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Thirst
- Author
- John Robins
- Narrator
- John Robins
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 7 May 2026
- Run Time
- 11 hours 36 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Memoirs, Autobiography: arts and entertainment, Comedy and stand-up, Health, illness or addiction: social aspects, Coping with / advice about drug and alcohol problems
- Rating
- 5.0 (3 reviews)
What to expect
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER & GUARDIAN AUDIOBOOK OF THE WEEK
The beautifully written, moving and darkly funny memoir about alcohol addiction and the journey to sobriety. Narrated by the author, award-winning comedian John Robins.
This audiobook includes two pieces of bonus material including a podcast episode of John Robins on The Allender Calendar, as well as an exclusive conversation with comedians Elis James and Dave Masterman.
John Robins is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, Taskmaster champion, and an award-winning broadcaster. He is also an alcoholic. But what does that mean?
In Thirst, John tells the story of his life through the lens of alcohol, the drinks that made him, and those that broke him. From his earliest drinking experiences – pretending to be drunk aged five, spraying aftershave into his mouth at a school play afterparty, and drinking red wine alone at university – to his last drink in 2022, he traces his journey into sobriety.
From hazy memory to sudden clarity, John reflects on mental health, friendship, creativity and the lies we tell ourselves. He asks: are alcoholics born or made? How do we understand youthful missteps? And can Buddhism provide relief when dealing with haemorrhoids?
Filled with insights and epiphanies from the world of addiction and recovery, Thirst blends John’s trademark honesty and hilarious digressions with the collective wisdom of alcoholics to offer a compelling, powerful and morbidly funny narrative for anyone who has ever asked 'why do we drink?', 'why do I drink?' or 'do I drink too much?'.
'The funniest book ever written about wanting to drink yourself to death' Lou Sanders
'A triumph, and as powerful a description of alcoholism as I've read' Bryony Gordon
‘Heartfelt [and] darkly funny’ Guardian, Audiobook of the Week
© John Robins 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Critics Review
-
The most honest, helpful and perceptive book I've ever read about alcohol, and also the funniest
Josh Widdicombe
-
The funniest book ever written about wanting to drink yourself to death
Lou Sanders
-
Thirst is a rigorous and courageous look at the making and unmaking of an alcoholic that also often made me laugh aloud. Reading as a fellow addict, I found helpful insight for my own recovery and moments of connection that sometimes made me cry. There is also quite a long section comparing the benefits of different capacity of tea mugs, which was unexpected.
Amy Liptrot, author of THE OUTRUN
-
Insightful and intelligent. Harrowing but hopeful. And, as always, hilarious
Adrian Chiles
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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A triumph, and as powerful a description of alcoholism as I've read
Bryony Gordon
-
I loved this book. Unflinching, poetic, funny and beautiful, yet still somehow so needlessly pedantic and silly. It’s a rich and generous enquiry into how to be a human
Josie Long
-
Robins at his finest
Pierre Novellie
-
John Robins's Thirst is funny and true. Packed full of excruciating, hilarious stories, about his school days, fashion choices, friendships and comedy adventures, it's also sprinkled with genuinely revelatory life advice, mostly told via his fuck-ups with alcohol. These fuck-ups are - yep - funny, but it's the truth inside that resonates. He understands the spell of the perfect drink and also how far we can fall when that magic stops working. Kind and coruscating, peculiar and universal, I found myself reading bits of Thirst out to people I love.
Miranda Sawyer
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Having admired John’s warmth and wit onstage for years it is wonderful to see his wise, humorous mind at work in this book. He has laid himself bare in a way that is sure to help others.
Alan Davies, author of JUST IGNORE HIM
-
Heartfelt, darkly funny, sometimes self-lacerating and full of sage advice born from bruising experience.
The Guardian
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
- No written reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- John Robins
- Narrator
- John Robins
- Duration
- 11 hours 36 minutes
- Release Date
- 7 May 2026
- ISBN
- 9781405982092
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- Memoirs, Autobiography: arts and entertainment, Comedy and stand-up, Health, illness or addiction: social aspects, Coping with / advice about drug and alcohol problems
- Rating
- 5.0(3 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(3 reviews)
Synopsis
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER & GUARDIAN AUDIOBOOK OF THE WEEKThe beautifully written, moving and darkly funny memoir about alcohol addiction and the journey to sobriety. Narrated by the author, award-winning comedian John Robins.This audiobook includes two pieces of bonus material including a podcast episode of John Robins on The Allender Calendar, as well as an exclusive conversation with comedians Elis James and Dave Masterman.John Robins is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, Taskmaster champion, and an award-winning broadcaster. He is also an alcoholic. But what does that mean?In Thirst, John tells the story of his life through the lens of alcohol, the drinks that made him, and those that broke him. From his earliest drinking experiences – pretending to be drunk aged five, spraying aftershave into his mouth at a school play afterparty, and drinking red wine alone at university – to his last drink in 2022, he traces his journey into sobriety.From hazy memory to sudden clarity, John reflects on mental health, friendship, creativity and the lies we tell ourselves. He asks: are alcoholics born or made? How do we understand youthful missteps? And can Buddhism provide relief when dealing with haemorrhoids?Filled with insights and epiphanies from the world of addiction and recovery, Thirst blends John’s trademark honesty and hilarious digressions with the collective wisdom of alcoholics to offer a compelling, powerful and morbidly funny narrative for anyone who has ever asked 'why do we drink?', 'why do I drink?' or 'do I drink too much?'.'The funniest book ever written about wanting to drink yourself to death' Lou Sanders'A triumph, and as powerful a description of alcoholism as I've read' Bryony Gordon‘Heartfelt [and] darkly funny’ Guardian, Audiobook of the Week© John Robins 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
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