It works, killing the big monster is the hard part and a couple reads through can help keep it fresh and top of mind. But it works gang, in the book they talk about not listening to people trying other methods as it can lead to a reawakening of the big monster (I’m paraphrasing) that piece of advice is really important. Even well meaning people doing the willpower method or who claim to be in control of their drinking can reset some of those ideas. At the end of the day it’s poison and your life is way better without it then it ever will be with it. That simple. Your life is better now, booze/cigarettes/etc doesn’t serve you at all. You’re not missing out on anything.

Good morning All, I hope you are all well.

I have been a smoker for around 15 years and probably have 6-7 pack years. I would like to quit smoking for the obvious reasons but as I get older, the advent of smoking has had more of a psychological affect on me, with ruminations of how weak I am to have this deadly addiction.

However, if I am being completely honest with you (and myself), I love smoking. I love smoking in a beer garden, sitting with my friends in the sun. I equate smoking to enjoyment and social plans. Anyway, without boring you all with innocuous details, I have the EasyWay book (and have had this for years), but I have failed to read it because I strangely feel scared that if I read the book and remain a smoker, I will have failed and will be a smoker for life. Almost as if this is my last chance and my "trump card", and if it doesn't work then I am doomed.

So, the initial question: would it be sensible to book myself on to an in-person group seminar? Does one have to read the book first before attending these - or is this not neccessary?

Would love to hear any advice and feedback.

All the best

I quit vaping 2 years ago for probably 8 months - every now and then I would hit it but wouldn’t fully circum to the little monster. And to me that was alright! But ofcourse , as time passed the little monster grew and I was back to full blown vaping.

Now I just finished the book and am 3 days free. But I don’t feel so free and I feel like I am using will power. When the cravings are in full swing I am convincing myself why I could get another vape. Then I reason with myself , distract myself, and am fine. Then it repeats. But there is no “yippie!” I’m not sure if I actually killed the big monster - I agreed with everything Carr says but do I need to go back and make sure I fully understand things or is this just the little monster? Should I keep battling with him until he’s dead and then im free?

I just finished The Easy Way to Stop Smoking Cannabis today, but stopped 5 days ago because it's been weighing on me for a long time.

I'm 45, and have been Smoking regularly/daily for over 20 years. I feel like I'm actually done for real with Smoking weed. I no longer have the desire.

I used the only way for stopping cigarettes and have been nicotine free, craving free for 9 years. I couldn't care less about cigarettes from the moment I read the book.

Anyone else recently try the Cannabis book.

Id love to hear your take or if you have used these books in the past for other addictions.

And believe me when I say, WE GOT THIS

Back when I was a teenager, I said no to drugs and smoking.

But when I became 18, I started feeling curious about how it felt to smoke. I still haven’t smoked, but the temptation to get a cigarette or vape to try comes around?

Got any advice which can help.

I had my last dose today, several hours ago (vaping).

I was really psyched for it. I feel like the books really resonated and “clicked” in my brain. I felt ready and even excited.

But it’s feeling kind of difficult now. Not quite the easy way.

I don’t want to vape. I do still understand that it doesn’t do anything for me. That doesn’t bring me any benefits or joy.

I also believe that physical withdrawal is small. I stopped vaping for a surgery a couple years ago and dont remember any significant withdrawal symptoms.

I know that any agony I’m feeling is completely mental, aka the big monster.

But the big monster is annoying the shit out of me right now, causing me anxiety and a lot of discomfort.

So, what do I do? Like I said, I’m not reaching for my vape. But I also wanted to do this the right way, and for it to truly feel easy.

My mind is loudly ruminating about vaping. It won’t give me much of a break.

Do I do the book over again? Do I continue vaping while doing the book over again so I can do it right?

I do feel like I’m using some degree of willpower now. And I don’t want to be a willpower person.

After my first attempt with the Easyway I felt like all the info stuck but. For some reason my mind just can't accept that it was easy. And it failed. I didn't know why the info on the part where the book explains that it's supposed to be easy the information just doesn't want to stick.

