A review by mads_jpg
Higher Sobriety: My Years Without Booze by Jill Stark

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

As someone who not only doesn't drink alcohol, but also doesn't drink soft drinks, I've felt the otherness that comes with going against the drinking grain even as a child. People genuinely look at me like I'm crazy when I knock back not just alcohol but also the lemonade they try to offer as an alternative. The fact I would take a water over most drinks is unfathomable to most people I've met. But surprisingly, I've felt the most pressure to drink from office coworkers, who suggest that they'll never really know the 'real' me if they never see me swig a beer on a Friday arvo. 

I knew Australia's drinking culture is toxic before reading this book because I've lived it for as long as I can remember. But reading this book still revealed just how deep this toxicity goes. I was shocked by many of the stats and interviews Stark presents. Her "Stark Reality" drink name is perfectly fitting for this book, and it's a reality most of Australia needs to read about.
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