Publication Date: September 16, 2008 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description A true story, told with honesty and wit. Linda Joy Allan was a 200 pound chain-smoker. Also a heavy drinker, she lived a life that alienated both her friends and family. Linda felt so helplessly trapped in the grip of her addictions that she couldn t imagine overcoming even ONE of them never mind all three. Not finding help from 12-step groups or traditional avenues, Linda found a way to overcome her addictions and start a new life. Learn her method of using faith and determination to succeed in battling your own fears and demons. Learn how to start your life over.
An encouraging tale, sure to motivate readers November 6, 2008 Addiction is a tough thing to deal with. Three of them would be a nightmare. "I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars, and Booze" is Linda Joy Allan's inner struggle to overcome the three addictions that plagued her life and that were ruining her health and her life. Through her own sheer determination and will power, she freed herself of her demons, improved her health, and mended broken relationships. "I Quit!" is an encouraging tale, sure to motivate readers.
Can a Person Overcome not One, not Two, but Three Addictions? November 2, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Many people struggle with addictions. They battle their desires day and night, hoping to fight back the urges to consume a specific substance or partake in a potentially harmful activity. Many are convinced they can easily quit at any time, and they deceive others and themselves that they are not really addicted at all.
Author Linda Joy Allan understands the problems of addiction all too well. She was hooked on eating and loved the feeling following a large meal. She was a chain smoker and craved the nicotine buzz from her favorite smokes. She suffered from alcoholism and would go out of her way to get hold of a drink. She spent the prime years of her life battling these addictions and while she is now clean and sober, the damage to her social life, personal life, and career potential is likely still being felt today. She wrote this book to tell her stories of addiction and what it finally took to kick these three habits once and for all.
One thing readers will notice right away with this book is that it devotes most of its pages to stories about alcoholism. The addictions to food and tobacco either didn't result in very many problems for the author or she didn't have as many tales to tell. She spends most of the time talking about alcohol and this fact makes the book's title a tad deceptive. I was expecting a more balanced approach that covered each of these three areas more or less equally. But it's the boozing that gets the coverage and the author has quite a few surprising life events to share that involved her drinking.
Most of the pages of this book are devoted to stories involving excessive drinking and even though this is probably covered a little too much, I have to admit that I found the author's struggle very interesting, not because I can relate to her problems myself, but because she had so, so many problems! Just when you thought she had hit the end of her addiction, was going to shape up, and nothing else could go wrong, she experiences yet another episode of misjudgment. You start to wonder if her slow demise will ever stop. She has issues with men and destroys any chance for a serious personal relationship because of her drinking. She drives drunk without a second thought. She shoots off her mouth and makes comments she later regrets. It's just one thing after another.
Well, the addictions are finally under control by book's end but the author didn't cure herself through twelve step programs or traditional means. She beat her addiction through faith. The other methods didn't work but once she renewed her faith, she was able to beat her addictions once and for all. One thing I like about her selected method is that, while it worked for her, the author doesn't suggest that the faith method is the only way to go. This is good, because while religion is certainly useful to some people and it has helped many people overcome problems, it is not something that will work for everyone and I respect the author for not making that type of generalized assumption.
Taken as a whole, this is a fairly interesting book about addiction and it will likely rate most highly among readers who can relate to the author's many struggles. It isn't a very well balanced book and it should have dedicated more pages to the recovery phase. But it is still a decent effort and the endless stories about partying to excess will shock and amaze many readers.
Review of I Quit October 16, 2008 0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was disappointed in this book bc I expected to find solutions on how to recover from substance/food abuse, e.g., specific methods. It was a great read, but the book was nothing more than a biographical account of the author's struggle w/ addiction. I didn't learn any new skills.
Straightforward and truthful October 15, 2008 Linda Joy Allan once weighed over 200 pounds and lived for her next meal. She began smoking at the age of 16 and didn't quit until her 40's. For over a decade her alcohol abuse took over her life, making her unreliable, antiganistic and forcing her family to keep their distance for their own good. The main difficulty of this story is the actual story of the recovery is without detail and all too brief. The moment of self realization is all too brief and superficially related. However, I think this may be the reality for many who have overcome addictions. The realization that one's life is way off track is made and then it's the old "fake it until you make it" technique. After numerous addiction recovery stories filled with self loathing, constant turmoil her honesty is refreshing. many recovering addicts don't really understand themselves how they made it out of the mess they created. Allen does seem to take a bit too much relish in the retelling of her addiction and its toll. That said, instead of continuing self recrimerations and angst, Allen is refreshingly straightforward in her recovery.
Great lessons in the triumph of the human spirit over addiction September 23, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book pretty much dispels the myth of the disease theory of addiction. If you think your addiction is an incurable disease, it will be. But who is to stop you from taking the opposite view and think of your addiction as something to simply quit and be done with once and for all? This book shows it can be done. Kudos on a well written story that keeps you interested and gives hope to us all that addictions don't have to be lifelong.
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