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The Sober Diaries
- How One Woman Stopped Drinking and Started Living
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Health & Wellness, Addiction & Recovery
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Publisher's Summary
Like many women, Clare Pooley found the juggle of a stressful career and family life a struggle, so she left her successful role as a managing partner in one of the world's biggest advertising agencies to look after her family.
She knew the change wouldn't be easy, but she never expected to find herself an overweight, depressed, middle-aged mother of three who was drinking more than a bottle of wine a day and spending her evenings Googling 'am I an alcoholic?'
This book is the bravely honest story of a year in Clare's life. A year that started with her quitting booze and then being given the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. By the end of the year she is booze-free and cancer-free, no longer has a wine belly and is two stone lighter and with a life that is so much richer, healthier and more rewarding than ever before. She has a happier family and a more positive outlook.
Sober Diaries is an upbeat, funny and positive look at how to live life to the full. Interwoven within Clare's own very personal and brilliantly comic story is research and advice as she discovers the answers to questions like:
- How do I know if I'm drinking too much?
- How will I cope at parties?
- What do I say to friends and family?
- How do I cope with cravings?
- If I stop drinking, will I lose weight?
- What if my partner still drinks?
And many more.
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What listeners say about The Sober Diaries
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- River Holmes-miller
- 04-24-18
The performance makes this one worthwhile...
What made the experience of listening to The Sober Diaries the most enjoyable?
I enjoyed this book, though I believe a lot of my enjoyment came from the narrator, who is excellent. The author is very chummy in her approach, and this was both charming and, at times, off-putting. The author assumes her readers all spend their holidays thumbing through endless stacks of party invitations and deciding where to go on vacation. This is the author's life, and there is certainly nothing wrong with it. However, she seems oblivious to the fact that very few people actually live as she does. The fact that you don't hate the author by the end of the book is a testament to her skills as a writer.
If you’ve listened to books by Clare Pooley before, how does this one compare?
N/A
What does Karen Cass bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
She is an amazing narrator, as she makes the central character seem very likable.
What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?
She described the joys of sobriety very well. The material was consistently encouraging and inspirational and will likely help people who struggle to find meaning in their lives after they stop drinking.
Any additional comments?
A worthwhile listen, despite the author's often myopic worldview.
10 people found this helpful
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- JHintz
- 12-30-18
Not as interesting as several other sobriety memoi
This book is fine, but I just don't find it nearly as interesting as many of the other sobriety memoirs out there. I preferred the Kristi Coulter, Leslie Jamison, and Lisa Smith books over this one. Oh, and Caroline Knapp's "Drinking: A Love Story," possibly the book that invented the genre.
9 people found this helpful
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- Joy Betler
- 02-09-19
OMG
This may be it. As in, I think I'm done drinking, or at least have many reasons to try or try again
7 people found this helpful
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- April Rudder
- 03-31-18
Brilliant!
This was such a good read! It has you engaged the whole entire time. I really hated when I got to where I was going cause I just wanted to keep on listening. I honestly felt like I was watching a movie. It’s a very funny heartfelt and very honest look into drinking. I highly recommend this to anyone!
6 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-21-19
Stellar work by an amazing author
I stumbled across this incredible book and Clare Pooly at a crucial time. I was sober 10 mos and in AA until August of 2018. I tried the moderate drinking until now but I truly missed my sobriety and the joy that came from being a non drinker. She put it perfectly I had the devil and angel on my shoulders. I was just tired of the energy I was spending on deciding if and where I would drink and how I could control it. Now, I’ve recommitted to my sobriety. I can’t moderate and I love my life without alcohol. The way she explained the waves of emotion that one goes through in the first months of sobriety were spot on. The ups and downs, the introspective piece of the journey. Please read even if you are not considering quitting booze. Her story is so relatable to anyone. I’m 44 and single no kids. She is a mom of three and married and a Brit! I’ve never felt more connected to any author or story before. Just superb and full of hope, hilarity, compassion, and love!!!
5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-13-18
This book helped me so much!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is trying to stop drinking alcohol. Clare Pooley is so inspirational!
