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Quit Like a Woman
Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol | Holly Whitaker
The founder of a female-focused recovery program offers a radical new path to sobriety. We live in a world obsessed with drinking. We drink at baby showers and work events, brunch and book club, graduations and funerals. Yet no one ever questions alcohols ubiquityin fact, the only thing ever questioned is why someone doesnt drink. It is a qualifier for belonging and if you dont imbibe, you are considered an anomaly. As a society, we are obsessed with health and wellness, yet we uphold alcohol as some kind of magic elixir, though it is anything but. When Holly Whitaker decided to seek help after one too many benders, she embarked on a journey that led not only to her own sobriety, but revealed the insidious role alcohol plays in our society and in the lives of women in particular. Whats more, she could not ignore the ways that alcohol companies were targeting women, just as the tobacco industry had successfully done generations before. Fueled by her own emerging feminism, she also realized that the predominant systems of recovery are archaic, patriarchal, and ineffective for the unique needs of women and other historically oppressed peoplewho dont need to lose their egos and surrender to a male concept of God, as the tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous state, but who need to cultivate a deeper understanding of their own identities and take control of their lives. When Holly found an alternate way out of her own addiction, she felt a calling to create a sober community with resources for anyone questioning their relationship with drinking, so that they might find their way as well. Her resultant feminine-centric recovery program focuses on getting at the root causes that lead people to overindulge and provides the tools necessary to break the cycle of addiction, showing us what is possible when we remove alcohol and destroy our belief system around it. Written in a relatable voice that is honest and witty, Quit Like a Woman is at once a groundbreaking look at drinking culture and a road map to cutting out alcohol in order to live our best lives without the crutch of intoxication. You will never look at drinking the same way again.
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DaniJ
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Pickpick


As a woman, the first thing people ask if you‘re not drinking is “Are you pregnant?” Why should the only reason someone stops drinking be because they are knocked up? This book was a bit too “poison the patriarchy” for me in some parts, but I did highlight dozens of quotes that I plan to revisit. It made me re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol and take a step back from consuming it all together. Definitely worth the read.

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This book made me think a lot of how I celebrate, how much is too much, and what I choose to put in my body. Her perspectives on the liquor lobby and it‘s similarities with big tobacco, how AA doesn‘t work for everyone (esp women) were illuminating and all aspects of the book were well researched. If you are considering the role of alcohol in your life, I recommend giving this book a read. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #NovelNovember @Andrew65

KathyWheeler I also feel there‘s a liquor culture in general. I don‘t drink much — maybe a glass of wine every couple of years. If I‘m at a party where there‘s alcohol, people always bug me to at least have one drink; they can‘t accept a “no” or “I‘d just like a Diet Coke.” I think I‘ll check out this book. 2y
Catsandbooks I have maybe a drink a year. It annoys me sometimes how much push there is for women to always be drinking wine. Like how every time a group of women gather there has to be wine. 2y
Julsmarshall @KathyWheeler and @Catsandbooks She addresses that liquor culture pretty throughly and explores why that is, especially in the US. And talks about all the cutesy, funny jokes about Moms who drink and why and how damaging joking about that can be. An infant onesie with “I‘m the reason Mommy drinks” is not funny. Definitely a lot to think about here. (edited) 2y
See All 7 Comments
KathyWheeler @Julsmarshall I‘ll definitely look into the book then. When I was raising my kids, I don‘t remember a drinking culture surrounding moms, but it‘s everywhere now. And I don‘t find the jokes about it to be funny or cute either. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Great review!! 2y
brittanybooks I agree- great review!! 2y
Andrew65 Sounds fascinating and a great review. 2y
58 likes5 stack adds7 comments
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Erin.Elizabeth10
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Pickpick

I‘m rating this a pick, but it was in between a Pick and So-So for me. Here‘s why:
🌟PICK🌟
The topic of sobriety was super interesting and new to me
I thought the history of AA was really insightful
She had good practical steps for building a healthier life
🌟SO SO🌟
She had a “girl boss” white lady tone to me
The tone felt combative at times
Some facts weren‘t backed up as much as I would wish

Overall, I think I‘d recommend, but with an * :)

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CampbellTaraL
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Pickpick

A must read for the base premise which is society is so saturated with alcohol culture that non-drinkers are cast as extremists or fundamentally broken. The author is incredibly candid about her experiences, and I agreed with so much of what she writes. Even if you have no interest in an alcohol-free existence, this book forces you to reckon with uncomfortable truths about alcohol.

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JenReadsAlot
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Mehso-so

Sigh. I can appreciate everyone recovers differently, but something about her tone in this book grated on me as a substance use therapist.

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bookcoverlover
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Honor the space between “no longer” and “not yet”.

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Barrettck
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Pickpick

Loved this audiobook!

5 likes1 stack add
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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

I didn't agree with every position the author took in this book, but it was nice to have another resource for quitting and making the most of recovery. I liked reading about recovery from an intersectional feminist and social justice point of view. If AA is not a good fit for you, you might want to give this book a try if you want to stop drinking.

#NovelNovember #Readathon @andrew65
1st book finished

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 4y
46 likes1 comment
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Cosmos_Moon_River
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1. Depends on the book, but 98% pass it on.
2. Hard choice, but the tagged book is one I‘ve been wanting to read, after listening to much of Holly Whitaker‘s Home Podcast. I have already read Laura McKowen, her co-host‘s book, We Are the Luckiest, and passed it on to my sister.

#Two4TuesdayGiveAway
@TheSpineView

TheSpineView Happy Tuesday and good luck! 😊🤞 4y
23 likes1 comment
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BlameJennyJane
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“Here is the time in history where masses of us women fill the streets to protest against external oppression, then celebrate or cope or come down from it all with a glass of self-administered oppression.” 🤯

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Cosmos_Moon_River
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I have been listening to Home Podcast and looking forward to Holly Whitaker's book... I guess you could say I'm “sober curious”... not that I abuse substances/alcohol really, but considering not drinking anymore and seeing what that life feels like. Book comes out in December. Dropping this link here as well to add some more books to my “to read“ list from Holly's blog https://www.hipsobriety.com/home/2018/12/27/the-books-that-made-me-in-2018

1 like1 stack add