Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking Without Willpower

Rate this book
THE BRAND-NEW UPGRADE OF THE WORLD'S BEST-SELLING STOP SMOKING BOOK OF ALL TIME. Allen Carr's Easyway method is a global phenomenon - a clinically proven and 100% drug-free treatment for nicotine addiction. This book is the most up-to-date, cutting-edge, best-practice version of this method. It now includes advice on important contemporary issues such as vaping, cannabis, JUUL, the association between smoking and self-harm & anxiety, the dopamine issue, and more advice about habitual triggers. Through following this method, you will not only be set free from your smoking or vaping addiction but you will also find it easy and even enjoyable to quit. • Without using willpower, aids, substitutes, or gimmicks• Without gaining weight• Without suffering anxiety, depression, or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms• Without envying partners, friends or colleagues who smoke/vapeThis book is designed to help busy people, who appreciate clear no-nonsense guidance. It gives you a structured, easy-to-follow method for getting free from nicotine painlessly and immediately.What people say about Allen Carr's Easyway "Allen Carr's international bestseller...has helped countless people quit."Time Out New York"If you want to quit ... its called the Easyway ... I'm so glad I quit."Ellen DeGeneres "It was such a revelation that instantly I was freed from my addiction."Sir Anthony Hopkins"His skill is in removing the psychological dependence."The Sunday Times

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2020

212 people are currently reading
222 people want to read

About the author

Allen Carr

390 books265 followers
Allen Carr was a British author and the founder of the global Allen Carr’s Easyway method, renowned for helping millions overcome smoking and other addictions. Born in Putney, London in 1934, Carr began smoking at 18 during National Service and struggled with the habit for over three decades. A qualified accountant, he finally quit in 1983 following a revelatory visit to a hypnotherapist. The experience didn’t directly cause him to quit, but it led to two key insights: that smoking was simply a form of nicotine addiction, and that withdrawal symptoms were minor and psychological in nature. These revelations inspired Carr to develop a revolutionary approach to quitting, one that did not rely on willpower, scare tactics, or substitution therapies.
Carr’s philosophy centered on removing the smoker’s fear of giving up. He argued that smoking merely relieves withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette, and that the supposed satisfaction gained is merely a return to the non-smoker’s normal state. Through live seminars, books, and multimedia resources, the Easyway method encourages smokers to continue smoking while they reframe their beliefs, ultimately extinguishing their final cigarette with clarity and confidence.
In 1985, Carr published The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, which became a bestseller and was translated into more than 45 languages. The success of his London clinic led to the establishment of over 100 Easyway centers in 35 countries, offering seminars to treat smoking, alcohol dependency, sugar addiction, and even fear of flying. His method’s credibility was bolstered by independent clinical trials, including studies in Ireland and the UK which found it as effective—if not more so—than standard cessation methods. This led to its adoption by NHS-approved services in England.
A key element of the Easyway clinics is that all facilitators are former addicts who successfully quit using the method themselves. They must complete extensive training and become licensed members of the Association of Allen Carr Therapists International.
Throughout his career, Carr also co-authored a wide range of Easyway books addressing various addictions and behavioral issues, often collaborating with Robin Hayley and John C. Dicey, the current Chairman and Global CEO of Allen Carr’s Easyway. Dicey, whom Carr mentored, continues to lead the organization’s development and public outreach.
Carr died of lung cancer in 2006 at age 72, though he had not smoked for 23 years. He attributed his illness to second-hand smoke exposure during seminars. Before his death, he remained committed to his mission, challenging governmental ties to nicotine replacement industries and advocating for wider access to his method.
Carr’s legacy continues through his clinics, books, and online programs, which have reached over 50 million people worldwide. His message remains consistent: quitting is not a sacrifice—it’s liberation.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
402 (71%)
4 stars
117 (20%)
3 stars
29 (5%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Brian Kivuti.
42 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2022
I'd used this book to quit smoking about 5 years ago, after 8 years of heavy smoking. It was surprisingly effective, easy, as the title says. I've also had the chance to apply this approach to another area in my life.

