Thirst : Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life

Author: Robins, John

Memoirs

Published on 7 May 2026 by Penguin Books Ltd (Viking) in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 336 pages
145 x 225 x 31 | 446g

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER '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'A triumph, and as powerful a description of alcoholism as I've read' Bryony Gordon John Robins is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, Taskmaster champion and award-winning broadcaster. He is also an alcoholic. But what does that mean? In Thirst, John tells the story of his life through the lens of alcohol, the drinks that made him, and those that broke him. From his earliest drinking experiences – pretending to be drunk aged five, spraying aftershave into his mouth at a school play afterparty, and drinking red wine alone at university – to his last drink in 2022, he traces his journey into sobriety. From hazy memory to sudden clarity, John reflects on mental health, friendship, creativity and the lies we tell ourselves. He asks: are alcoholics born or made? How do we understand youthful missteps? And can Buddhism provide relief when dealing with haemorrhoids?

Filled with insights and epiphanies from the world of addiction and recovery, Thirst blends John’s trademark honesty and hilarious digressions with the collective wisdom of alcoholics to offer a compelling, powerful and morbidly funny narrative for anyone who has ever asked 'why do we drink?', 'why do I drink?' or 'do I drink too much?'.

'The most honest, helpful and perceptive book I've ever read about alcohol, and also the funniest' Josh Widdicombe'A rigorous and courageous look at the making and unmaking of an alcoholic that also often made me laugh aloud' Amy Liptrot