Todd was a classic gray area drinker who looked like he had it all together on the outside. But on the inside, he was tormented by his relationship with alcohol. He loved drinking and being the life of the party, yet there was so much about drinking he didn’t like: the control it had on him, how it consumed his every thought, and how he felt after drinking too much.

He spent six years evaluating his relationship with alcohol and employing every moderation hack in the book. Some of them worked, but it was exhausting and the victories were always short-lived.

By 2019, Todd was growing tired of fighting his internal battle. He was worn down by the constant negotiating and obsessing, and he was sick of the torment, shame, and regret. Then, in the fall of that year, his wife whispered something into his ear that would end up changing his life forever. He decided to quit drinking.

Giving up alcohol was scary and overwhelming. Even though Todd knew it was the right decision, he also thought life without alcohol would be a little dull and boring, a bit like a prison sentence for not being able to “drink like a normal person.”

He discovered that giving it up was the farthest thing from a prison sentence. I Didn’t Believe It Either is the raw, honest, vulnerable, and sometimes funny story of Todd’s journey to quitting the one thing he thought he couldn’t live without and his discovery that sobriety is better than he ever imagined.

Available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com

Reviews

“This book is a must read for anyone who may be curious about their relationship with alcohol. No matter where you are on life’s path, you will find yourself in Todd’s game-changing words. I could not put the book down. Todd shows the reader how he has changed the trajectory of his family by choosing to live alcohol free. As Josh Brolin so perfectly wrote: “Sobriety is when your kids can look at you and trust what they see.”

– Peggi Cooney, author of This Side of Alcohol

“Through his reflective storytelling, Todd is able to sincerely depict the surrendering experience of giving up alcohol. Consequently, he is able to show exactly how the undeniable freedom that accompanies life on the other side truly feels. This is a book all dads should read, regardless of where they think they stand with alcohol.”

– Kimberly Kearns, author of On the Edge of Shattered

“Amidst the plethora of female stories in the quit lit genre comes a much-needed male experience. Todd shares his story with humility and humor, and his words helped me piece together fragments of my own story that had been unresolved for years. Todd’s voice is a beacon, especially for other men still hiding in the shadows of their shame.”

– Kezia Calvert, co-host of The Weekend Sober podcast

About the Author

Todd Kinney is an attorney who lives in Omaha, NE with his wife, four kids, and two wiener dogs. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golf, hanging out with his family (when they let him), and spending an unhealthy amount of time and money supporting the Iowa Hawkeyes. He quit drinking in 2019 and considers it the best thing he’s ever done for himself or his family.