Allan Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking
Rating: 
The Granddaddy of all stop-smoking guru’s. Unfortunately Mr. Allen Carr has now passed away.
Independent studies place Allen Carr’s EasyWay to Stop Smoking with a success rate of just over 50%, which by the way is excellent. You can now see why we take exception with programs that claim 90%-plus success rates. In any case, the EasyWay method is quick and easy at 5 hours, effective at over 50% and guaranteed 100%. So what’s the downside? Well, there are two major drawbacks for most of us mere mortals. One, to be part of the 50% you must attend a live EasyWay seminar, which if you live in or around a major center (New York, LA, Toronto, Vancouver), is not a big deal. But if you don’t, then be prepared to travel to wherever the next one is, and that could be quite far away because their schedule is set up for their convenience, not yours. Second is the cost. This isn’t just the cost of the 5-hour seminar itself at $400, but as we said, the cost of travel as well. It can all add up very quickly. Of course, if it means you do stop smoking, you will recoup that money within a few months. But if you don’t – well, you don’t get any money back guarantee on all those incidental expenses. There is the option of buying the EasyWay book (about $15 on Amazon.com) or DVD, but only if you live in the UK, however no statistics have been given for these methods and sometimes that in itself says something.
We really didn’t know how to rate the Easy Way to Stop Smoking because it gets 5-stars for effectiveness, yet only 2-stars for affordability and accessibility. So we gave it positive weighted 3-stars.
Our final thoughts. If you can afford the program and arrange to attend, we recommend you do so at your earliest convenience. If not, go with End The Habit, which offers you pretty much the same process, plus ongoing support – and you can do it all from home.
Pros:
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Very effective
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Quick and Easy
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No pills or patches required
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Money back guarantee
Cons:
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Very expensive
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Not particularly convenient for most people
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Travel costs in most cases
I quit using Allan Carr’s method. Very effective, and he actually has a CD-ROM so you don’t have to go in person (quite useful, given that Mr. Carr has passed away).
I purchased his book ” The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” the first of November 2009. I read the book while I smoked and upon completing the book, just before Thanksgiving, I smoked my last cigarette. The whole point is that I didn’t give up something but quit a nasty thing that was damaging my health and was costing a lot of money. As long as you look at it this way you have no need or reason to feel deprived of anything.
Thanks for your thoughts Gene!
I know a number of people (3 to be exact), 2 people who were hard-core smokers, who have quit by simply reading Mr. Carr’s book and following the instructions. One of these people (a pack and half a day smoker) only read to page 8 and quit. This is man who is tottering around his late 50′s so had smoked for a long time. He’s been quit for over a year and my partner, for over 2 years. It hasn’t worked for me (yet…one has to remain hopeful) but the book has worked really well for some. The cost is minimal and can be purchased from any location. I highly reccomend giving it a whirl.
We hope it turns out positive for you as well.
Kindly let me know if I can purchase an ebook Thanks
Hi Ragini,
I have never seen this offered in e-book format, only hardcopy or in person.
I have used this method to quit and it was very successful the third time around. I read the book once, and there is an actual movie of the book as well which I watched twice. The problem I had was that I still had cigarettes around me the first couple times (reading the book and watching the movie once). I was so determined to quit, that when I finally got to that last cigarette in my pack (this was all in a course of a few days) I watched the movie one last time, smoked that last cig at the end of the movie, and god is my witness I haven’t smoked one since! It was a little, and I mean just a little difficult for the first 3 weeks. Once the nicotine is out of your system (takes 3 weeks), you don’t think about it or have any urge to smoke AT ALL! I smoked for almost 15 years and started as a teenager, and I never thought I could EVER quit. Now, I seriously am done with it forever and am not looking back! I can breathe again, I do not have a wheezing in my chest when I breathe in anymore, I don’t feel sluggish, or worry about when I am going to have my next nic fix. My complexion looks much better, not so sullen. My teeth are white again and my gums are going back to the pink color they once were before. Not to mention all of the time and energy I have now to play with my son. I also can’t believe I used to smell so disgusting after having a cig. Oh ya, and did I mention all the money I have saved??
I did it to be a role model for my son, because after all, monkey see, monkey do. I started smoking because my parents used to tell me not to do it with a cig hanging out of their mouths.