I took a step back and realised that last time I tried to do it the hard way was traumatic. I think I developed some kind of trauma response to quitting. Just the idea that I might never smoke again even after I've been fully convinced that there is no purpose for me smoking triggers the trauma response causing my emotions to go haywire.

I don't know what to do right now? Can someone help out. Maybe share a similar experience of sort? I feel just STUCK.

I tend to listen to podcasts at work when I'm doing monotonous labour to entertain my mind. Is there a Podcast based on the Smoking Addiction book. I know I can get the audiobook but I'm curious if someone made a podcast based on it

I'm willing to quit, happy to quit, there's one last issue that will help me quit entirely. How do you overcome the addiction when its linked to taste? I genuinely enjoy the flavour but at the same time it's what's preventing me from quitting.

How do non nicotine addicts feel about the taste.

After quitting disposable vapes, has anyone went back and tried and thought the taste was shit, which confirms that it is the nicotine which creates the good taste.

I have quit mod vapes (liquid bottle filled), but disposables seem to have a unique and really nice taste.

The easy way has been an excellent guide and resource in helping me quit but it doesn't to into much detail about how to beat it in regards to taste, the taste is where I relapsed.

Looking for some advice. Been vaping for about 10 years. Listened to the book once and quite for a bit but relapsed. I just finished the book a second time and threw everything alway but only made it a day before I felt like I couldn’t control the urges and went and bought a new vape.

I feel so defeated and embarrassed. I felt so confident when I finished but then at work today i couldn’t concentrate on anything else. Still believe that the vape will provide the relief and broke and went and got one.

Idk what else to do. Feel like just giving up as idk if I can ever be a happy non vaper.

My girlfriend still thinks I can learn to control my drinking. I don’t want to say I’ll never drink again, because forever is a long time, so I just say I won’t drink today.

How can I explain that that’s not how it works with alcoholics?

The issue with me is that i go to gym every morning. And before i go there i feel like having my first cigarette of the day and then one after the gym one after lunch one in the evening one after dinner and its never ending.

Somebody get me out of this trap forever.

PS: Have read Easy Way twice.

I know the problem but just dont have enough self control to overcome it.

While I’m reading I feel so prepared, so positive, and so excited to quit. I understand and agree with everything the book is saying.

But it seems like as soon as I put the book down, I go back to negative thoughts and fear and the “Big Monster” overall.

I’m 65% through the book so still hoping there’s time left for it to “click” in my mind.

Anyone else have this struggle?

Wondering if anyone has any idea about the difference between the old and new edition? I quit smoking 10 years ago using the older version and it was so easy to quit.

I’m now trying to get my mother to read the book (and hopefully quit) but the new edition looks so different it’s like a completely different experience. Not sure if the new one is better or if I should stick to the old one since it worked for me.

Would love anyone’s thoughts on this 🙏🏽

I used easyway to quit smoking four years ago successfully, but during a suicidal period in August picked vaping up and am now quitting that with the vaping book. I found the hypnotherapy CD from the older editions of the smoking book super helpful as a reinforcement tool, was there ever one for vaping or had the inclusion of those been discontinued by the time it was released?

The reduction of the hypnotherapy presence as part of the method seems to coincide with the appointment of the current CEO so I'm guessing it was too late, but if it does exist would love to know.

Absolute gold , third time iv read this book annnnd something pops up every time , this guy should be required reading in school

Hey peps I stopped drinking after reading easyway about a month ago I seem to have lost my sex drive does any know if this is common?

I just wanted to say this for anyone who’s feeling unsure or like the method isn’t working. I felt that way too! But over time and with lots of practice, I truly am a happy, non vaper now

I listened to the audio book the best 7.99 ever I’ve not drank for three weeks and don’t even feel like drinking I’ve lived my life as normal Still going to pubs and clubs etc etc it really is an amazing thing thank you Allen

This was very true for me. I stopped eating white bread/rice/pasta. It drove my family bananas. Plus, a lot of the modern fruit has been GMOd to be basically be a white carb. I figured that I could stop driving them crazy by just going back to eating white stuff and just add some more veggies to my diet. This was a good idea on paper but it's a slippery slope and before long I was back to just eating white carbs and not many veggies. So now I'm kind of back to the drawing board. I've been thinking about reading the emotional eating one because I think that may get more to the root of my unhealthy eating. Also considering just exercising a shit-ton and eating whatever I want. Maybe that's the compromise.

