Drink, Drank, Drunk

By: Bill Stokes

Narrated by: Johnny Mack

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Thirty-eight years ago I wrote "Drink, Drank, Drunk", a series of six articles for the Milwaukee Journal in which I used my personal experience with booze, along with pointing out the stranglehold the beer/booze industry has in formulating our absurd collective relationship with alcohol. Incredibly, a recent review of those articles leads to the inevitable and unfortunate conclusion that with only minor changes for updating statistics, they could have been written yesterday.

Never in my many years of practicing personal journalism have I ever experienced the kind of reader response "Drink, Drank, Drunk" generated. Hundreds of letters poured in, from shaky alcoholics, from the grieving mothers of country boys killed in car crashes, from children expressing the heartbreak of abusive or missing parents, from frustrated therapists and counselors, from bartenders and preachers and many others.

In the Pulitzer dream world of every journalist, mine was shattered by the Journal not even submitting the series for consideration. But what do I know? Could the industry have been a factor?

©1978 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (P)2017 Paul Stokes

The bad side of drinking

Good book but it honestly made me a little sad. I recently had an alcoholic friend pass away. We never knew how bad the problem was until it was too late. Drinking always has an ugly side if you abuse it. These are Bill's stories of the ugly side of drinking that he's witnessed. A little bit of a warning to us all.

interesting

Very interesting and informative book. I really think I learned a few things. And the narrator was great.

Tho dated, it's still a good look at alcoholism

Originally written nearly 40 years ago, this journalistic report of Wisconsin drinking and alcoholism still is relevant today. Bill Stokes strikes a sound balance between harsh facts and humanizing a variety of alcoholics.

From teens to the working man to the house wife to the lonely pastor to the well-liked young man – anyone can go from light drinker to an alcoholic. Stokes includes more examples, but you get the picture with the few I’ve mentioned here. In a few sentences, he paints a vivid picture of each, making it easy to picture people I know in real life in the same position. I like that this work points out that many kids learn from their parents about using alcohol appropriately, or not.

This non-fiction essay includes a brief discussions of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and other ‘cures’. He brings up questions about the cycle of ‘curing alcoholics’ only to have them back in the system a few months or years later. The author is frank with the reader and includes his own experience with drinking heavily and how he has changed his life and why.

While there are plenty statistics, they are no longer accurate today. However, they are still starkly frightening. It does make me wonder what the current statistics are with the higher population. This work is definitely dated with references to women entering the work force and “that’s why they need to relax like the working men.” I don’t know how accurate that is but I would like to see something backing it up… or not.

Stokes does point at the alcohol industry and their lobbying of Wisconsin laws concerning who can drink, advertising, etc. quite often throughout the piece. Again, I would like to see how accurate that is for today’s alcohol lobbying and the industry.

I originally read this as an ebook which, unfortunately, had several typos. I believe these typos were introduced when the Word or PDF version was translated into the Kindle version. For example, several times an ‘I’ will be an exclamation mark or such. Anyway, I found the audiobook version much more enjoyable because I don’t get hung up on the typos.

Narration: Johnny Mack did a decent job on this one. Sometimes he has an odd pause and sometimes he doesn’t pause as we move from one section or chapter to another. Other than that, he gave a good performance. He never sounded bored with the subject matter.

A Part of the Human Story

Where does Drink, Drank, Drunk rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a "Make You Take Notice" series of essays. There is a personal story for everyone. In that regard it's near the top. You can be listening along and a particular turn of a phrase or a point being made by Mr. Stokes will hit home. Personally, or a loved one, a friend, a colleague, a parent a child.

It's that pervasive of a subject.

What did you like best about this story?

There is a shared personal issue or concern. Revelations and insights, yes. Answers? I don't know.

What about Johnny Mack’s performance did you like?

His voice and inflection fit the premise being made.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was only an hour and a half long. Yes, I did listen all in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

Mr. Stokes makes some good observations. There is a cult and a cultural influence that alcohol spreads through society and more importantly on a personal basis for many.

I was kindly gifted a copy of "Drink, Drank, Drunk" by Mr. Stokes' grandson , Paul.
This was written decades ago and still maintains its relevance today. I think it will hold an important place in many people's everyday lives.

Are there cut and dry answers? No, but as Bill points out, "if he had answers, he he would be a Nobel prize recipient".

Drinking and alcohol

This story is about the author's personal experience with drinking. It contains facts, statistics and thoughts on alcohol and drinking. It was interesting to hear about it. I always enjoy listening to this narrator.

Depressing, but pertinent

Well written and well read, this series of articles is intense and sensitive. In my state, there's a bit more of a punishment for multiple offenders. Nothing like Europe, though, where they will suspend your license for life. My SO has been through the Multiple Offender Program (MOP), which includes a week's stay at a school for drunks. He paid well over 10,000 dollars in lawyers fees to stay out of jail, and,lost his license for over 2 years. (BTW, his last offense was over 20 years ago, but NH repealed it's statute of limitations. I hope all states will eventually do this, and get more aggressive with their laws. Seriously... if we weren't so accustomed to lawsuits and such, I believe this could be a better world. Just smack down anyone who screws up. They will learn to deal.

A Sobering Reality for Many

Drink, Drank, Drunk was, in my opinion, a must listen. I don't drink and never wanted to be around it. I've seen what it does to people. It's a vicious cycle that rarely if ever ends well. An alcoholic lives for it and doesn't much care whether they hurt themselves or anyone else. I lost a childhood friend to alcohol. I watched a friend's uncle drink himself to death and it's sad watching a person spiral out of control on booze. How do you address it? Do you blame them? Or do you let them blame you? This is the real epidemic. Drink, Drank, Drunk, (Repeat).

This was a great audiobook written by Bill Stokes and perfectly read by johnny Mack.


This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Boom.