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  • The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober

  • Discovering a Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Alcohol-Free Life
  • By: Catherine Gray
  • Narrated by: Catherine Gray
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,573 ratings)
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The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober

By: Catherine Gray
Narrated by: Catherine Gray
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Summary

Ever sworn off alcohol for January and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. 

Before embracing sobriety, Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish cycle of drink, horrible decisions and hangovers, during which she had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures. 

'I discovered that I was about a million times happier sober than I ever had been while drinking. As were the hundreds of sober pals I picked up along the way. I found myself with dozens more hours in the week, heaps more energy, £20K more money over three and a half years, deepened friendships, revived family relationships, better skin, a tighter body, tanned legs for the first time ever, the ability to sleep for eight uninterrupted hours, a bone-deep sense of well-being, a totally turned-around positive outlook and an infinitely more successful career. What's not to like?!' 

This inspirational, aspirational and highly relatable narrative champions the benefits of sobriety with a three-pronged approach combining the author's personal experience, factual reportage and contributions from expert sources and self-help advice for anyone who wants to reduce their alcohol intake or eliminate it completely. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is the new bible of sobriety. 

©2017 Catherine Gray (P)2017 Octopus Publishing Group

What listeners say about The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober

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im also an addicted , great read x

im also an addict im new into recovery and this has given me so much hope ... faith and courage.

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7 people found this helpful

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good story awful whiney narration

Overall a good story but would have preferred to have read than listen as such a whiney voice

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3 people found this helpful

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Fantastic story, delivery & information - supportive feel

I loved her voice - very listenable. I am a forty something female, 8 months into tackling alcohol addiction. Previously I had chosen other quit lit books over this as the “topless in a hot tub” & party til 6am type tales were so far removed from my own experience of being mostly a home drinker. However I’m so glad I did listen because I found a lot of solace in other aspects of her story, like her addictive voice thought processes, which were identical to mines (& probably many other addicts), & always wanting more after everyone else has finished, or needing to start before they arrive.

She comes across as a nice, non-judgey, non-preachy person in recovery who has admitted how bad it got, her realisations along the way, & she provides some really decent advice & resources, & recommends other quit lit/groups which helped her. All timescales covered from “how to get through the first 30 days” to months & years into sobriety. It’s so beautifully honest & open but not too heavy. I did sometimes chuckle though it’s a really difficult topic for me to face up to. And there were lots of “oh yes, I thought that, yes the voice in my head said that to me too” lightbulb moments.

I would recommend this supportive creation to anyone - from those who think they could maybe do with drinking a bit less, to people who have realised their life with alcohol has become unmanageable, to the sober curious, and also to anyone who is worried about someone else drinking too much.

Thankyou Catherine - I know I’m closer to the day it sticks for listening to you

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1 person found this helpful

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Life changing.

I never planned or expected to quit alcohol but after listening to this, I did. That's the best thing about it, the book and Catherine spoke to me, quite literally. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great story and inspiring

Very inspiring tale, lots of real life examples and advice on how to deal with a very real and difficult situation.

I’ve gained a lot from listening to this and I’m now three months into sober feeling better than I have felt in my whole life.
unfortunately This book is read in a bit of a lifeless way, without real engorging, considering the content is so good.

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Eye-opening

Really great book. This is a fantastic account of becoming sober as well as a very true accounf of what it's like to have an alcohol dependency. Makes me even more determined to stay sober! Inspiring, honest and practical are the best ways to sum up this book.

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the most real, understanding, truthful, book.

this book has been a Life changer for thank you for the honesty and truthfulness. and know this you have make someone life better.

Again thanks.

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Eye opener

I really loved this book. I loved that Catherine read it herself and I think it's probably changed me.
Scales fell from my eyes...seeing drinking in a new light. You don't have to consider yourself a problem drinker to enjoy this...I found that I too wanted to wake up on a Saturday morning hangover free, feeling fresh, wanting to do more than have breakfast in a greasy spoon! So now I am! I don't feel the need to get hammered because it's the end of the working week...it was nonsense that for years Friday=get smashed... It was so ingrained! Regardless of staying in or out..... I never thought why am I doing this...I just thought everyone was doing this... I feel freer and happier for this book! Thank you

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Fab Audio

Great book - listened to it whilst training for the Great North Run - loved it - great personal story shared, funny moments and very motivational - Thanks Catherine Gray

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Excellent*****

Thank you! I could relate to your story in so many ways, It’s given me the determination to stop drinking for good.

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