This Naked Mind: Unlock Sobriety, Gain Freedom, Experience Joy & Transform Your Life

Paul: I have had what I have always considered a difficult “relationship” with alcohol. For most of my life it’s been a roller coaster. The Naked Mind has explained everything I have been struggling with every feeling every pain and confusion about this drug that undermines this country with this societal addiction. Thank you Annie!

United States on Oct 30, 2023

Trugmallion: This is my second time reading this book. More poignant and motivating as I am more receptive to accept what I wasn't a year ago. That is, that I need help and can't do this on my own. If you are looking at this review you are thinking about alcohol and its negative impact on your health and well-being! Read it!

United States on Oct 11, 2023

sanddoig: If you are even thinking about quitting drinking, please get this book! There were passages that I felt were describing me to a T. Thank you for giving me some strength through this. I did not want to go the A.A. route. I was definitely spontaneous sober (didn't know there was a term for it until I read this book) after 10 years of heavy drinking it was like a switch, this book will help that switch stay in the off position. Thank you, thank you!

United States on Oct 08, 2023

Natacha: A must read. Very insightful & does its job, whilst not being preachy at all.

Spain on Sep 18, 2023

Amazon Customer: This book is literally life changing! My story is that I drink too much, much like a lot of people. Not every day or every morning or every evening, but the usual, oh, it's Friday, and I've had a terrible week at work, where's the wine type of drinking. Or let's go to the pub type of drinking, which always results in me drinking too much, my head spinning, sometimes being sick, and then feeling shocking the next day. I then beat myself up, am riddled with anxiety, and full of self-loathing. Why did I do it? Because I thought it was what I wanted, I thought I enjoyed it, but in all honesty, I didn't and I know it's because I wanted to fit in, and that I am addicted. I mean ehy would I enjoy being overly emotional, sometimes aggressive or argumentative, overly affectionate, slurring my words, not being able to walk properly, being sick, and then having the worst hangover the next day. What is enjoyable about that? The answer is nothing.
Alcohol does nothing for me, I know that now. I see that we are conditioned. My family drink, my friends drink, it's in the media, films, adverts, everywhere. It's forced down your throat and glamourised, as opposed to being exposed for what it...

United Kingdom on Aug 06, 2023

Zoe Smith: Are you happy with your drinking?
I really was, until i wasn't!
Sharing with no judgements, maybe my story with resonate with you.
Don't get me wrong I did not feel I was drinking excessive amounts, just that I noticed I was finding it more and more difficult to get in those alcohol free days, 2 or 3 at the most per week. I tried moderate a couple of times, but it always pretty much went up to every day drinking. Wine with dinner and a nightcap before bed etc... I counted my units I knew they were in excess of the 14 per week. Usually more than double that. I ordered a book but it sat in my draw for a few months, like I was too embarrassed to read it or admit that I needed some additional help. The book helps you to understand the reasons why you crave that reward, or perceive the enjoyment of the drink. Some great analogies are referenced. What struck me was three main things . . . 1. we always think/believe we can stop any time we want to ... 2. Alcohol is damaging to our health, yet we are happy to keep drinking, when we are so pedantic about heavy metals, plastics in water, fluoride etc etc. 3. Alcohol is the only drug that does not need to advertise that it is...

United Kingdom on Jul 03, 2023

Rebecca Plummer: I no longer had control over alcohol and often pleaded with myself to stop. I would regularly pour away left over alcohol late at night, promising myself that tomorrow would be different. Yet, I would buy more on my way home as I laughed with myself/ at myself realising that I was never going to stop.
I bought this book in hope that it would work. Yet, I delayed reading it in fear that it would work. I started reading it and it actually began to make me think differently. But with life getting in the way I would put the book down for months at a time and would go back to my old ways, never finishing the book. After a string of events which I could have handled better if alcohol wasn't involved, I decided enough was enough, no more excuses and I bought the book again as an Audible book. I listened to the book while washing up, cleaning, out for walks, so there were no more excuses around limited time. I finished the book within days and no longer desired a drink. Afraid that this new mindset may wear off, I listened to the book again, and again, and again. In April, I decided to only drink when I was out socially and I would have a maximum of 2 drinks (massive reduction for me)....

United Kingdom on Jun 25, 2023

Pierre: Great Book. I frankly recommend it to anyone who begins to question their relation ton booze. As far as I am concerned I decided it IS over. No more hangovers!

France on Aug 27, 2022

Joseph Blanton: Pros:
This book has clearly helped many people confront their out-of-control drinking.

I liked the approach that the substance is the danger, not the person taking the substance.

It helped me come to terms with some things I already knew but hadn't yet let go of, such as one more drink never satisfies, etc. Definitely helped me approach drinking in a much more responsible way.

I like how she walked thru the mental battles we face to justify drinking at any time.

Cons:

Some of the statistics shared are shared in a way that creates a bias. For example the stat around alcohol-related deaths vs deaths related to coacain. Clearly alcohol is used way more often, 87% of adults, vs. less than 1% percent for cocaine. Naturally, this means more deaths because of millions upon millions more use alcohol. If that many people used cocaine, we would be in real trouble. Cocaine is far more dangerous it's just not as widely used.

She makes some assumptions based on her own experience. For example, she insists that no one like the taste of alcohol, beer, spirits, etc. However, I enjoyed the taste of everything from Whiskey, wine, and beer the first time...

United States on Apr 29, 2022

Professoriat: This is a really, very good book, and I'm glad I took the time to read and digest it. I came to it already having decided to stop drinking, which makes me not exactly its target audience. But it did nonetheless change my resolve. I had imagined my abstinence including exceptions for very special occasions like a dinner at a fancy restaurant. I also imagined that in several years I'd maybe be able to go back to drinking in a "take it or leave it" kind of way. Reading this book made me decisively drop those ideas: they were the alcohol talking.

I especially appreciated the departure in Grace's book from the usual AA approach. The latter distinguishes "normal drinkers" from "alcoholics" and focuses on the shortcomings of the addict. Grace focuses on the insidious culture and harms of alcohol. In another reversal, she positions the former drinker as a person who has more capacity to enjoy life and make decisions than those who drink. Other approaches position the former drinker as a person who has a disease, weakness, or moral failing.

That's what I found to love, and it's a lot. All of that kept me reading attentively right through to the very end, and left me...

United States on Apr 06, 2021