It is seriously an amazing book/movie and I highly recommend it to ANYONE who WANTS to quit, because after all, you have to want to quit or it wont work! Allen Carr is a god among gods, and he definitely knew what he was talking about. RIP.
The ONLY downside to this method is, you gain a little weight because your metabolism slows down when you quit and food tastes so much better. All you need to do to fix that is exercise, and eat right. You might as well go all the way when it comes to your health if you are quitting smoking already! I exercise regularly now and see the difference in my deep breathing after almost 3 months of kicking the habit.
In a nutshell, this WILL work for you, if you want it to! I hope my review will help someone else to kick the habit in the near future!
I quit “cold turkey” nearly a year ago. My quit date was February 9th, 2010. I smoked 3/4 of a pack for 18 years and attempted to quit several times. I finally made up my mind that I wanted it bad enough. I purchased a book called The Easy Way. I read it, studied it, took notes and nearly memorized it. I quit cold turkey. Well, now I am nearing my one year date of being a “non-smoker”. I love it! I am born again! I am free! Yes, it was difficult for the first three weeks, but I used the physchology given to me in the book. I understood the physical withdrawls. I have not cheated at all, not even once! After a few months, it got easier and having a cigarette was a fleeting thought, usually triggered by stress. Well, I resisted and erased it from my thoughts and focused on how wonderful it was to not smoke. I focused on how disgusting those who smoked looked and smelled. Now, after nearly a year, I rarely think of it other than to realize that I did it…I really did it…I kicked that nasty habit! I will never have another puff…never! I did it…you can too! It is actually easy now! You can do it!
Good advice Michelle…thanks.
in reference to the ebook question…
itunes now offers the original ”allen carr’s easy way to stop smoking” in audiobook format. it cost me $15 (Canadian). the play time is roughly six hours.
i found this beneficial. i also picked up a copy of the book (for reference).
i’m quite fresh off the boat here…but to be honest, there is still a minor struggle being waged within me. i feel it’s important to be patient with yourself. and…as mentioned in the final chapters…commit to the choice without fear. leave your doubts at the door. KNOW that this is the right decision. for you (for me) it may not be as ‘easy’ as the book likes to describe…but with some effort it is a most powerful ally. reprogramming of the brain can be a bit more of an adventure for some of us. but…it WILL happen. when i think of the time i’ve spent creating my own belief system to support my smoking…working through a short period of removing that mental filter seems to be more than reasonable.
i have to say…this has been very emotional so far. to me…it’s a sign of great progress.
thanks to everyone that has shared.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Chris
I read the book, quit smoking for 24hrs then started again or I would have killed someone – all because I couldn’t find the Iron!
LOL…Thanks for being honest Carolynne
My husband and I quit with the book 6 years ago and we have not had a single cigarette since the last one. We don’t miss it, and it really changed how we perceived smoking. We also have a couple friends who successfully quit with the book.
Ragini,
I purchased a copy from Barnes and Noble for Nook. It may be available for other readers as well. Good Luck!
I found the book 6 weeks ago, read the book in one sitting (about 4 hours), and threw away my cigarettes, lighter, ashtrays… etc. I did it pretty joyously because the book reprograms the way of thinking we’ve all been brainwashed with. Cigarettes deliver nicotine, but are not enjoyable. They do not relieve stress at all they just relieve cravings which cause stress. Most importantly the book illustrates that the cravings are no worse than a myriad of other discomforts we ignore when we must. Hunger Pains, or the need to use the restroom for instance. The real thing that keeps us trapped is the fear of these minor discomforts we have all learned to deal with from time to time. Once we have let go of that fear, embraced the idea that we are not being deprived, and realized that all we lose from quitting is smoking cigarettes. It’s not only possible it’s ridiculously easy. “Smoking is like banging your head against a wall to enjoy the feeling of stopping.” (2005 Allen Carr “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking”)
Good Luck!
I am on 48 hours after reading The Easy Way, by Carr. I love thinking about the “first smoke is the beginning of the next thousand” and recognizing this “craving” is just the withdraw from my last cigarette. I am a little antsy, and pacing around a bit, but the truth is after 30 years of pack a day smoking, I just have more TIME on my hands than I am used to! I used the “American version” of the book, and am DONE smoking, and don’t feel deprived, I feel liberated! : )
Good to hear Rochelle. Keep us updated on your progress.
Chris