4 people found this helpful
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- Sue Hathaway
- 04-02-21
Excellent listen while quitting alcohol
I’m only 12 days sober, but hoping to make it stick. I totally related to Clare’s experiences. This book was insightful and funny and I enjoyed it very much.
3 people found this helpful
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- D. Lobo
- 05-02-19
An amazing book
Get this in audio book, not only you will hear her lovely Slightly posh London accent but every kind of accent she perfectly impersonates but also how funny and witty she sounds. A great book for someone contemplating sobriety, trying to cut back or dealing with cancer who wants to see everything in a more humorous way. I couldn’t read “the naked mind “ because it was so preachy and judgmental, but this was the opposite. Claire is brilliant!
3 people found this helpful
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- The Pelican
- 05-09-18
1 months sober and Feeling Fabulous!
this book is incredible, it's delightful informative incredibly helpful and makes you feel as though you're part of community of so many people that have gone down this horrendous path. But Claire puts an entertaining side to becoming sober. it doesn't have to all be that bad, we can all get through this with some humor and compassion. Excellent book I would read this again.
7 people found this helpful
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- PeterN
- 03-11-21
could not even finish
I really enjoyed authenticity project, so wanted another book by the same author. This one is very flat, and reads like a never ending blog. There are parts that repeat from other books by the same author.
2 people found this helpful
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- Rebecca
- 04-24-18
Inspirational
this book will make you laugh (out loud!) and likely get you from the get go (it did me!) Clare has helped me start a new AF journey which is exciting and challenging all at once. I wouldn't have started without the help of Clare and her inspired story! if you want to cut down drinking, moderate, stop or just want a good book that will make you laugh at and feel good reading - get this. I found myself missing Clare and her family when I had finished and want to be her friend!!!
15 people found this helpful
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- H. Thomas
- 07-10-19
Bit too Fulham for me!
I had just finished Catherine Gray s brilliant 'joy of being sober' and desperately wanted more so picked this. I enjoyed it to begin with but it soon became so grating! Chablis, Waitrose, My days in Cambridge, My friend s country party, boarding school tales... Ugh!
I'm sure it is tough being sober whoever you are and whatever your background but for me i wanted more stuff that I could relate to... Joy of 'hitting the slopes' with alcohol free apres ski, 3 weeks in Cornish house on the beach or Caribbean holidays as rewards are out of reach surely for most of us? I also cringed when she was so lucky to get an appointment with Mr Bigg, the cancer specialist, through a friend... This is privileged, very privileged and not for most of us...that actually made me cross and in no way connected... I don't suggest i wouldn't do the same in the same position(I'm not) however to share it with your readers is unfair... I think :(
12 people found this helpful
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- Shell Belle
- 02-08-18
I really couldn’t finish this book. Not for me.
I’m really sorry to be what appears to be the only person that couldn’t bare this book.
Initially I loved getting into Clare’s story and the narration really is excellent. But at points I felt like it was comparable to a Sophie Kinsella novel- extremely successful woman/ perfect life. Born into a wealthy life- had a good start in life, with great parents. Goes for nights out to the House or Lords, happy marriage, healthy children. Has nice holidays bla bla bla.
Essentially this nice lady is comfortable & freedom of movement (denied to people who broke and have no prospects) to make her own choices and has the support of her husband, who is a good man.
So I broke off from listening to this book with 5 hours to go, in tears. The penny dropped that I could no longer identify with this lady. Yes to a degree she is alcohol dependent, like so many of us. However I thought if she is struggling, what hope is there for me. Even worse, what hope is there for others trapped in worse life circumstances.
This book just wasn’t for me. A book that has been an absolute tonic is The Joy of being Sober by Catherine Gray. Although our lives are different she projects so much hope. I’ve stopped drinking and am accepting the change well. It’s not hard when you look at the bottles of booze as poison. I lost my mum 20 years too soon (according to research) because of her drinking habit and my sibling is a raging alcohol tumbling through chaotic hell- I couldn’t recommend this book to her, but I have found others more suitable.
