johnny_the_ginger 's review for:

Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker

3.0

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This book was difficult to rate, because some of it was pure gold, and some of it was totally off base. I really enjoyed the science and psychology behind alcoholism, as well as the insight shared concerning the alcohol industry. I think it’s crucial that people understand the effects of mood/judgment-altering substances on their bodies, and this book is very detailed in exposing the harmful effects of alcohol, even in people who don’t fit accepted definitions of “addiction.” The author explains how difficult it is to quit alcohol when it has become such an integral aspect of cultures worldwide. Her descriptions of how her life improved after giving up alcohol, I imagine, should grant hope to those who wonder how they can live without the short-lived “perks” of intoxication.

However, the author also goes into raging tangents about how capitalism is the cause of alcoholism. Any book based in North Korea or Soviet Russia will dispel that idea. People who are hurting will sacrifice whatever they need to to get their substance, no matter the political system. Additionally, the patriarchy is a lazy excuse for addition. It’s far more complicated than a social justice talking point. Profanely advocating for the American system to be burned to the ground is off-putting and unhelpful.

Also, she warns people to be careful while doing yoga to not culturally appropriate?