I then ended getting trapped in smoking again last year, this time, through vaping. For some reason, I never thought of it as smoking until I was quickly hooked on the nicotine addiction. I then switched to cigarettes a couple of weeks ago, as I found that would be easier to quit with the downsides being more pronounced. I listened to this book again (audio), and thankfully quit for the second time in my life. Yippee! Honestly though, when I noticed how useless and intense my vape addiction was, it was a little distressing. It felt like a pointless hamster wheel that didn't do me any favours and couldn't get off; constantly being on top of a craving that would return again and again. I was sad considering the clothes I could have bought with that vape money.
Profile Image for Kym Gamble.
378 reviews20 followers
July 29, 2021
Good book about how to quit smoking without all the "you're gonna get cancer, copd, etc). Gives some really good information that you don't get in most quit smoking materials. I have now been a non-smoker for 5 days.
2 reviews
June 2, 2022
WORKS 100%

This is the best work that an author, specialist or a psychologist could ever write. Works like a charm.. Have complete control over my smoking... Mr. Carr is nothing less than a god for me..
3 reviews
July 5, 2023
What can I say - read the book, stopped smoking. Feels like I’ve never smoked in my life by now.
The promised timelines (5 days, 3 weeks) were right. Everything in the book is right. It’s not magic. It’s just removes all the illusions every smoker ever makes up for themselves to continue smoking :) it really was so easy. Previously I was convinced I will become neurotic monster when quitting, but that never happened, thanks to this book. I only regret not reading this book years ago, just like the author says
Thank you Mr Allen.
10/10
Profile Image for PoohBooh.
6 reviews
July 13, 2022
As of today I am officially a non-smoker. Great book. Can’t believe a book convinced me to quit vaping
Profile Image for Bianca A..
308 reviews163 followers
July 14, 2024
As a smoker that has struggled for the past 10 years with smoking (currently 31 and a half years of age), I can say that this book provided one of the missing links that helped me a lot for my current and hopefully last quit. Out of the 10 years I smoked only 5, thankfully, because the other 5 have been of a non-smoker during my on and off quit periods. This book made me understand why I went back to smoking again, after all that effort to quit from the past. It helped me resolve some of my demons, some lies and narratives, and helped correct things which we tend to give little to no importance to such as perspective and emotional attachment, or inability to resolve fear of the imagined. It's one of the few titles I plan to keep in my Audible list and revisit whenever I feel the need to. I can't add anything else to this review, as this book is something you need to wholeheartedly experience as a smoker in order to reap the benefits.
Profile Image for Chip.
90 reviews3 followers
February 19, 2021
This book gave me the confidence to actually look forward to quitting. It helped me understand the power of manipulation that addiction can have over my own brain and the tricks we tell ourselves to keep filling that bottomless 'hole' (ie the many ways we tell ourselves that we need that next cigarette).
I can't say that my journey was easy and enjoyable as promised... however, it is still ongoing (2 months now) and I have only slipped once.
Maybe I need to listen to it multiple times.
However, it did give me the tools needed to help fight off the worst of cravings.
5 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2021
Worked for me. It is all about being opened and rewiring your brain while listening/reading this book. Don't let it bother you if you feel like it becomes repetitive, just go along, it is totally on purpose. I actually quit smoking after readjusting how my brain works in certain situations. Go ahead. Treat yourself to the chance of quitting this habit.
176 reviews
November 12, 2023
I don’t smoke so I can’t directly speak to the effectiveness of this book. Primary focus is three-fold: Systematically dismantling the idea that smoking offers any personal benefits. Emphasising the weakness of the physical addiction to nicotine. Flagging the strength of the psychological addiction. I believe this would be highly effective and would also generalise to other domains.
7 reviews
January 17, 2024
Smoked for 23 years and was up to a pack a day. I didn't really want to quit, but I knew I had to for health reasons.

It has been 4 years since I read this book and quit. No looking back.

Short book, you smoke while you read it. The author smoked 2 packs a day for decades. Very relatable. 100% recommended 👌
Profile Image for madison🏹.
82 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2023
i was like idk if i want to put on goodreads that i was listening to this bc that’s embarrassing but this book just changed my entire life and made it so easy to stop juuling and im so grateful for it and i would recommend it a million times over
3 reviews
November 19, 2020
Unbelievable!!!

I’ve quit my nicotine addiction within hours of reading Allen Carr, after smoking a pack a day for more than 22 years. There can be no better review.
Profile Image for Tara Collins.
1 review
Read
March 4, 2024
I did it! I had already quit vaping, but this book was a miracle in that I don’t miss the vape juice at all and I know 1000% that I’ll never smoke again!
Profile Image for SFM.
37 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2024
haven’t vaped in over 2 months x
Profile Image for Matthew Zeichert.
141 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2024
Guy uses the same thing for all addictions/habit. Once I found that out, I was fucked.
Profile Image for Chris Kelly.
95 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2022
As well as being exceptionally well written (so much so that you almost want to keep reading solely for the writing), Allen Carr's Easy Way To Quit Smoking is very effective at its aim.

First it makes you realise how unexciting smoking is, and how unnecessary, and then gives that beautiful nudge to just quit. Just like that. I threw out my half pack of tobacco nearly three weeks ago and I haven't spiraled into mania. I didn't even produce a sweat of anxiety. I just stopped.

