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Melissa Chinchillo
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QUIT LIKE A WOMAN

Holly Glenn Whitaker

The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol

The founder of a female-focused recovery program offers a radical new path to sobriety.

We live in a world obsessed with drinking. We drink at baby showers and work events, brunch and book club, graduations and funerals. Yet no one ever questions alcohol’s ubiquity—in fact, the only thing ever questioned is why someone doesn’tdrink. It is a qualifier for belonging and if you don’t imbibe, you are considered an anomaly. As a society, we are obsessed with health and wellness, yet we uphold alcohol as some kind of magic elixir, though it is anything but.


“You don’t know how much you need this book, or maybe you do. Either way, it will save your life.” —Melissa Hartwig Urban, Whole30 co-founder and CEO


When Holly Whitaker decided to seek help after one too many benders, she embarked on a journey that led not only to her own sobriety, but revealed the insidious role alcohol plays in our society and in the lives of women in particular. What’s more, she could not ignore the ways that alcohol companies were targeting women, just as the tobacco industry had successfully done generations before. Fueled by her own emerging feminism, she also realized that the predominant systems of recovery are archaic, patriarchal, and ineffective for the unique needs of women and other historically oppressed people—who don’t need to lose their egos and surrender to a male concept of God, as the tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous state, but who need to cultivate a deeper understanding of their own identities and take control of their lives. When Holly found an alternate way out of her own addiction, she felt a calling to create a sober community with resources for anyone questioning their relationship with drinking, so that they might find their way as well. Her resultant feminine-centric recovery program focuses on getting at the root causes that lead people to overindulge and provides the tools necessary to break the cycle of addiction, showing us what is possible when we remove alcohol and destroy our belief system around it.


Written in a relatable voice that is honest and witty, Quit Like aWoman is at once a groundbreaking look at drinking culture and a road map to cutting out alcohol in order to live our best lives without the crutch of intoxication. You will never look at drinking the same way again.


Holly Whitaker is the founder and CEO of Tempest (formerly Hip Sobriety). With years of experience in the field of healthcare service and tech, she created her company in 2014 and established an alternative recovery community online with the tools, resources, and education to combat addiction. She lives in New York.

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Book

Published 2019-12-31 by Crown Archetype

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QUIT LIKE A WOMAN

The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol

By Holly Whitaker

A Dial Press Hardcover

ISBN: 9781984825056

eISBN: 9781984825063

On Sale: 12/31/19

Publicist: Emily Isayeff

 

Bestseller Lists

#4 New York Times – Advice, How-to and Miscellaneous – 1/27

#24 USA Today – 1/24

#4 New York Times – Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous – 1/20

#41 USA Today – 1/17

 

National Television

ABC/Good Morning America –interview/book mention in second Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/4

 

Radio/Podcasts

WebMD Podcast – 2/12 tape date, air date tk

Rich Roll Podcast – interview – 3/15

Pretty Messed Up Podcast – interview – 1/25

Whine Down with Jana Kramer and Michael Caussin Podcast – interview – 1/11

Redesigning Life with Sabrina Soto – podcast interview – 11/18 

 

Online

The Sunday Paper – excerpt in Maria Shriver’s weekly digital newsletter – 2/7

BuzzFeed – book mention in piece on how to read more – 1/31 

NBC News – book/author mention in piece about women and alcohol – 1/31 

Vogue.com – profile on Holly – 1/27

New York Times – piece on women and alcohol for “In Her Words” column with contribution from Holly – date tk

Marie Claire – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 1/21 

New York Times – author quote in piece on Dry January – 1/15 

Hollywood Reporter – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 1/13 

BuzzFeed – products that help reduce drinking – 1/12 

BookRiot – best books for Dry January – 1/12

Today.com – interview for digital TMRW vertical – 1/12 

SheReads.com – self-care books for the new year – 1/11 

The Daily Beast – interview for ecommerce content vertical Scouted – 1/12

Cheddar TV – book interview – 1/11 

ABC News – GMA story pickup – 1/4  

USA Today– book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece (Gannett pickup in 75+ local markets) – 1/2

Fox News – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 1/1 

Huffington Post – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/1 

Us Weekly – book mention in piece on stars’ New Year’s Eve plans – 1/1

People.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/1 

Yahoo! – People.com piece pickup – 1/1 

Harper’s Bazaar – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Yahoo! – Harper's Bazaar piece pickup – 12/31

StyleCaster.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

Yahoo! – Stylecaster pickup – 12/31 

iHeart Radio – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 12/31 

SheKnows.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Yahoo! – SheKnows.com pickup – 12/31 

Delish.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Yahoo! – Delish.com pickup – 12/31 

Complex.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Kirkus Reviews – book piece w/ Chrissy Teigen coverage – 12/31 

Us Weekly – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Entertainment Tonight – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

Today.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 12/31

USA Today – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

OK! Magazine – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Marie Claire – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Glamour.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

People.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/30 

Yahoo! – People.com pickup – 12/30 

E! News – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 12/30

The Millions – 2020 books roundup – 12/21

SheReads.com – Sober Mom Squad book pick – 12/10 

 

