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Quit Like a Woman

The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol

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Quit Like a Woman

Written by: Holly Whitaker
Narrated by: Holly Whitaker
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About this listen

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An unflinching examination of how our drinking culture hurts women and a gorgeous memoir of how one woman healed herself.”—Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed

“You don’t know how much you need this book, or maybe you do. Either way, it will save your life.”—Melissa Hartwig Urban, Whole30 co-founder and CEO

The founder of the first female-focused recovery program offers a groundbreaking look at alcohol and 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 alcohol’s ubiquity—in fact, the only thing ever questioned is why someone doesn’t drink. It is a qualifier for belonging and if you don’t 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. What’s 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 people—who don’t 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.

©2020 Holly Whitaker (P)2020 Random House Audio
Addiction & Recovery Alcohol Gender Studies Social Sciences Substance Abuse Inspiring Health Alcohol Culture

What the critics say

“An unflinching examination of how our drinking culture hurts women and a gorgeous memoir of how one woman healed herself. It will change your relationship with alcohol—and it has the power to change your relationship with your entire life.”—Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed

“A funny, fast-paced, and bracingly candid dispatch from the realm of the self-actualized, but Holly Whitaker is no polished model of self-help evangelism, nor is her memoir-manifesto selling a one-size-fits-all solution. Her story is a messy human one and all the more convincing that sobriety is a feminist issue.”—Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart and Abandon Me

“As a culture, we have a weird and often dysfunctional relationship with alcohol. This thoughtful, moving book will help a lot of people get to a healthier place.”—Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections

What listeners say about Quit Like a Woman

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Every woman needs to read this book!

I truly believe that every woman needs to read this book! It's a fantastic book about ditching the booze and loving yourself more!

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4 people found this helpful

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An excellent insight

As a women in recovery myself, I tend to navigate to boos on recovery often. I totally agree that AA is not for everyone, but understanding the substance is in the big book, not in the rooms, that’s the fellowship, which at times I dislike. Holly tends to take other people’s inventory, calls out Oprah for no reason, it’s all part of sobriety keeping your side of the street clean, she won’t be invited to Oprah’s house anytime soon, not to mention, makes loads of money on vulnerable people. Many to which couldn’t afford her program anyway.

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Heather

Life changing. Bad ass book for wow women who wish to take their power back. I do not have a “problem” with alcohol. I have a glass here and there and get drunk on weekends sometimes, but I totally relate with everything Holly wrote. I’m going to listen now a second time. This is for everyone who has ever felt something just wasn’t quite right, anyone who’s been marginalized, or simply wants to upgrade their life.

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Fav Quit Lit!

This is sooo much more than the typical quit lit! Love this book! I started it before I attended a short rehab, which you may think doesn't bode well for the book itself, but when I got out, I felt more prepared to put her suggestions into practice.

She very much re-iterates many of the concepts I have been stuck on in the past (AA was created for men, by men, or calling oneself an alcoholic once you QUIT alcohol) and instead focuses on creating a life that you don't have to drink to tolerate.

I love her permission to do what you need to to get sober, unapologetically. This book can help all women or marginalized people to quit their addictions (while it is mainly about alcohol, Holly makes great points that apply to drugs, food and sex addictions as well.)

I have listened to this book more than once, and am soooo glad I have it in my library to go back to when I need to strengthen my resolve, or when I need direction.

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great book for anyone questioning

although I'm not necessarily an adict or even a heavy drinker. I did feel that alcohol and partying wasn't really serving me anymore. this book is insightful and informative. everyone's relationship with alcohol is different and there isn't a one size fits all approach. I'd recommend this to anyone who needs a little encouragement to make a change.

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Changed my life!

So witty and relatable. Loved it. Carried on and read her suggestion “ the Easy way to quit drinking” and I’m very happy not drinking. Quite incredible. Thank you Holly and Allen Carr.

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I just loved it

I liked Holly as the narrator. I appreciate her own stories as well as the facts and stats she’s included. Very eye opening as a woman.

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Excellent

This is a great book for anyone wanting inspiration to give up alcohol or to better understand why we drink, even "moderately". Tales of struggle, life in sobriety, and the science around what alcohol does to our brains and bodies. I binged the whole book in a weekend and have already re-listened to some chapters again. Super smart and incredibly convincing; this one will help you question the role alcohol plays in your life.

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Amazing and worth every second

So we’ll written - this book helped me to feel less alone in the fight for sobriety and also more mentally available for myself and those around me. Read twice and will definitely keep for further referencing !

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Must Read.

Holly made me feel seen. Thank you for writing this book. It’s been life changing.

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