporo mitów i przekonań (również moich) o paleniu.
Aha - nie, nie palę i nie paliłem :)
Profile Image for Stella.
420 reviews81 followers
June 8, 2015
I would recommend Allen Carr's Easyway to any smoker who wants to stop smoking - it works and it doesn't make you feel deprived..unlike everything else out there.

I'd recommend Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking rather than this specific one for women. They will both work but the first one is better organized.
Profile Image for Stephanie McKeehan.
1 review1 follower
July 28, 2015
Amazing common sense approach to breaking down the blatant lies we have been taught and repeated to ourselves to justify smoking. Liberating!!

Unbelievable that I got the confidence and tools to quit smoking from a book that breaks downs all the lies that have been so ingrained in us to make us feel powerless to ever quit.
1 review1 follower
July 16, 2020
Amazing Amazing Amazing

When Allen carr says he will show you the easy way to stop smoking that he does in such a great easy way thankyou so much for making it so clear and not using will power your a amazing person .I hope other smokers will read this , I am now free from that horrible little monster that plays horrible games with your mind whilst slowly killing you.
Profile Image for Courtney.
106 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2011
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to want to quit smoking. It gives you a pretty good perspective shift and makes you think twice about the reasons why you smoke. It's a pretty good mental preparation tool. Don't ask me about it for about five days, though...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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