Looking for books about sobriety, recovery, or life without alcohol? Maybe you’ve been sober for decades, maybe you’re sober-curious, or maybe you’re just trying to get through Dry January? Whatever brings you, I’m happy you are here.
The internet feels bloated and complicated these days, so here’s something simple: a growing list of sober books. I’ll keep adding to it.
This page includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission.
Jump to a Category
Foundational Quit-Lit & Sobriety Philosophy
Science, Psychology & Addiction Insight
Experiments, Programs & Practical Tools
Women, Alcohol & Recovery Culture
Transformation & Broader Life Change
Foundational Quit-Lit & Sobriety Philosophy
- This Naked Mind by Annie Grace – Annie unpacks alcohol’s role in our lives…masterfully weaves science and storytelling. Popular for a reason.
- Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker – Questions Big Alcohol, wellness culture, and so much more.
- Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington – What happens when you question your relationship with alcohol?
- The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray – Witty, deeply personal take on going alcohol-free.
- The Sober Lush by Jardine Libaire & Amanda Eyre Ward – Joyful, uplifting, inspirational
Science, Psychology & Addiction Insight
- Alcohol Explained by William Porter – A fact-based breakdown of alcohol’s effects on mind and body.
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté – A compassionate, complex look at addiction. Audiobook is good, narrated by his son Daniel Mate.
- Drink? by David Nutt – The new science of alcohol and your health from a top expert.
- The Urge by Carl Erik Fisher – A historical and medical view on addiction and treatment.
- The Kindness Method by Shahroo Izadi – A compassionate approach to behavior change.
- The End of My Addiction by Olivier Ameisen MD – This one is a personal favorite of mine.
Experiments, Programs & Practical Tools
- The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace – A 30‑day challenge with reflections and insight.
- The Alcohol Experiment Journal by Annie Grace – Companion journal for mindful, alcohol-free living.
- The Easy Way to Control Alcohol by Allen Carr – No-frills approach to quitting without willpower.
- Why You Drink and How to Stop by Veronica Valli – Emotional tools for lasting freedom, easy read.
- How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days by Simon Chapple – A clear, steady program that actually works.
Alcohol Medication
- Drink Your Way Sober by Katie Herzog [Naltrexone] – A candid memoir and guide to overcoming alcohol use disorder via The Sinclair Method
- The End of My Addiction by Olivier Ameisen [Baclofen] – A groundbreaking memoir by a French-American cardiologist who explored the use of baclofen, a muscle relaxant, as a treatment for alcohol use disorder. This book had a huge personal impact on me and led me to explore baclofen in my own recovery journey. While I’m not a doctor and I would never give medical advice, I think it’s an important read for anyone curious about pharmacological treatment options. I first learned about this book here.
Memoirs & Lived Experience
- We Are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen – Beautiful, honest, and deeply relatable.
- Drunk Mom by Jowita Bydlowska – A candid, often dark look at relapse and new motherhood.
- Blackout by Sarah Hepola – A funny and searingly honest look at memory loss and recovery.
- The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley – One woman’s honest, warm year off booze.
- Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa F. Smith – Messy, real, and unfiltered.
- Dry by Augusten Burroughs – Sharp and irreverent, with moments of real vulnerability.
- Lit by Mary Karr – A poetic, literary take on addiction and motherhood.
- A Happier Hour by Rebecca Weller – Self-discovery and freedom through sobriety.
- Unwasted by Sacha Z. Scoblic – Funny, snarky, and refreshingly real.
- Moments of Clarity by Christopher Kennedy Lawford – Stories of recovery from public figures and everyday people.
- Sober On a Drunk Planet by Sean Alexander – Sharp, funny, and unapologetically direct.
Women, Alcohol & Recovery Culture
- Drink by Ann Dowsett Johnston – Deeply researched, deeply felt.
- Her Best Kept Secret by Gabrielle Glaser – Examines women’s struggles with alcohol behind closed doors.
- Push Off from Here by Laura McKowen – A deeply compassionate guide to healing, written in Laura’s signature honest and accessible style. Especially empowering for women navigating recovery and self-worth.
- Soberful by Veronica Valli – Written by a therapist in long-term recovery, this book focuses on emotional sobriety, people-pleasing, boundaries, and long-term healing – topics many women resonate with deeply.
- Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker – One of the most prominent feminist critiques of alcohol culture and the wellness industry’s relationship with addiction. (Also listed under Foundational Quit-Lit.)
- Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You by Karolina Rzadkowolska – A structured, mindset-driven approach to quitting alcohol, marketed specifically toward women.
- Mommy Doesn’t Drink Here Anymore by Rachel Sobel – A raw and relatable blend of memoir and essay about motherhood, identity, and leaving alcohol behind.
Transformation & Broader Life Change
These books aren’t necessarily about sobriety, but books to help navigate big life changes, rethink habits, rebuild identity, or just get inspired.
- Finding Ultra by Rich Roll – Transformation through sobriety, endurance, and spiritual reset.
- Lighter by Yung Pueblo – One of my personal favorites. A good book to keep on your coffee table or nightstand. Every page feels like a nugget of truth that gives you a moment of clarity and presence.
- Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach – A powerful blend of psychology and mindfulness that helps readers let go of shame and self-judgment. Ideal for anyone rebuilding their identity in sobriety.
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown – Encourages readers to embrace vulnerability, ditch perfectionism, and live more wholeheartedly. Widely beloved in recovery and self-help circles.
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins – An intense memoir of trauma, grit, and personal transformation. Especially resonates with people using discipline and fitness to redefine themselves after quitting alcohol.
- Born to Run by Christopher McDougall – A fascinating deep dive into endurance running and what the human body and spirit are capable of. Cult favorite in the sober athlete space.
- The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer – Explores consciousness and inner freedom, helping readers create distance from their thoughts and emotions. A favorite for people seeking spiritual clarity in sobriety.
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn – Simple, brief meditations and reflections on mindfulness. Great for those new to slowing down and being present.
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – A foundational book in modern spiritual thought. Helps readers detach from past and future thinking and live in the present moment.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear – Extremely practical framework for building better habits and breaking bad ones. Especially useful for reshaping routines post-sobriety.
- Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans – Written by Stanford design professors, this book uses design thinking principles to help people rethink their career, relationships, and life trajectory.
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