The best way for me to explain the meaning of the blue pills (and red napkin text) on the cover is to reference this quote from another well-known dual-reality story line:

“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the BLUE pill…and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the RED pill…and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember, all I’m offering is the truth. Nothing more.”

Morpheus

The Matrix, 1999

It’s a story about HOW and WHY our common understanding and use of alcohol creates a normal life experience of good times that sometimes unintentionally slip into not-so-good times.

Smart, simple, funny, honest and nonjudgmental.

No. I consider this a self-awareness book. But since the Library of Congress only offers “Self-Help” as the closest category for this content in their Classification System for published books, that’s the reason you see “Self-Help | Alcohol” on the back cover.

Yes. The short chapters, fun quotes and simple illustrations make it relatable and easy to read.

There are 10 sections and 57 Chapters each with 2-facing-pages of text and illustrations that total 143 pages. I hear it takes less than 2 hours to read – depending on how often you pause to relate, wince and laugh about your similar drinking experiences and those happening all around you.

I wrote it because I figured out how to explain to my teenage son (and to myself) about the popularity, purpose and pitfalls of drinking alcohol. And since everyone I talked to also really enjoyed how our story helped them see/hear/understand themselves and the people around them, I decided to write a book about it.

Yes (mine, my son’s, your’s, everyone’s).

Three groups:  1) Adults who have questions about their own relationship with alcohol, 2) Adults who have questions about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, 3) Parents who want to learn how to explain alcohol in a way that their teenagers will hear them.

1) Laughter and wincing about the genius of the ‘Drink Responsibly’ slogan; 2) awareness of the seven limited beliefs we all have about alcohol; 3) understanding of the three independent teachers that make everyone under the influence of alcohol (every age, gender, lifestyle and location…whether we’re drinking or not).