This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness and Change Your Life by Annie Grace was different than any other substance abuse book I have read. It would be a great book for those who are abusing alcohol, but I don’t think it would be very effective for those who are dependent on alcohol. In those cases, seeking medical attention is important to detox safely.

She seems to think that by reading the facts about alcohol abuse, the reader will feel that cognitive dissonance and stop drinking. She points to European countries’ cigarette packages (see here and here) that warn about the harms of smoking; however, in those countries, people smoke more.

I thought her liminal exercises were very useful for introspection. One exercise was to observe the frequency that alcohol comes up in conversation, advertising, or culture. I read this book while in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, so I had a lot of observations!

I don’t think there’s any magic in reading this book and immediately wanting to quit alcohol, but I wouldn’t discourage anyone from learning more about how pervasive and accepted alcohol use is in our country.