Again great narration and great for yummy mums.
14 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-05-20
Author is somewhat irritating
There is some interesting and entertaining material, however, the author comes across as egotistical with a strong sense of her own self importance. The long-suffering yummy mummy act swiftly wears thin.
6 people found this helpful
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- KS
- 02-12-18
Enjoyed whilst reassessing my drinking habits
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
yes - I have recommended to friends. I like the perspective it gives on drinking
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The moment when Clare's friend sent her the AA coin.
Any additional comments?
I unexpectedly enjoyed this book - going into it not really sure whether I had a problematic relationship with drinking and coming out of it completely reassessing my attitude towards it, particularly around my children and how it affects them. This book also manages to remain light hearted and not in the least bit preachy whilst hammering home a very serious message.
11 people found this helpful
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- k6chris
- 12-30-18
Enjoyable (but very yummy mummy)
A well written and brilliantly narrated book, which is very much in the self centred world of the middle class yummy mummy. If that is not your world, you may struggle to get as much out of the book as others clearly have. I did develop huge sympathy for the husband however.
4 people found this helpful
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- Simon T
- 02-14-18
Loved it!
This is a great book and really inspiring for anyone trying to give up the booze and become sober. It's really helped me in my own journey.
3 people found this helpful
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- CB
- 08-29-19
Awful
I just could not get through this book. It was so awful, contrived and smug.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anna Davis
- 07-07-19
wasn't for me
A bit too "woe is me" for my liking. Perhaps I'm not London yummy-mummy enough. It's certainly a readable book for women in particular social circles.
2 people found this helpful
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- Amanda B UK
- 10-29-18
A piece of gold
Immensely thought provoking nourishment, superbly written and narrated, I’m reading it again now, I feel this may just be what I need to terminate my deadly relationship with booze. Thank you Clare, Sobergirlone Soberistas xxx
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 04-25-18
Amazing book.
I didn't like the narrator at first but she grew on me. This book has been my best friend in early recovery. I loved this book so much that for the past 9 days I would listen to it in bed, in the car, on the train, at work and every other place that I had an opportunity to pull my phone out. It really puts emphasis on how the sober life does get easier as time goes on. I'm going to miss this book and I'm sad that I finished it so now I'll have to go stalk her blog instead :)
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-18-21
REALLY commend Clare for her achievement
I know I’m going against the grain here with all the previous glowing reviewed but unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I wanted to love it so much, but it read so deeply from a place of white middle class privilege. From the very best doctors to the lavish parties, being a stay at home mother, ending on a holiday in Jamaica - non of the story resonated with me personally, as a working woman in the city in her late 20’s. I managed to get to the end of the book and I think Clare has done an amazing job for her self and her family, but this book offers neither deep insight or an analogy of life with either alcoholism or Cancer.
1 person found this helpful
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- Crystal Oliver
- 05-17-18
fantastic book
Love, love, love! i cried, i laughed, i related. Such a great book and an inspiring story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 03-20-18
Fantastic. I
I really enjoyed this book. Very funny in parts and had me feeling emotional too. All up a very worthwhile read.
1 person found this helpful
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- Sally Gibson
- 01-29-18
Positive Story on Getting Sober
Claire tells her story with humour, honesty and compassion. It’s the most positive story of getting sober I’ve read. Loved it. Thanks Claire
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-06-22
awesome
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. it's funny and honest. I didn't want it to end. really helped me on my sober journey
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- Brona
- 08-16-21
Extremely witty, Thank you Claire Pooley
Thank you for a very witty, very real look into the anxieties of a soberholic! As I am on my own journey this book has given me the realness I needed to keep going.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-12-21
excellent
great book, had heaps of giggles to myself and could very much relate to clair
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- Anonymous User
- 07-10-21
really enjoyed it
a realty entertaining story about becoming sober. I will listen again and again. Damn that wine witch!
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- Mary J Fanning
- 05-11-21
My go to!
Clare is so inspiring. This book is funny, raw, honest and inspiring. I listen to it so often when I am driving and it keeps me real.