Local Media

WGBH/Under the Radar with Callie Crossley – interview – 2/1

KATU-TV – interview – 1/29

WNYC/The Takeaway – live interview – 1/14

Boston Globe – book mention in sobriety books roundup – 1/12 

WGBH/All Things Considered – interview – 1/10

Los Angeles Times – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Chicago Tribune – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

Boston Globe – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

Alcohol is a poison, a drug “designed to keep us down,” writes Whitaker, founder of the online Tempest Sobriety School, in this empowering mix of memoir and self-help aimed at women. A one-time binge drinker and “train wreck,” Whitaker got sober at 33, quit her job at a healthcare startup, and dedicated herself to starting a recovery program that she sees as an alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous, which she calls a dated, white male–centric program focused on ego and goals. She rejects the term “alcoholic” as a life-sentence label, and argues that women and other marginalized people need to be encouraged on their way to sobriety, not forced to repent and made to feel helpless around booze. Whitaker addresses what she sees as society’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol and marketers’ insidious ploys to make consumers think that drinking is normal (“we drink—for fun—the same thing we use to make rocket fuel, house paint, antiseptics”). A celebration of the nondrinking life, the narrative offers personal stories (such as making new friends while sober) and tips on managing one’s recovery (find a therapist, snack healthily). Whitaker is an amiable narrator, and her book serves as a helpful resource for those who wish to eliminate alcohol from their lives, and who want a glimpse at how liberating not drinking can be. (Jan.)


National Television

ABC/Good Morning America – interview/book mention in second Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/4

ABC/Good Morning America Weekend – book mention/author quote in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/2

 

Online

ABC News – GMA story pickup – 1/4  

USA Today– book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece (Gannett pickup in 75+ local markets) – 1/2 

Fox News – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 1/1 

Huffington Post – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/1 

Us Weekly – book mention in piece on stars’ New Year’s Eve plans – 1/1 

People.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 1/1 

Yahoo! – People.com piece pickup – 1/1 

Harper’s Bazaar – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Yahoo! – Harper's Bazaar piece pickup – 12/31

StyleCaster.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

Yahoo! – Stylecaster pickup – 12/31 

iHeart Radio – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 12/31  

SheKnows.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Yahoo! – SheKnows.com pickup – 12/31 

Delish.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Yahoo! – Delish.com pickup – 12/31 

Complex.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Kirkus Reviews – book piece w/ Chrissy Teigen coverage – 12/31 

Us Weekly – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Entertainment Tonight – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Today.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 12/31

USA Today – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

OK! Magazine – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Marie Claire – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Glamour.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

People.com – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/30 

Yahoo! – pickup – 12/30 

E! News – book mention in Chrissy Teigen online sobriety piece – 12/30

The Millions – 2020 books roundup – 12/21

SheReads.com – Sober Mom Squad book pick – 12/10

 

Radio/Podcasts

Redesigning Life with Sabrina Soto – podcast interview – 11/18 

 

Local Media

Los Angeles Times – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Chicago Tribune – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31 

Boston Globe – book mention in Chrissy Teigen sobriety piece – 12/31

 

 

UK: Bloomsbury


“I’ve long suspected that Holly Whitaker is a genius. This book is confirmation. It’s a brilliantly clever, meticulously researched, fearless, snort-out-loud funny read that grabs you and won’t let go. ‘Recovery’ is not about fighting a lifelong disease; it’s about freedom, empowerment, and recovering (uncovering?) who we were meant to become all along. Holly gets that—and embodies it. Holly and Tempest have what it takes to revolutionize the American recovery process.” —Catherine Gray, author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober“Brave and revolutionary, Holly Whitaker has written a compulsively readable book about creating a life you don’t want to escape. Funny, insightful, and candid, Quit Like a Woman is a must-read for anyone embarking on the adventure of abandoning alcohol. Timely and urgent, it will prompt a much-needed conversation on the role of Big Alcohol.”

Ann Dowsett Johnston, author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol


“Raw, vulnerable, and unapologetic. Holly Whitaker brings these ingredients together for a fresh and needed perspective as well as a great read.”—Jud Brewer, MD, PhD, author of The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits


“A vital, timely, and intriguing analysis of women and alcohol. Holly cuts to the quick of the issues, skillfully using gripping anecdotes, impeccable writing, and well-researched insights to educate, liberate, and provide real hope and tangible steps for anyone looking to quit like a woman. This important book will create a new generation of brave and empowered women.”—Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life


“As a culture, we have a weird and often dysfunctional relationship with alcohol. This thoughtful, moving book will help a lot of people get to a healthier place.”—Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream


“Brave and revolutionary, Holly Whitaker has written a compulsively readable book about creating a life you don’t want to escape. Funny, insightful, and candid, Quit Like a Woman is a must-read for anyone embarking on the adventure of abandoning alcohol. Timely and urgent, it will prompt a much-needed conversation on the role of Big Alcohol.”—Ann Dowsett Johnston, author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol