5.0 out of 5 stars 100% recommended - wish I had discovered it sooner

F. · 30 July 2023

If you and/or your family and friends are concerned about your drinking and you wish to cut down your alcohol intake or quit completely then this is the book for you. Unlike other books I have tried which tend to be long and rambling and too complicated this is concise and to the point and, most importantly, easy to read and understand. It explores reasons why we drink, the true addictive nature of alcohol and how marketing and social influences draw us in, and it offers many coping strategies to deal with cravings, situations and mindset to help you on your way. Although it is a 10 day plan, I found it compelling reading and binge read the whole lot in one day, before going back and taking one day at a time and inwardly digesting every chapter and implementing the strategies. It's not an overnight solution (is there such a thing?), and it requires commitment and work but it gives you all the tools and coping strategies you need to start you on your journey and help you stay the course. There are great techniques for relaxation at any time too. If you only ever buy one self help book, make it this one, because you deserve it and you are definitely worth it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to follow, effective programme brilliantly written and explained. Can’t recommend enough

R.b. · 28 June 2020

I bought this book thinking I’d give it a go but not believing it would be able to help me. I have just completed 10 days of detox- unthinkable as I have only ever managed a few day’s before- and I can’t recommend it enough. In the past I have wanted a “quick fix” to stop me drinking wine every evening 7 days a week. I now realise that stopping drinking isn’t a pill or therapy that someone else does for me, it is down to me to make the decision and do it for myself and no one else. The way the book is formatted, 1 chapter a day, is brilliant and you really feel as if David is with you each day helping you get through this. I was probably a functioning alcoholic: drinking a bottle of wine each night out of habit. I’d wake up the next day feeling sluggish, I wasn’t fat but had belly fat from drinking every night. I’d send texts to family members at night and have had so many arguments and lost close friends through being over emotional through drink. My blood pressure was creeping up and I was falling into low mood and anxiety issues and feeling sorry for myself. After 10 days of no alcohol- and it hasn’t been easy : irritation, headaches, tiredness- I am now poking a toe out of the other side and I haven’t felt this good in ages. I am losing weight, sleeping better, I have so much time on my hands and I am optimistic about my future. I am thinking much more clearly. I don’t know if I will never drink again, but today I have committed to another 10 days and my ultimate goal is 100 days. You can use all these techniques in everyday life for any reason and I can’t believe I have done this on my own with few real problems other than habit breaking, headaches and irritability. Thank you so much David for this brilliant book. I’m now really looking forward to a healthier future. But this book. You won’t regret it and you will learn techniques you can use in any aspect of your life .

4.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging and helpful

m.d.p. · 19 January 2021

I’ve started off with a dry January which I’ve not managed as an adult before and I’ve found the book useful mainly as a bit of company and as a distraction. The 10 days passed really quickly and reading as you go kept up my motivation and points out some benefits both obvious and not so obvious. It has been a great help.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

A.C. · 7 November 2024

I found this book so helpful to read day by day while giving up alcohol for a target of 1 month. I thought I would find this task hard but the day by day reading pattern works so well to give you a comforting friend to help you keep going. This book is not quackery, or pseudo-science. The author's credentials are clear and solid. The style is not judgmental, and not patronising. It is full of useful techniques you can use consciously to help reprogram your subconscious or to change deeply ingrained habits. But I found the techniques for reframing thoughts and ingrained beliefs really helpful. How to observe the thoughts you're having as an objective observer (the flow technique) is such a powerful technique, I am already using it in many areas of my life and I hadn't come across it before.The author's writing is to such a high standard that you can feel your subconscious being reprogrammed purely by the way he uses prose. This is subtle and well done, but very powerful. A good example is the repetition of the concept of being sober as being a comforting safe tranquil place away from the stressful world of drinking. I found this incredibly effective and I no longer think of sobriety as a challenge, I have actually developed a distaste for the idea of drinking, because it breaks the safe warm peaceful cocoon of sobriety and I feel that once the 30 days are up I actually won't be particularly interested in going back to drinking. The concept of always having a manageable target rather than an intimidating "forever" is also very helpful. The "OK but not today" technique to defuse thought-bombs. Urge surfing, the MAP... Lots of really good stuff here. It doesn't have to be just about alcohol either, these techniques work in all areas of life. I have definitely found I have much more self-control in general after trying urge-surfing and the flow technique.Thank you to the author for such a great book. Very enjoyable and useful.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensible and effective

M.m.d. · 5 April 2023

10 days done! What I love about this book are the tools the author provides to help you through (the first few days are the hardest) and the options he gives to help you with your goals. I’ve completed the 10 days and decided to keep going by repeating the process. And in doing so I’m bringing a clearer head to the project and building on the foundation. I feel great and I’m gradually bringing order back into the chaos. I highly recommend this book.

3.0 out of 5 stars I thought it help

A.C. · 2 October 2021

No amount of writing will help you just need self help but good for those who think that a book may help

Easy to relate and not full of long-winded case studies (like other books) Yay!

M.M. · 5 October 2020

Highly recommend. This is such an easy book to read and i found it both empowering and implementable. The Activites are insightful , but mainly, the way the author writes makes me want to keep reading.

Another excellent book

S.J. · 24 November 2019

I have already read "Alcohol and You" which helped me a lot to stop my drinking habit. This new book is also very valuable and gives many strategies and explanations to find in sobriety the freedom I longed for.

A concise, feasable guide that could change your life.

D.M. · 22 January 2023

Having used (and enjoyed!) alcohol for 40 years, I began to worry about its long term effects, but approached the idea of quitting with apprehension and anxiety, thinking I would need to summon sheer will power to overcome my habit. This idea was dispelled from day 1; through positive affirmation, a modest degree of mindfulness, and some simple shifts in perspective, the goal became infinitely doable! By identifying feelings, thoughts, and urges, instead of merely blindly confronting and battling them, I realized after just a few days that my goal was achievable. Had I used this approach with previous goals; adopting a whole foods diet, losing considerable weight, and adopting an intense exercise program, I'd've likely attained similar results with far less effort. The bottom line: habits can change, and there is no shame in having a little help to do it.This is a straightforward, easy-to-read, easy-to-follow guide, and the best 5 bucks I ever spent.

Helpful resource

b. · 27 April 2023

I made a decision to cut alcohol out of my life for awhile and this book really helped. I can't say enough about how the content and reflections in this book helped me during this time.

Straightforward Easy to Follow

C. · 19 July 2025

I was using three “10-day” books on stopping drinking. This book very quickly took the lead role. It’s a simple how-to manual with little jargon and lots of practicality. I should disclose, I’m a lightweight wine drinker. It was quickly clear that my addiction was mostly habitual rather than physical. During the pandemic, the routine of a couple of glasses in the evening evolved to a bottle or more a day. Other minor negative behaviors surfaced. Time to stop. The two other books were fine, offering other perspectives; this one works for me. I’ve returned to the beginning of the book and proceeded through the chapters two times more. So far, so good.