confused_cat's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.75

I am glad Matthew managed to write this book before his death.
I wish I can give it higher star but this memoir needs more editing. 


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beklovesbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad

2.5

The whole thing is just so sad knowing in the end his addiction won out. It’s also difficult to hear how much he used women. Ultimately, his story makes sense- he had a real set up in life to be a drug addict . He references the Big book and 12-step a lot. There’s a little about his friends co-stars and tons of other name-dropping. Heartbreaking, but Just ok. 

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alixcallender's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

Listening to the audiobook version of this after Matthew Perry’s death is unbearably, crushingly sad. I am weeping like a child as I write this, having just heard his closing montage of love and gratitude for the people in his life. 

It is not a perfect book, but it’s honest - he equally expresses his anger, fear, and complete selfishness alongside humility, reflection, and love. He’s a complex person, like we’re all complex people. I am actually surprised it has such low ratings, but my guess is probably that people struggle with the beginning. At the outset, he portrays himself as a narcissistic, bitter curmudgeon with mommy/daddy issues and no respect for women.  If you’d picked up the book because you love Chandler Bing, this intro is alarming. (It is also a bit disorganized, from an editing/narrative standpoint.) But to anyone who starts it, I implore you to finish it. You must finish it. As the book continues, Perry stumblingly arrives to a place of gratitude and hard-won optimism, acknowledging his deep-set flaws and realizing the universe is not out to get him. I think the set up of this book is deliberate: you start from the brain of an millionaire drug addict, self-pitying and loathsome and ungrateful; then you join him on the painful journey to sobriety, failing plenty of times along the way but ultimately coming out the other side with love both for himself and for the people in his life.

That’s why the reality of his untimely death is so, so sad. He concludes with such hope and optimism and appreciation for the beauty of the world. Wanting this chapter of his life to be the longest and happiest, wanting to find love, maybe have kids. He continually expressed how thankful he was to just be alive. A sense that he survived what he did for a higher purpose. Listening to this, knowing he would be dead only two years later, is heartbreaking. I can only imagine how his friends and family must feel. 

I don’t know fully what to take away from this. Yes, he had many successes in life and had it a lot easier than some addicts, and yes much of this book is flawed. But addiction like this is unimaginably difficult no matter how much fame and money you have. I was rooting for him throughout, and am sadder for it. I’m only hopeful he found true happiness at the very end. 

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fanchera's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

3.5


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brett311's review against another edition

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It is very repetitive and has poor editing.  A little fact checking would have gone a LONG way.  Perry comes across as very narcissistic and blames basically everyone but himself for his actions.  His attitude towards women is disturbing.  I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t even finish the book. I do think it takes courage to share a story like his and maybe his story can help others struggling with addiction.  

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alicia_ann_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
I listened to this on audio and it was confusing because he jumps around in time. 

It was very matter of fact and hard to listen to at times. 

I'm shocked he's still alive. Addiction is just horrendous, and also it's evident the system continues to fail people, especially those who are wealthy and can afford other means. 

I'm certainly never going to see Chandler the same again. 

I don't particularly like rating memoirs. 

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lcg527's review against another edition

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dark funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.25


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sassysasha's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5


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chrissysbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

This has caused mixed feelings among readers, understandably. It helped me understand more about addiction and its definitely not a glamourised, bubble-wrapped 'everything will be fine' type of memoir. Its rough, raw, brutal in places and it encapsulates just how dark a life can be. I think the main focus shouldn't necessarily be on how well or badly it was written, the honesty of it overrides literary criteria. This is a book, written by an addict with a life that had so much potential. It's telling a story, as it is and as it was at the time. The hope for the future makes me hopeful too. 

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juliamb's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

1.5


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