I'm skeptical of the good sugar bad sugar hypothesis though. I know it sounds silly but I think a decent metric for health is the quality of your shits. When I was outside of the US, my shits were gorgeous, even though I was eating white bread. And even when I go completely whole wheat in the US, I often don't have good shits. The other problem is a lot of the whole wheat is pseudo whole wheat. One heuristic I started to use was a 10:1 carb to fiber ratio, which is what modern fruit is. But I think you may need even more fiber than that. I don't know anyone have thoughts on this?

Posted originally as a comment but figured I'd make a post as well

We need this everywhere

I really only have 3 friends that I do things with, and they’re all “set in their ways, don’t want to hear it” smokers (and then some). One gal has recently met a new guy and they are having tremendous fun together. I am very happy for her! She wants me to meet his brother. From what I’ve gathered about the guy, I don’t think there’s any romantic potential there, particularly since they’re all smokers! They want us all to get together for a cookout at their place this week. I’m not yet to the point where I can be in social situations with smokers and not smoke. I’ve been with these friends twice since I “quit”, and both times I’ve smoked and had fun. But one reason I quit is because it enflames my throat and sinuses, and affects me for days. I love my (stubborn ass) friends, and don’t really have any others, and I want to meet these new guys! Because, it sounds fun, and I want to have a good time and not be such a square, but… Sigh. I know what the book says. Sometimes it can work like magic, but often not…

Hello all! I’m currently reading Allen Carr’s ‘Good Sugar, Bad Sugar’ and I am unsure of whether or not agave syrup counts as ‘bad sugar’ as although it is very sweet and sugary, it’s all naturally occurring, like in honey. Pls help!

Maybe something that helps keep the eyes on he prize? I know they're out there. Just want a couple reviews I guess.

I’m 24 hours nicotine free since finishing “The Easy Way to Quit Vaping.” I’m finding it somewhat hard to ignore the “little monster,” (I.e. nicotine craving) or at least to put it into perspective. Did anybody else have this experience when they quit using this method? If so, do you have any advice?

Well, I made is farther this time. On day 133. Caved last time at day 75. Still feeling committed and viciously angry at Big Tobacco. So here's to my upcoming 6 month mark!! Happy happy non smoker!!

Those of you who have used the Allen Carr method/books/audiobooks, successfully or not, do you think it’d be okay/safe to listen to the audiobook version while sleeping?

I really like the concept and the way he reframes things. However, I got the original audiobook, and the outdated references and silly blanket statements are distracting. "Smokers think the next cigarette will solve all their problems.", "Smokers are unable to enjoy a meal/ family event/ whatever because all they can think about is their next cigarette." "Nonsmokers lives are wonderful, and yours will be again once you ditch the smokes!" I'm paraphrasing of course, but there are so many others that just make me want to roll my eyes! (This just never did fly with GenX.) Still, I can forgive him that, because I do think this is going to help me, but I'm looking to toss this one back and get a more modern edition.

The problem is, there are so many different ones! The one for women specifically? The illustrated? Stop smoking? Quit smoking? I need audio, but a lot of times I can't find the publication date, or it's just the reprint date. Very confusing! So... what do you people know? I know everyone has their preferences, but I'm specifically looking for the latest, most modern editions. Thanks for your input!

Edit: After hours of searching and reading reviews, I found one on Apple Books that says on the cover "updated for the 2020s!" (read by John Chancer). So I think that's what I'm looking for. I got the original version from them too, and asked for a refund. Hopefully they'll give it, since I'm not in a position atm to be throwing away 20 semolians. Also I thought maybe I should delete this post, but not sure... could be useful for others.