Thirst out next year
John Robins has written a memoir about his alcoholism,
Thirst: Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life will be out in May and ‘tells the story of his life through the lens of alcohol, the drinks that made him, and those that broke him,’ publishers Viking say.
Their blurb adds: ‘From his earliest drinking experiences – pretending to be drunk after a sip of champagne aged five, spraying aftershave into his mouth at the school play afterparty, and university nights spent downing red wine alone in his room – to his last drink in 2022 and the journey into sobriety that followed, John explores our relationship with alcohol through reflections on decades of his own drinking.
‘From hazy memory to sudden clarity he sheds light on subjects from mental health to friendship, from creativity to the lies we tell ourselves, and answers questions such as: are alcoholics born or made? How can we make sense of 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 raw honesty and hilarious digressions with the collective wisdom of alcoholics and those around them 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?"’
Robins spoke about his relationship with alcohol in his 2023 stand-up show Howl and on a number of podcasts and Thirst is the first book has written without his friend and long-tome collaborator Elis James.
Robins and James are touring the UK with their radio show producer Dave Masterman from this week. Tour dates are her.
» John Robins on addiction, comedy and Taskmaster
• Thirst: Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life is available to order from Amazon, priced £20 in hardback.
Published: 31 Aug 2025
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Elis and John Present the Holy Vible:
John Robins: Work In ProgressProgress In Work
John Robins: Work In ProgressProgress In Work
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