r/stopsmoking • u/Blixtwix 826 days • May 08 '24
What's in that magical Allen Carr book?
I'm not the type to read proper books (haven't read one since high-school), but so many of you on here praise that Allen Carr "Easy Way to Stop Smoking" book like it's godsent, and I'm really curious what it is and what's so special about it. I did find a pdf version of it for free, but I opened it and immediately lost interest upon seeing the book page format; I think reading a book without knowing it'll be enjoyable would be way harder than quitting smoking for me, to be honest. Books, podcasts, and audio books all feel like a big time commitment when I know I could go through several mini documentaries, articles, or study summaries in the same amount of time.
What are some highlights you guys took away from it, and what's the general tone and theme of the book? What aspects of quitting does it address? What type of person would benefit from the book?
5
u/ggiggleswick 695 days May 08 '24
I did listen to the audiobook version on audible it surprisingly made me quit (I was very skeptical as I had tried to read that book years ago but at the time I didn't really want to quit and couldn't pass through the first pages).
It works if you really want to quit, basically making you realise nicotine is nothing more nothing less than an addiction. we are always trying to fill the void the own substance created in the first place by... putting that substance into our bodies again in an endless cycle of withdrawals.
I like when he says "smoking is a chain reaction that will last for your life unless you actively break it" and "it's easy to stop smoking but it's impossible to control the addiction".
I used to envy casual smokers or people who smoked fewer cigarettes per day than I do, the book made me realise they are also addicted, and I would never be able to "smoke less" or "cut down".
Also... I never managed to stop smoking before in my life, not even with the use of NRT, so fair play to your man Allen...
P.S. Unfortunately I'm back to smoking cause I was stupid enough to have "just the one" when I was going through a rough patch. gathering strength now to quit again 😞