Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster
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Authors: Kristen Johnston
Tags: #Johnston; Kristen, #Drug Addicts - United States, #Actors - United States, #Entertainment & Performing Arts, #General, #Personal Memoirs, #Biography & Autobiography
“It felt like I was speeding on the Autobahn toward hell, trapped inside a DeLorean with no brakes. And even if I
could
somehow stop, I’d still be screwed, because there’s no way I’d ever be able to figure out how to open those insane, cocaine-designed doors.”
The two-time Emmy Award-winning actress has written her first book, a surprisingly raw and triumphant memoir that is outrageous, moving, sweet, tragic, and heartbreakingly honest. GUTS is a true triumph—a memoir that manages to be as frank and revealing as Augusten Burroughs, yet as hilarious and witty as David Sedaris.
With GUTS, Johnston takes us on a journey so truthful and relatable, so remarkably fresh, it promises to stay with the reader for a long, long time.
“One of the best books written from the addict’s perspective I’ve ever read.”
—SCOTT BIENENFELD, M.D., addiction psychiatrist
“Hilarious and moving . . . as engaging as any fiction.”
—ISAAC MIZRAHI
“GUTS is an amazing, alive, crazy, breathing, raw, throbbing, and above all, brilliant testament to one woman’s courage, humor, and heart. Everyone who reads it will live lighter.”
—BRAD LAMM, interventionist and bestselling author
“GUTS is hilarious and heartbreaking and truly shocking. . . . [Told] with remarkable mastery.”
—SCOTT ELLIOTT, artistic director of The New Group
“GUTS is at once deadly serious and wildly hilarious— an impossible magic trick at which you are powerless not to stare.”
—ROB BURNETT, executive producer,
The Late Show with David Letterman
“GUTS is utterly brilliant, every page brimming with Kristen’s sexy wit. Disarming in its honesty, hysterically funny, and so heartbreakingly brutal.”
—KATE WINSLET
“GUTS is spirited, raw, and thrilling . . . with an unapologetic ferocity and a generosity of spirit that instantaneously engages your heart.”
—GEORGE C. WOLFE, director and writer
“GUTS is the opposite of the usual ‘celebrity tell-all’—a captivating, laugh-out-loud, totally vulnerable, and excellently crafted book.”
—ANDY COHEN, VP of programming and host at Bravo TV
“GUTS is absolutely dazzling and completely inspirational on so many levels. I’ve never read anything like it.”
—TATUM O’NEAL
“GUTS is a shamefully moving, entertaining, painful, hilarious, brave, and ridiculously honest tour de force.”
—KATHY NAJIMY
“I was shocked, enlightened, awed, and moved to tears.”
—JOE MANTELLO, director
“Told with fearless, devastating honesty, laser-precision humor, and a refreshing lack of self-pity.”
—JOE SCHRANK, editor and co-founder of
TheFix.com
“Kristen Johnston’s heart and soul are transcribed in this book, and her wit is irresistible.”
—CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
KRISTEN JOHNSTON
is an actress, a teacher, and now, of course, an enormously celebrated writer. Johnston is one of the founding executive directors of SLAM, which is dedicated to creating New York City’s first sober high school. She lives in New York City with her pit bull, Pinky, who suffers from a food addiction. Visit her website at
www.gutsthebook.com
.
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JACKET DESIGN BY KRISTEN JOHNSTON
FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID NEWSOM
AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPH BY ART STREIBER—© 2011 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC. COURTESY OF TV LAND.
COPYRIGHT © 2012 SIMON & SCHUSTER
Gallery Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 2012 by Kristen Johnston
Note to Readers
Some names and identifying details of people portrayed in this book have been changed; in one instance, a character is a composite of two people; and in a few instances, the chronology of events has been slightly altered for pace.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books hardcover edition March 2012
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Johnston, Kristen
Guts : the endless follies and tiny triumphs of a giant disaster / by Kristen Johnston.
p. cm.
1. Johnston, Kristen, 1967– 2. Actors—United States—Biography.
3. Drug addicts—United States—Biography. I. Title.
PN2287.J582A3 2012
792.02'8092—dc23
[B]
2011044413
ISBN 978-1-4516-3505-8 (Print)
ISBN 978-1-4516-3507-2 (eBook)
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF LONDON.