This is the second memoir by Augusten Burroughs, which details his life in his 20s, living in New York City, working as an advertising executive, making tons of money, and slowly killing himself each day by drinking more than seems humanly possible. After years of alcoholism, Augusten checks himself into an in-patient rehab center and begins a life he's never really known...sober.

This man is a great writer! His detailed descriptions of people, places and feelings are so well-written. I was entranced by his story immediately. This was a much easier read for me compared to "Running with Scissors." They were both well-written but this one, at least, was about him as an adult making his own decisions. The most profound part of the book, for me, was the description of Pighead on his deathbed, as it was so painfully similar to my brother's death. The description of his illness was as if I was reading my own journal during the time of Jim's illness. I feel as if I know Auguesten and I truly wish him a wonderful life.

Grade: A

La historia de un alcohólico que recae en sus intentos de dejar la bebida, tenia pinta de trágica y aburrida. Los buenos comentarios sobre el libro me hicieron ignorar esa impresión y el resultado fue una lectura amena. El drama toma otro matiz de la mano de Augusten, con un humor a veces negro y siempre brillante, nos relata el proceso: la difícil tarea de reconocerse alcohólico, con sus múltiples justificaciones e intentos de minimizar la situación; el descubrimiento gradual de que la bebida no es realmente el problema, cual punta de iceberg, es solo lo visible que esconde el caos; y las cursilerías, insoportables pero necesarias, que abundan en los grupos de Alcohólicos anónimos; todo agravado por el frívolo mundo de la publicidad. El tratarse de memorias lo hace más interesante, sabemos que nos habla desde lo testimonial y no desde la mera ficción. Adentrase en las vivencias y reflexiones de un alcohólico resulta fascinante, de hecho, debería ser lectura obligada para toda persona que necesite superar adicciones.

3.5*

I related to A LOT of this book:
childhood sexual abuse; denial; drinking A LOT; thinking it’s normal to drink every day; hitting a bottom; stepping into an aa meeting and not belonging; stepping into an aa meeting and belonging; thinking I’ve got it figured out; being SO judgemental of everyone I meet and know (this part was hard for me to have compassion for in his story because ultimately I don’t feel compassion for that part of me); relapse; getting into “heavier” drugs; chaotic relationships with other people who use (and have severe trauma); using alone; hanging out with crack addicts in crack shacks; stumbling home at 8 am, still wide awake, wondering why everyone seems so happy and normal; wondering why I can’t be “normal”; pissing my bed; puking in my bed; wanting sex but feeling terrified of it; wanting connection and feeling terrified of it; telling myself I’ll never drink or use again; using again that same day; thinking I’m going to die from the shaking and anxiety (withdrawal and addiction); hitting rock bottom; hitting rock bottom again; flashing forward to a year later and feeling alive and well...

So yeah, this story his fucking home.

This book is funny. It's funny and it's true and it's real.

I laugh and crack up about what Burroughs is saying, even though he is a mean funny. I say "a mean funny" because he really rips into other people and judges them. Of course, he does the same thing to himself, but I can't help feeling a little guilty about enjoying this book so much. Sometimes he'll be saying something and I'll be laughing and then I'll think, "Should I really be laughing at this?"

Believe me, it's nothing too offensive or disgusting, or I would put the book down. But it is something I notice. Burroughs will always be, for me, the man who I love reading his funny observations but who I'd never want to be friends with in real life.

Burroughs is shallow and vain and foul-mouthed. But he knows that about himself. And because he knows that about himself, he can write very funny books about it.

This book is about Burroughs being a drunk, and his long path to sobriety. It was touching, hilarious, painful and real. I enjoyed following Burroughs on his journey from being forced into rehab, to AA, to flirting with other addicts. Will he get sober? Will he relapse? I was genuinely worried about him at some points, yelling at my book "Don't do it, Augusten!" But of course he can't hear me and he's already made the decision, anyway. And written about it for my amusement and reading pleasure.

I like how at first, Burroughs thinks he's too cool for school. This rehab is lame! I won't go to AA because it is so dweeby! But slowly he starts to realize how much he needs help (a new, hot guy at AA doesn't hurt, either).

The subplot is him watching his good friend and ex-lover die of AIDS. This is very sad and poignant, even with Burroughs's joking and quips.

Burroughs really lets you get into his head - his mixed feelings about the men in his life, his horrific memories of his abusive past, and his need - his love - for alcohol. This book, while humorous, also takes the reader to the very pits of addiction, and brings the filth of having an addiction squatting in your brain into the light. It's not pretty, but it's necessary and eye-opening.

A very deep and funny portrait of a recovering addict.

P.S. He does reference the pedophilia he experienced as a kid growing up. If this bothers you, either don't read the book or skip every section that's in italics.

