Sober for Good New Solutions for Drinking Problems -- Advice from Those Who Have Succeeded

by Anne M. Fletcher M.S. R.D.

Anne M. Fletcher resolved her own drinking problem without Alcoholics Anonymous and was fascinated by other people who had found alternative methods to stop drinking. In the spirit of her first book, Thin for Life, for which she interviewed "masters" who had lost weight and kept it off, she decided to find people who formerly had drinking problems and learn how they got and stayed sober. She interviewed a range of ex-drinkers, from high-functioning people with mild or moderate alcohol problems to hardcore cases who had hit bottom. The amount of alcohol consumed ranged from three daily drinks to two daily quarts of vodka. Almost all these 222 "masters" had stayed sober for 5 years or more, averaging 13 years of sobriety. Sober for Good presents their when they started drinking, how much they drank, how it affected their lives, why they decided to stop, what they tried, what finally worked for them, and their perspective now. The stories are compelling on their own, and Fletcher organizes them according to common themes and strategies. She also includes helpful information about different programs available and relevant research studies.This book takes some controversial stances. Fletcher chooses to use phrases like drinking problems and alcohol problems rather than alcoholic because she sees alcoholic as both outmoded and pejorative. Many of the masters found sobriety through AA, but more found alternative solutions, leading Fletcher to dispute the one-path solution. And although most of the masters abstain from alcohol completely, some have alcohol occasionally, challenging the accepted contention that abstinence is the only solution. Read what the masters say and judge for yourself. --Joan Price

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Addiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Graeme Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sober for Good did us all a great service by presenting alternatives for help with drinking problems other than the widely prescribed and quoted Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step approach, and destroyed—or at least brought into question—most of the myths and half-truths that AA in particular has promoted. The interview format becomes increasingly tedious, and finishing the book requires stamina, but I would certainly recommend that people facing drinking problems (and their loved ones, like me) should at least scan it.

[Tyler Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, really. I’m generally not the audience for self-help-y books. I read this because I’ve been looking for a book about sobriety that recognizes options other than AA-and considers people who figure out whatever combination of things works for them through trial and error. This book definitely covered that, which I appreciated. I felt like a lot of it was stuff I already knew, but maybe it could be helpful to someone who is in a different place. And in some cases, it articulated things for me that I already knew but hadn’t quite formulated into a coherent thought. But overall, I feel like this book is better for someone who is either not yet sober but considering it, or very recently sober. I'm nine months in and feel like I can’t really judge whether this would be helpful for someone in that stage. I’m glad it exists because I still haven’t found much in the way of literature about sobriety that isn’t heavily AA-based, but maybe I’m not looking hard enough.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of my addiction studies. A new decade, new approaches, diminishment of AA and a religious approach while moving toward the bio/psycho/social of today's recovery.

Utilizing survey's she contact the master's, those with 5 plus years of sobriety and asks them, what works. Multiple approaches with therapy as a front runner are becoming more the, "norm."

I highly reccommend this book. I consider this and, Many Roads One Journey, as a basis for understanding, which leads to personal choice.

[Sarah Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read overall.... The best part is that it goes against the grain of thinking that there is one way to recover. The varying perspectives in this book was a true breath of fresh air to illustrate that just as we are all beautifully, individual humans - recovery is not one size fits all, and works differently for different individuals.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice, just keep delaying.

[Maria Towle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older book but good to recommend to people who want ideas of what helped others get sober and maintain soberity

[Michael T. McComb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows that people do recover from alcoholism/addiction without the 12 steps. It also shows that some do recover with the 12 steps. It shows both sides. What more could you ask for.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at other ways to get and stay sober instead of focusing on just the 12 steps.