Sunshine Warm Sober

The unexpected joy of being sober – forever

By: Catherine Gray

Narrated by: Catherine Gray

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

'Stone cold sober.' Sounds horrible, doesn't it? Hard, icy. Brrrrr. No bloody ta.

However, as the millions who choose to stay sober now know, the propaganda around drinking and sobriety is wonky. Sober doesn't feel stony, or cold.

Retired wreckhead Catherine Gray, author of surprise best seller The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, is now in her ninth sober year and has learnt a damn sight more.

This hotly anticipated sequel enlists the help of experts and case studies, turning a curious, playful gaze onto provocative questions. Is alcohol a parenting aid? Why are booze and cocaine such a horse and carriage? Once an addict, always an addict? How do you feel safe—from alcohol, others and yourself—in sobriety?

Whether you're a dedicated boozehound, flirting with teetotalling or already sober, this witty, gritty listen may just change how you think about alcohol forever.

©2021 Catherine Gray (P)2021 Octopus Publishing Group

Need this at just the exact right time in my life

Thank you for being raw, clever, and beautiful. I will likely listen to this again as I enjoyed it so much and think as I grow and discover myself I might gain further insight.

Helping me out of relapse...

I stopped drinking for 2 years when I read Catherine's first book and everything was going great. However, when covid hit I felt anxious and homesick as I live in HK and ALL of my family live in the UK. My usual coping mechanisms such as travel and going out for food/exercise were taken away because everyone was told to stay in as much as possible. I also hadn't seen my family for 3 years which led to soo much anxiety and homesickness. So, I ended up finding escapism in alcohol again. I was never under an illusion that I could do it in moderation. I just need something to numb the feeling of being trapped. It's taken me a year to come out of the cycle but I've found my way to sobriety again. Catherine's new book gives me so much hope that I will achieve it for a lifetime. Her approach is very relatable, funny and warm which really resonates with me. I recommend everyone who wishes to cut down or eliminate booze to listen/read this book!

So good!

She is an amazing writer and I so related to her book. Highly recommend this book!

Recommend!

Full of some great info! The narrator is a bit difficult to understand at times, but is pleasant to listen to, so may have to back up and re-listen to a few things. Overall, wonderful, well-written book!

Can’t stop listening to her books and her lovely voice!

So well written, funny, shocking, inspiring and full of truth. Keep writing Catherine! You are so gifted.

Wonderful

Catherine Gray does it again. This book is a beautiful addition to her first book, The Unexpected Joy Of Being Sober. She has a wonderful story telling ability and her way of showing the good, bad, and ugly in her life gives us all something to relate to and also to strive for. I highly recommend for anyone needing a boost in their sober journey or just looking for a good read.

Another Winner for Ms. Gray

As a person who had accumulated 16 years of sobriety (by the year 2013), and then had a relapse which continues to this day, my book shelves are understandably sagging under the weight of the many books by females I have purchased on quitting alcohol. (Because although I attended AA meetings, the book by Caroline Knapp "Drinking, A Love Story" had come out at the time I got sober, and I related so strongly that it became my "big book") Of them all, it is only Catherine Gray who seems real to me, and genuinely interested in helping. I have bought both of her books, and highly recommend them to those wanting to quit alcohol for the first time. I bought her second book on Audible.com. As wonderful a book as it is, however, I had to admit that it unfortunately cannot reach me now, because I am that veteran of quitting who lost her footing, and there is really nothing new for me to learn about the unfettered joy, renewed enthusiasm and energy in getting sober that I didn't experience first-hand in the 16 continuous sober years I enjoyed. What I see nothing being written about is how to regain sobriety after a relapse from lengthy years of being sober. Because I don't believe there is one to be had. I remember being in AA meetings, and a person who had shared many times with joyfulness about being sober, would share the jarring fact that they had relapsed, and my thought was always that "oh, no, you are done for. You will never make it back. You have let your "epiphany" moment go by the wayside." And, today, I know that is me. I decided to do a "search" today for "alcohol relapse books", and guess what? There was not a single one to be found. I know writers need to make a living, etc., but I do feel that many women writers (Ms. Gray the exception!, along with Caroline Knapp) churn out these books, for the money. Because writing about overcoming one's alcohol addiction seems to be so lucrative these days. And these books always start with the abhorrent and aberrant parts of the drinking, which is eye opening and book selling, and end with the "fun part", the beautiful imagery all of us long for in reading a book where it all ends well. "Sober life, perfect life!" The painful parts were the colorful fluff of excitement that the book needed, that turned our heads, etc.. Fun and beauty, with a big dash of craziness, bawdiness, and then sadness, are what sells a book. I guess....

Kept me SOBER my first 60 days

I listened to the first book twice and then this one…Both were lovely and gave me hope I wanted what Cat has and today I’m at day 70.

Just what was needed

I’m a writer and alcohol has been a problem for me for years. I listened to the first book as well and find even though I’ve had a few relapses since then, it’s never too late to get back into sobriety. I’m shooting for the rest of my life now and plan to stick with it.

A worthy read

Authentic and truly genuine Catherine kindly opens her world of triumphs and failures to make us feel a sense of belonging on this path of sobriety.