Allen Carr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the film producer and manager with a similar name, see Allan Carr.
- For the British Comedian, see Alan Carr.
Allen Carr (2 September 1934 – 29 November 2006), who until 1983 was a five pack per day chain smoker himself, was most notable as the author of books on how to stop smoking and, as he stressed, escape nicotine addiction.
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[edit] Biography
London born Carr started smoking doing National Service aged 18. He qualified as an accountant in 1958, by which time he had built up a 100 a day cigarette habit. He tried quitting numerous times, but in his late 30s after his father died of lung cancer Carr swore to stop, but on exiting the hospital lit up again.
Carr finally quit smoking in 1983, aged 48, after reading a medical textbook.
[edit] Philosophy
Carr claimed that, contrary to their perception, smokers do not receive a boost from smoking a cigarette: smoking only relieves the withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette, which in turn creates more withdrawal symptoms once it is finished. In this way the drug addiction perpetuates itself. He asserted that the relief that smokers feel on lighting a cigarette is continually experienced by non-smokers. He further asserted that smoking is less addictive than is commonly assumed, that withdrawal symptoms are actually created by doubt in the mind of the ex-smoker, and that stopping smoking is not as traumatic as is commonly assumed if that doubt can be circumvented. His contention was that fear of giving up is what causes the majority to continue smoking.
[edit] Easyway
Carr left his accountancy job in 1983 and set up his first Easyway clinic to help other addicts. He wrote ten bestsellers including his 1985 hit "The Easy Way To Stop Smoking", which topped the non-fiction book charts in nine countries. He built up 70 Easyway clinics in 30 countries and produced CDs, tapes, and DVDs. Carr's clinic's claimed a 53 per cent success rate in helping smokers stop<ref>http://allencarr.com/central/article/101/an-open-letter-to-tony-blair-from-allen-carr</ref>. Celebrity clients included Sir Richard Branson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Britney Spears and Charlotte Church.
Carr also wrote a number of other How to books, on subjects such as losing weight and controlling alcohol consumption. The combined empire built him a £120 million pound fortune<ref>http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006550670,00.html</ref>.
[edit] Personal life
In late July 2006 it was revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 71<ref name="BBC">"Allen Carr fighting lung cancer", BBC, 30 July 2006. Retrieved on 2006-07-30.</ref>. The following month he revealed that it was terminal and his life expectancy was about nine months<ref>"Quit smoking guru Allen Carr: 'I have nine months to live'", Daily Mail, 14 August 2006. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.</ref>. Carr said: "Since I smoked my final cigarette, 23 years ago, I have been the happiest man in the world. I still feel the same way today.” Carr wrote to Tony Blair, urging the UK Government and NHS to accept his method, saying that the “powerful influence” of lobbyists working for nicotine replacement firms had turned them against him.
Carr died as a result of his lung cancer on 29 November, 2006 at his home near Málaga, Spain<ref>"Allen Carr dies from lung cancer", BBC, 29 November 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.</ref>.
Allen Carr is survived by his second wife, Joyce, his four children (two by his first wife), two step-children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
[edit] Publications
- The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
- The Only Way to Stop Smoking
- Allen Carr's Easy Way for Women to Stop Smoking
- Allen Carr's Easy Way to Control Alcohol
- Allen Carr's Easy Weigh to Lose Weight
- The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying
- The Easy Way to Stop Worrying
- Allen Carr's Easy Way to Be Successful
- The Little Book of Quitting
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
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