description Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man Overview
Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man is a 2010 memoir written by American literary agent Bill Clegg. The book chronicles his devastating two-month crack cocaine addiction and the resulting collapse of his successful professional life and personal relationships. Clegg details his descent into drug-fueled paranoia, his time in a psychiatric ward, and his initial attempts at rehabilitation. It offers a stark, objective look at the physical and psychological realities of severe substance abuse.
help Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man FAQ
What is Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man about?
Bill Clegg's 2010 memoir recounts a two-month crack cocaine binge that destroyed his career, finances, home, and relationships. Clegg writes from the perspective of a literary agent whose successful professional life collapses during the addiction. [Hachette](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bill-clegg/portrait-of-an-addict-as-a-young-man/9780316084505/)
What did Bill Clegg lose during the addiction described in the memoir?
Contemporary reviews report that the binge consumed his literary agency partnership and a $70,000 bank account, while also damaging his home life and relationship. The book focuses on the short period in which those losses happened rather than presenting a general history of addiction. [Publishers Weekly](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780316054676)
When was Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man published?
Little, Brown published the memoir in 2010. The hardcover edition is listed at about 240 pages, while paperback editions vary by market and edition. [Publishers Weekly](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780316054676)
What book follows Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man?
Clegg later wrote Ninety Days, a memoir focused on recovery and sobriety. The first book ends with the consequences of the relapse, while the follow-up examines the difficult work that comes afterward. [Hachette](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bill-clegg/portrait-of-an-addict-as-a-young-man/9780316084505/)
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