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

Publisher's 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

Best Book on This Subject!

I've read a lot of books on this subject but this one gave me the help I needed to finally quit drinking! Thank you so much!

Book is great. Performance needs an editor

The author does a great job of reading her story, but it sounds like it hasn't been edited.

For example,

She reads a line,

Clearly,

And then she reads another line,

To conclude the sentence

You have been listening to.

I'm certain this is not the narrator's fault, but that the producers of the audiobook haven't sat down and removed the overly-long pauses between each line. It's a shame, because it's hard for me to listen through without being drawn to these annoying breaks between each part of the sentence.

I loved this book

Having recently decided to become sober myseld, this book helped me understand some behaviours and helped me fully commit to a sober life. Thank you for your openness and vulnerability in sharing your story Catherine.

Loved this book. Real and Entertaining.

I am about to listen to this book and second time. I finished it about 2 months ago, dove in a few other books about becoming sober, and this one wins.

Resonated with me.

I have read many books on this subject. For whatever reason, this one struck a cord. Author is honest. She not only walks you through her journey, feelings, what worked, what didn't she also explains the steps she felt as she comes out of the alcohol fog. It gave me something to imagine and look forward to. Each stage of her sobriety more positive things immerged. She also made sense of the chemical changes that happen in the body which I found very interesting.

Just...thank you.

Laughed and cried (mostly cried...let’s face it, if you’re reading/listening to this there is probably a reason and it’ll make you cry). Super relatable despite her rather sensational lifestyle. Provided wonderful insight and was a major help. So...seriously, thank you Catherine Gray. Read this.

Picks up where other sober stories leave off

Rather than leaving the tale at “this is how bad my drinking got” Gray takes us on a joyous exploration of what can be gained when we lose the booze. It is an honest and extremely helpful guide to the early months and years of sobriety.

Absolutely wonderful

so incredibly helpful and poignant first hand account of getting sober. loved all the advice

I am at 63 days Alcohol Free.

Loved It! Well written. inspired me to continue being Alcohol Free and learning how to help others!

Shocking, Inspiring, great tools for sobriety

LISTEN TO THIS BOOK!!
If you have from 1 minuet to decades of sobriety. if you think you have a drinking/ addiction issue i highly recommend you listen to this authors story. she doesn't hold any details of her days in active addiction back. from the "war stories " to how it affected her life in every situation. You will learn so much from this book. coping mechanisms, techniques, the science behind what alcohol does to the different parts of your body. I could go on and on. what do you have to loose?A few hours listing to an amazing story of recovery. or. better question how much can you gain ?

Intelligent, thought-provoking & inspiring

I loved this book. The writer comes across as very genuine, relatable, likeable. I found her story humbling. It takes a lot of courage to write so honestly. She is of course right about alcohol. We all know it, but we’re scared to really admit it. I’d say this book is essential reading for anyone sober curious, anyone who’s ever worried about their drinking, anyone wondering why alcohol has such a grip on socialising in the UK. I particularly liked her analogies about tunnels and trapdoors - what an accurate way of describing drinking to numb anxiety and pain. I’ve recommended this book to many of my friends.

Thank you Catherine & I wish you all the best for the future!

Amazing!

Catherine’s is a heartfelt journey wonderfully told and beautifully written. You can hear the raw emotion in her voice and I was gripped right from the start. I listened to the complete audiobook within three days... If you have a uneasy relationship with alcohol you simply MUST read / listen to this book.

A fantastic book that will make you think

I downloaded this book, thinking I wanted to cut down on drinking in the new year, no intention of stopping. Having absorbed Catherine's amazing story, I'm now working on my first 30 days of sobriety, and am already feeling some amazing benefits.

Catherine is lovely to listen to, feels like a close friend and you can only admire her for having the courage to honestly share everything she's been through.

If you are questioning your relationship with alcohol and the way it makes you feel, do not hesitate to give this book a go!

Life Changing

I picked this up with my usual pessimism as I have with all these books. But the second I started listening it was so relatable on an emotional and practical level that it really resonated.

Gone are the days of moderation, or justification that "everyone is this bad".

Finally after 15 years my poisonous relationship with alcohol has begun to break. It is just the beginning but this book started it.

fantastic

Great listen if you are interested in quiting alcohol. A very personal story and lots of interesting facts that really made me think.

Life changing

The perspective this book gave me has changed my life. I stopped s drinking after chapter one. I am now on 105 days and not going back. I want to thank Cathy for her honesty and positivity for sobriety. I feel lucky to have stumbled across this book when I needed help.
Rachael Scull - sober star! ⭐️

Interesting content but her voice is irritating

I likes the content but I found the narrator hard to listen to, maybe if they’d have compressed her voice it would be a bit easier on the ears.

OUTSTANDING READ!!

I loved this book from start to finish. It was interesting, heartfelt and inspiring. Catherine narrates very well and you can feel her anguish at times! I have just given up booze for my 50th birthday and this book has inspired me to stay sober. Many thanks to you Catherine from Dave x

modern and honest

Where does The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the best book so far I have read on recovery no banging on about 12 steps very honest at times heart warming very realistic and modern

Highly recommended

Any additional comments?

An amazing book written by a very inspirational lady. Catherine, you have been on one hell of a journey but show incredible grit and determination. Thank you for sharing your story. You give hope and show that life without alcohol can not only be possible, but a remarkable difference to life with it. I very rarely write book reviews or read a book twice but both apply here. I have it on audible so have been listening to it on and off for a few days and have cried, laughed, smiled, nodded my head in agreement, laughed and cried again, many times over.