Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man

A Memoir

By: Bill Clegg

Narrated by: Bill Clegg

Bill Clegg had a thriving business as a literary agent, a supportive partner, trusting colleagues, and loving friends when he walked away from his world and embarked on a two-month crack binge. He had been released from rehab nine months earlier, and his relapse would cost him his home, his money, his career, and very nearly his life.

What is it that leads an exceptional young mind want to disappear? Clegg makes stunningly clear the attraction of the drug that had him in its thrall, capturing in scene after scene the drama, tension, and paranoiac nightmare of a secret life--and the exhilarating bliss that came again and again until it was eclipsed almost entirely by doom. He also explores the shape of addiction, how its pattern--not its cause--can be traced to the past.

Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man is an utterly compelling narrative--lyrical, irresistible, harsh, honest, and beautifully written--from which you simply cannot look away.

©2010 Bill Clegg (P)2010 Hachette

moving text & authentic narration

The book was amazing at portraying the thought processes of an addict, especially the paranoia. and i actually loved the narration by the author--how could anything be more AUTHENTIC.

Beautiful and Horrific

I downloaded this to learn more about addiction from a user’s perspective and wow, was I in for a ride,

I really admire the way Clegg retells his childhood from a third person narrative. His voice is also velvet-y and soothing (as you can hear from the sample) which makes it great for bedtime.

As tragic of a real-life story this may be, I was hooked immediately. It’s a 10/10 for me.

Narrator 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m in recovery and find it intriguing to hear if other people’s lives like this. HOWEVER, I will not be getting another audiobook read by this author. Maybe it was the subject matter that made it harder for him to read, but it was very monotone, almost grating at times. Good subject matter. Not impressed by the narration. (Sorry Bill).

Very enlightening and yet painful read.

I cannot say I enjoyed reading this book but it was a meaningful book that took me inside a drug user's life and exposed it's true depth and character. I found myself marveling at his keen ability to rationalize and normalize his behaviors.

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN

I took this because of the great reviews and indeed it's dramatic, compelling, horrifying and well told.

I really don't understand how the author can recall with such clarity and detail all his drug and drink binges, etc. Time, places, prices, restaurants, people....Is memory not obliterated by these activities?

Explains the Inexplicable

This book is an unflinching account of the author's descent into addiction. I have an addicted loved one, and despite reading book upon book about the disease of addiction I could still not get my head around how someone could allow himself to reach such depths without ever reaching out for help. This book shows, with horrifying clarity, the urgency to get one more high, the escalating paranoia, the desperation of the addict's loved ones, and the utter futility of trying to apply reason to this disease.

Thank you, Mr. Clegg, for giving us "civilians" a glimpse of how active addiction distorts a person's thinking, destoys his hope, and steals his life.

Like other reviewers, I wanted to hear more about Mr. Clegg's recovery but that is a different story.

Addict Drone

The book is a good read but the author should have had some one else read it, I think his narration is a but dull and drone like, Will come in handy if you have trouble falling asleep.