We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life
Written by Laura McKowen
Narrated by Laura McKowen
5/5
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About this audiobook
— Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Warrior: A Memoir
What could possibly be “lucky” about addiction? Absolutely nothing, thought Laura McKowen when drinking brought her to her knees. As she puts it, she “kicked and screamed . . . wishing for something — anything — else” to be her issue. The people who got to drink normally, she thought, were so damn lucky.
But in the midst of early sobriety, when no longer able to anesthetize her pain and anxiety, she realized that she was actually the lucky one. Lucky to feel her feelings, live honestly, really be with her daughter, change her legacy. She recognized that “those of us who answer the invitation to wake up, whatever our invitation, are really the luckiest of all.”
Here, in straight-talking chapters filled with personal stories, McKowen addresses issues such as facing facts, the question of AA, and other people’s drinking. Without sugarcoating the struggles of sobriety, she relentlessly emphasizes the many blessings of an honest life, one without secrets and debilitating shame.
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Reviews for We Are the Luckiest
196 ratings25 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a beautiful, honest, and inspiring memoir. The author's rawness and honesty resonate deeply with readers, and her storytelling is fluid and poetic. Many readers appreciate the author's contribution to the sober movement and find her story relatable and life-changing. The book offers guidance and comfort to those on the journey of recovery, and the inclusion of quotes and poetry adds to the reading experience. Overall, this memoir is highly recommended for its emotional impact and transformative power.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love Laura! I attend her sobriety meetings daily. I just finished the book and it made me appreciate her so much more. I recommend this book to anyone on the road of recovery.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I found this book by happenstance, I was listening to the podcast 'Terrible, thanks for asking' by Nora McInerney recently, toward the end of the episode I started bawling uncontrollably because I was right in the middle of my own Thing. Laura's story and her voice speak to the truth of transformation and looking the stuff of your life right in the eye. I feel a little bereft now that I've reached the end of the book. I'll get a hardcopy, I think this is one of those books that you just have to keep going back to as a touchstone.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a beautiful book. So raw and honest that it’s painful to listen to at times, but wonderful. Without a doubt, one of the best things I’ve ever listened to!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely amazing. Memoir of the year. Life changing. Deeply honest. Beautifully written and structured. A gift most gratefully revived. You don’t have to be addicted to anything to read this. Just read it and breathe ❤️
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic book. Made me realise so many unsaid and unspoken things about my life. So honest and so many points I want to listen to again and again and take notice from. Anyone, whether you struggle with alcohol or not, should listen to this.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The author’s honesty, warmth, true self. A treasure to live
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book has parts that are such a gut punch of honesty . Laura has contributed to the sober movement in a big way with this honesty bomb!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fabulous book. Really helpful and thought provoking, her honesty in her writing is refreshing and allows one to see they are not alone. Her account of her own journey offers guidance to any of us who wish to life a new life without alcohol... And reminds us of the daily benefits.. Thank you Laura. Also I love the poetry dotted throughout... Points to some good reading.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautiful book! I love the rawness and honesty! Recommended read!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Simply beautiful
Well done
A uk 24 hours sober. Inspired - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5From the very first chapter I fell in love with the book, the author, the story and I hear my own story through hers. I am at the beginning of the journey with exploring, understanding and forgiving myself and feel quite scared and lonely and in uncharted territory. Forever grateful for Laura and sharing her story and providing a bridge of connection through our humanness and story.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very well done. And absolutely necessary to see the faces of recovery. We see plenty of the opposite.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The truthfulness was moving and inspiring.
I also liked the quotes and poetry. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I can’t speak highly enough of this book. Poignant, beautiful and eloquent- this resonates powerfully true.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Excellent poetic prose. From the title, I expected more writing about “We Are the Luckiest”- and the book is more writing about the raw, real visceral reality of what any addiction does to destroy our peace of mind and pure joy of existence. The title could be: My Path to Freedom or Finding Joy on the other side…..
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thank you for the emotion in your words. Thank you.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bought it in paperback before I got to chapter two. Looking forward to highlighting, annotating, and then sharing this read with my “tribe”. Thank you Laura ♥️♥️♥️
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good audio book, I enjoyed listening to her life story on being an alcoholic and the difficulties one goes through with drinking.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A real account of a real life struggle and perseverance. Thank you for sharing your remarkable journey.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great insight into being free again. Loved the way it was written and expressed
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solid 4 stars! Thanks to this book I discovered Ms. McKowen and started following her on social media and subscribed to her newsletter / she's a great inspiration. Much of what she shared about her recovery or rather the strategies she used to get better resonated with me deeply, and I am grateful for these honest chapters that made me look inwards and comforted me.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was the first book I read (listened too) as I started my sober journey. It had been saved in my list for months. Listening to her story, genuine and earnest… I just felt my eyes open. I will always remember those early days… and having a “support” in this author.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fluid and poetic storytelling by an author willing to bear her soul to the reader. Beautifully and emotionally read by the author herself. Highly recommend. I’m going to listen to this again!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Really enjoyed the honesty and all the advice from this book
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I’m still sobbing tears of joy and gratitude. What a raw and honest and relatable recount of her story. So many times, I felt that she had reached into my head and grabbed my own thoughts. Sometimes she even voiced thoughts that I always knew were in myself, but never knew how to articulate them- let alone out loud to another person. If you’re feeling lost or confused or any other feeling that often comes with problem drinking or the new stages of recovery, this is certainly for you. I will most definitely be reading this one again and again for years to come. Thank you, Laura. ?