Thirst

A triumph, and as powerful a description of alcoholism as I've read

Bryony Gordon

The most honest, helpful and perceptive book I've ever read about alcohol, and also the funniest

Josh Widdicombe

The funniest book ever written about wanting to drink yourself to death

Lou Sanders

Insightful and intelligent. Harrowing but hopeful. And, as always, hilarious

Adrian Chiles

I loved this book. Unflinching, poetic, funny and beautiful, yet still somehow so needlessly pedantic and silly. It’s a rich and generous enquiry into how to be a human

Josie Long

Robins at his finest

Pierre Novellie

John Robins's Thirst is funny and true. Packed full of excruciating, hilarious stories, about his school days, fashion choices, friendships and comedy adventures, it's also sprinkled with genuinely revelatory life advice, mostly told via his fuck-ups with alcohol. These fuck-ups are - yep - funny, but it's the truth inside that resonates. He understands the spell of the perfect drink and also how far we can fall when that magic stops working. Kind and coruscating, peculiar and universal, I found myself reading bits of Thirst out to people I love.

Miranda Sawyer

Thirst is a rigorous and courageous look at the making and unmaking of an alcoholic that also often made me laugh aloud. Reading as a fellow addict, I found helpful insight for my own recovery and moments of connection that sometimes made me cry. There is also quite a long section comparing the benefits of different capacity of tea mugs, which was unexpected.

Amy Liptrot, author of THE OUTRUN

Having admired John’s warmth and wit onstage for years it is wonderful to see his wise, humorous mind at work in this book. He has laid himself bare in a way that is sure to help others.

Alan Davies, author of JUST IGNORE HIM