by Artie Lange
First published 2013
Comedian and radio personality Artie Lange examines his devastating battle with addiction in this brutally honest memoir. Lange describes performing at Carnegie Hall while carrying heroin in his pocket, representing the contradiction between his professional success and personal destruction. His addiction to heroin, cocaine, and prescription drugs fueled aggressive behavior toward colleagues on The Howard Stern Show and damaged relationships with friends. The book details his public breakdown heard by six million radio listeners, followed by a trip to Amsterdam that became another drug binge with a prostitute instead of attending his friend's bachelor party. Lange recounts his suicide attempt with unflinching detail, multiple rehabilitation attempts, and repeated relapses. He describes hitting rock bottom before beginning genuine recovery with support from family and friends. Throughout his account of addiction and healing, Lange maintains his characteristic humor and self-awareness while addressing topics from sports to romance. The memoir presents both the darkest moments of his self-destruction and his ongoing efforts to rebuild his life and career.
302 pages · Hardcover · Touchstone