I don't crave cigarettes, although I do think about them. Not so much because I miss them, but because I had built a decade-long habit around it. How am I not going to think about them? And, besides, Allen stipulates that you must allow yourself to freely think about smoking if your mind wishes to. Don't NOT think about it!

Anyway, I highly recommend this book for smokers who feel they must quit, especially if you have tried every other method of quitting.

In a nutshell, from personal experience, the thing about quitting smoking is that you just have to not smoke. The hardest part is overcoming the withdrawals (which I never really noticed them) and putting yourself in the right frame of mind. Allen's Easy Way does this exceptionally well. And (bonus points!) it is written so fabulously, so engagingly, that it's a breeze to get through.
Profile Image for Lynetia Botha.
3 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2024
This book never gets old. I read this book in this format and it was probably my fourth time reading it.

It has not lost any impact and is a powerful catalyst for change and an incredible tool to quit smoking.

Allen Carr’s book and advice cuts through limiting mindsets and confusion around smoking unlike any other books.

This edition is modernised to include vaping, which I thought is extremely helpful for modern nicotine addiction.

If you are a smoker and you’ve never read this book, do yourself a favour and read it with absolutely no intention to quit.

You’ll be very surprised at the joyful outcome.
Profile Image for Susan Stone.
10 reviews
April 10, 2022
I have been trying to quit for about 10 yrs and this is the first time that I confidently feel that this is it!! I highly recommend this book for people who are stuck in the nicotine trap! It helps you to rewire your brain away from the habits, and it really isn’t as hard to quit as everyone says it is. I have tried everything, using willpower and nicotine substitutes. And those ways never worked.
Profile Image for Nikki.
41 reviews3 followers
January 7, 2023
I'm not a smoker myself, but read this with a loved one who is curious about becoming smoke-free. I can't speak as to whether or not the Easy Way works, but Allen Carr's book is simple, accessible, and talks about every aspect of living with a nicotine addiction... As well as how to painlessly and effortlessly get free. The audiobook was well-narrated and very calming to listen to, with pockets of humour to tide you through 🙂 I wish everyone a healthy, happy and smoke-free future after reading this!
3 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2023
I think it actually worked on me.
I read it many years ago as a regular smoker and forgot about it.
Some time after I woke up one day and felt disgusted by everything about cigarettes: the smell on my lips, clothes, house, the taste was sickening, made me dizzy, the realisation about tremendous effects on my health and pointless spendings. From one day to another I stopped and never touched it again.
Only looking back now I connected the dots, that maybe it was the book.
Profile Image for Julia.
58 reviews
November 17, 2024
Very straightforward and repetitive arguments, yet the concepts turn over in your head in the days following and seep into your consciousness in a way that is very effective. Has made some impact as I've quit for the longest time since starting vaping about four years ago. 99% psychological v 1% mental argument a little misleading, as dopamine baseline (and no doubt other brain chemistry) lower than normal for weeks after quitting - can make you feel quite depressed, probably important information to know.
1 review
February 16, 2025
READ IT! If you really want to STOP SMOKING!

Honestly, i had doubted when i started the book. But guys, it’s really work for me by completely remove my desire to smoke and since i have finished the book, i no longer have to use willpower to suppress anything at all.

Give it a shot if you do want to STOP SMOKING!
Profile Image for Kamil Suchodoła.
8 reviews
June 2, 2025
Fantastic book. After 15 years of being stuck in the vicious cycle of smoking, quitting, and relapsing, tomorrow marks four weeks since I last smoked—thanks to this wondrous book. It clearly explains the trap that smoking is and how to escape it. David Bowie allegedly said that nicotine was the hardest drug he ever quit, and it's hard to disagree. Here's to freedom from this poisonous trash!
1 review
Read
February 7, 2023
It works as advertised.

For the price of the book you can end the mental pain and suffering, the degradation, the useless and unneeded stress.
You can actually be happy with yourself and life.
Profile Image for Rokas Subačius.
17 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2024
As a piece of literature it is garbage. But for what it’s supposed to do it works well. I read the summary when I stopped smoking, and the pointers were quite helpful. Cravings for smoking came back with new triggers though, so i have listened to the audio version of this book. This book has helped me to understand the nature of addiction better. I am still a happy non smoker and this book has definitely helped me to stay that way.
Profile Image for Bekah Morr.
16 reviews
January 9, 2025
Alan Carr really did something with this. He’s got me journaling again and everything. The metaphors are a little cheesy but the British woman who narrated the vaping audio book borderline hypnotized me into quitting.
2 reviews
October 20, 2021
I have stopped smoking thanks to this book. Never looked back.
Profile Image for Justin.
15 reviews3 followers
January 2, 2022
I dont even smoke but this book is magic
Profile Image for Cosima.
101 reviews
February 6, 2022
This was surprisingly a good read, however I did not quit so sorry Allen😩
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.