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Why We Drink Too Much
- Author
- Dr Charles Knowles
- Narrator
- Charles Knowles, Annie Knowles
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 8 January 2026
- Run Time
- 8 hours 32 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
Read by the author, Dr Charles Knowles, including sections read by his wife, Annie Knowles.
‘Compelling and fascinating . . . A must-read’ – Andrew Jenkinson, Sunday Times bestselling author of Why We Eat Too Much
We drink it, celebrate with it and barely question it – but what is alcohol really doing to us?
Ever wondered why that one glass of wine so easily turns into a bottle? Or why you, a perfectly rational person in all other areas of your life, can't seem to resist ‘just one more’? Or why some people aren’t interested in alcohol at all?
Charles Knowles is a leading surgeon and clinical research director. He also happens to be a recovering alcoholic. In Why We Drink Too Much, he takes us on a captivating and personal journey into the science of our favourite drug. Forget willpower, advertising and moral weakness – Knowles reveals how the surprising truth about our drinking is rooted in ancient biology and brain chemistry. He unpacks how we learn to drink, the brain’s powerful reward system, and the facts about alcohol and health to show what really happens in our brains and bodies when we drink.
Packed with jaw-dropping science, relatable stories and an invaluable blueprint for change, this book is for anyone who has ever woken up with a vague sense of dread and asked, ‘Why me?’. It's the conversation about alcohol you've been waiting to have – one that is smart, witty and might just change how you think about drinking forever.
'Illuminating, fascinating and beautifully written. If you’ve ever had an issue with drink and asked yourself ‘why me?’ then this book is for you' – Clare Pooley, bestselling author of The Sober Diaries
Critics Review
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Openhearted . . . In a useful entry in the growing canon of 'quit lit,' Charles Knowles blends science and memoir to persuade readers to cut down on alcohol
The New York Times
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Why We Drink Too Much is a compelling and fascinating exploration of why we drink – and why some of us can’t stop. The author lays bare his soul in a raw, honest account of his struggles with alcohol, interwoven with world-class scientific insight into the brain, genetics, and the powerful pull of this drug. A must-read for anyone, especially those seeking to understand the hidden forces that drive us to drink too much
Dr Andrew Jenkinson. bestselling author of Why We Eat (Too Much)
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A fantastic book. Dr Knowles presents the reader with his wealth of knowledge and experience in an accessible and engaging way, stripping away the confusion on this difficult topic
William Porter, author of Alcohol Explained
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Illuminating, fascinating and beautifully written. If you’ve ever had an issue with drink and asked yourself ‘why me?’ then this book is for you
Clare Pooley, bestselling author of The Sober Diaries
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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Compelling and compassionate. Written by a surgeon and academic, Why We Drink Too Much fuses clinical insight with human vulnerability. The true gift, however, lies in the author’s candid sharing of his own drinking story – an experience that was not only addictive but ultimately became deeply problematic. Knowles describes his own journey of recovery with honesty, humility and hard-won insight.
Jackie Malton, author, TV script consultant and former senior police officer
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Brilliant. Devastating. Hopeful. Dr. Knowles blends science, story and compassion in a way that will resonate deeply with anyone rethinking their drinking.
Anna Donaghey, author and host of The Big Drink Rethink podcast
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Fancy a drink? Think again! This compelling text by a distinguished surgeon explains why
Professor Stephen Westaby, bestselling author of Fragile Lives
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From Vervet Monkeys to Keith Moon, this is a compact work full of fascinating and sometimes troubling research – it will embolden readers tired of drinking and ready for sobriety
Robin Ince, author of Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Dr Charles Knowles
- Narrator
- Charles Knowles, Annie Knowles
- Duration
- 8 hours 32 minutes
- Release Date
- 8 January 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035062133
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Coping with / advice about drug and alcohol problems, Drugs and alcohol: social aspects, Health, illness or addiction: social aspects, Popular psychology
Synopsis
Read by the author, Dr Charles Knowles, including sections read by his wife, Annie Knowles.‘Compelling and fascinating . . . A must-read’ – Andrew Jenkinson, Sunday Times bestselling author of Why We Eat Too MuchWe drink it, celebrate with it and barely question it – but what is alcohol really doing to us?Ever wondered why that one glass of wine so easily turns into a bottle? Or why you, a perfectly rational person in all other areas of your life, can't seem to resist ‘just one more’? Or why some people aren’t interested in alcohol at all?Charles Knowles is a leading surgeon and clinical research director. He also happens to be a recovering alcoholic. In Why We Drink Too Much, he takes us on a captivating and personal journey into the science of our favourite drug. Forget willpower, advertising and moral weakness – Knowles reveals how the surprising truth about our drinking is rooted in ancient biology and brain chemistry. He unpacks how we learn to drink, the brain’s powerful reward system, and the facts about alcohol and health to show what really happens in our brains and bodies when we drink.Packed with jaw-dropping science, relatable stories and an invaluable blueprint for change, this book is for anyone who has ever woken up with a vague sense of dread and asked, ‘Why me?’. It's the conversation about alcohol you've been waiting to have – one that is smart, witty and might just change how you think about drinking forever.'Illuminating, fascinating and beautifully written. If you’ve ever had an issue with drink and asked yourself ‘why me?’ then this book is for you' – Clare Pooley, bestselling author of The Sober Diaries
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