P.P.S. If you are an addict of any kind and you do not feel like you have a good grip on your sobriety yet, I am warning you that this book can be triggering. Very triggering. So best save it for your one-year-sober anniversary and not the white-knuckling part.

The perfect choice to read while recovering from surgery, since I could not leave the bed, and it turned out to be one of those books you can't put down once you start!
While I sometimes questioned Burroughs' recollections (especially since he was admittedly trashed during most of the period of which he writes), the style is so interesting and engaging that I could overlook it. Although not as depressing and pseudo-sad as his first book, "Running With Scissors", it was the natural outcome of that premiere penning, and thankfully he decided to expand on his experiences for those of us who wondered what happened next. This tome is full of anecdotes and occasional outright hilarity, even if the subject matter is far from light. He seems to have learned much from other authors about what works, and what doesn't, when trying to hold your audience.
Burroughs is certainly lucky to have emerged from his life-experiences as seemingly intact and functional as he appears to be these days; what he's really like behind the scenes, we don't know, of course - but to be able to write about all one has been through, and gain some measure of notoriety for it, is something many of us aspire to!(

A thoroughly captivating story. Burroughs' memoir revolves around the pain of addiction and his experience of alcoholism. The author has a way of making his life experiences and relationships fascinating (and humorous) from start to finish. He truly has a gift for spellbinding story telling.

After reading and loving "Running with Scissors," I was super excited to try another memoir by this author. I thought this was good, but I wasn't nearly as entertained as the previous book or as interested in the subject matter. This one revolved around Augusten Burroughs early adulthood and struggles with alcoholism. It was funny & heartbreaking at the same time!

Dry is Augusten Burrough's follow-up to Running with Scissors. Thank God I read this one first, or I woukd have never purchased another.

The book chronicles Burrough's journey from successful ad exec to alcoholic _ in often funny, yet also touching ways. He goes to rehab early in the book, where he actually believes the program will "teach" him "how to drink responsibly." And that it has nothing to do with stopping drinking altogether.

One thing that never occurred to me is covered in the book: a reason I had never thought of concerning the relapses of many addicts. When you are addicted to something, you tend to hang out with people who also use that drug of choice (may e not as badly in shape as you are); you also tend to hang around places with easy access to the drug. THIS is your lifestyle, and along with the alcohol, you must give this up. Imagine that.

By turns touching and hysterical, I would highly recommend this book. I am certain some parts are embellished for effect, but for me it mostly rings true and gave me a glimpse into the mind and life of an addict.

"The fact is I'm not like other people, I'm like other alcoholics."

This was an audio reread of a book I read in print in 2008. This has long been one of my favorite memoirs and will remain so.

Augusten is a decent narrator except, when speaking as Foster, he sounds more like Forrest Gump than just a guy with a southern accent. Being from the south myself, that threw me off a little.

After Running With Scissors, his memoir of his childhood, I didn’t think Augusten Burroughs could offer anything more enjoyable. As it turns out, though, Dry is even better. It documents his attempts to conquer his alcoholism whilst at the same time dealing with his advertising job and the illness of his friend, Pighead (who is HIV positive). The recounting of his adventures is very funny, but there is more emotional depth in Dry than in Scissors. Burroughs’ writing is much better in this book as well, with long stretches that are unbearably tragic or moving.

An honest account of alcoholism, Dry taught me many things about the affliction that I didn’t know in a way that makes me sympathise with alcoholics more than I did before. He talks about rehab and therapy and the dinginess of AA meetings, and informs the reader of how alcoholism is an open-ended thing, something that never stops until you die. Without being able to ever “complete” it, the difficulty of staying sober is articulately expressed.

Funny, moving, heartfelt, Dry is an excellent memoir.

"You were spectacular," Hayden tells me afterwards.
"How so?"
"You were so honest and substantive. Just no bullshit," he says, slapping me on the back.
"Really? I seemed normal?" I ask.
"Of course. You were great."
"What a relief. I had no idea what I was saying. I was actually thinking about how my chest hair is growing back after having shaved it all off."
Hayden turns sharply, "What?"
"Well, I thought maybe of bleaching it for the summer. But then I thought how awful it would be to have roots. Chest hair roots. That would be really humiliating. The blond chest hair might look good and natural like I go to the Hamptons on the weekends. but as soon as the roots started to appear, it would be like, 'Oh, that's very sad, he's obviously looking for something and just not finding it.'"
Hayden stares at me with mock horror. Or maybe it's real horror. "You absolutely terrify me. The depth of your shallowness is staggering."

Really, it [the shallowness] was staggering at times. But at least Burroughs wrote about it in an honest, hilarious way. A very fun, open, quick read. Sad too. I liked this more than Running with Scissors.

Good God what a mess! Thankfully, I borrowed the book and didn't pay for this shit show. I finished it out of sheer determination.