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Why We Drink Too Much

The Hidden Science of Just One More

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Why We Drink Too Much

By: Charles Knowles
Narrated by: Charles Knowles, Annie Knowles
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About this listen

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

 Addiction & Recovery Alcoholism Hygiene & Healthy Living Human Brain Witty Health Mental Health Substance abuse

Critic reviews

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)
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))
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)
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)
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)
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)
Fancy a drink? Think again! This compelling text by a distinguished surgeon explains why (Professor Stephen Westaby, bestselling author of Fragile Lives)
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)
All stars
Most relevant
Very informative book and more impactful due to its honesty. I'm sober curious and found it really helpful...

Honest, informative and inspiring.

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Why We Drink Too Much is one of those rare books that manages to be both scientifically sharp and emotionally disarming. It doesn’t lecture, it doesn’t shame — it simply takes you by the hand and says, “Hey, you’re human. Let’s figure this out together.”

The author has this uncanny ability to turn complicated neuroscience into something that feels like a late‑night conversation you didn’t realise you needed. There’s honesty here, the kind that makes you laugh because you recognise yourself in every anecdote, every confession, every “I swear this time will be different.”

The humour is warm and self‑aware, the science is rock‑solid, and the storytelling has a way of making you feel seen. It’s comforting to read someone who understands the tug‑of‑war between intention and impulse, between “I’ll be good tonight” and “oh well, too late now.”

If you’ve ever wondered why you keep making the same promises to yourself, or why “just one more” always sounds like a great idea until it isn’t, this book offers clarity without judgement. It explains the biology, the psychology, and the very human messiness behind our choices.

It’s smart. It’s funny. It’s unexpectedly moving. And if you’ve ever felt alone in your habits, your patterns, or your attempts to change them, this book reminds you that you’re absolutely not.

A great book to explore your relationship with alcohol.

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I liked the mix of personal anecdotes from Charles and Annie, interspersed with an in-depth scientific analysis of society’s relationship with alcohol. As someone with an alcoholic family member, and as someone who was at medical school with Charlie nearly 40 years ago, the book had much to offer.

A personal and scientific delve into alcohol and its associated problems

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