More, Now, Again: A Memoir of Addiction

By Elizabeth Wurtzel

Book Overview

Elizabeth Wurtzel published her memoir of depression, Prozac Nation, to astonishing literary acclaim. A cultural phenomenon by age twenty-six, she had fame, money, respect--everything she had always wanted except that one, true thing: happiness.

For all of her professional success, Wurtzel felt like a failure. She had lost friends and lovers, every magazine job she'd held, and way too much weight. She couldn't write, and her second book was past due. But when her doctor prescribed Ritalin to help her focus-and boost the effects of her antidepressants--Wurtzel was spared. The Ritalin worked. And worked. The pills became her sugar...the sweetness in the days that have none. Soon she began grinding up the Ritalin and snorting it. Then came the cocaine, then more Ritalin, then more cocaine. Then I need more. I always need more. For all of my life I have needed more...

More, Now, Again is the brutally honest, often painful account of Wurtzel's descent into drug addiction. It is also a survival story: How Wurtzel managed to break free of her relationship with Ritalin and learned to love life, and herself, is at the heart of this ultimately uplifting memoir that no reader will soon forget.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743223314
• ISBN13: 9780743223317
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Drugs and Addiction

Rather than focusing on depression as Elizabeth Wurtzel did in her first novel, Prozac Nation; More, Now, Again: A Memoir of Addiction records her experiences as a drug addict. The novel touches on experimentation with several different substances and displays a gradual decline into dependency upon a Ritalin prescription and other speedy drugs. The books real life feel and explicit content keep the readers attention through the entire novel.

Read this BEFORE reading "Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women"

It's funny, but every Elizabeth Wurtzel review I've read (including reviews on Prozac Nation the film) is one extreme or the other. The people who trash her work always whine about the same things: it's self-absorbed, she's a brat, omg my friend's-brother's-nephew's-playmate's-mother's-hairdresser went through like WAY WORSE STUFF THAN HER!!!111 Look, folks, this a writer whose first novel was her memoirs about depression. Depressed people and addicts are not pleasant to be around. They're frustrating, demanding, unreliable, irritating and they make you want to scream at them to make them "normal". That seems to be the biggest problem that people have with her books - she doesn't sugarcoat anything and she doesn't try to make depression or addiction look glamourous. If this doesn't sound like something that will interest you, don't even bother reading it, because I can guarantee that you'll hate it.

Addictive

I found this book exhilarating. When I bought it at a seventy-five percent off bookstore, I wasn't expecting much. From the moment I picked this book up and began reading it, it was as if I were on a journey of discovery - the quotes - the momentum Wurtzel picks up before she completely lets you down - I became disgusted but infatuated with this story. It's a real life tale of abhorrence, lust, sex, drugs, and rock & roll. I became enthralled from the first moment, and when I finished the last page, I was almost upset to have to put it down - upset because the book had ended. Although it is impossible for me to think of this disgusting person as a role model or even as a decent human being, she happens to be an amazing writer. BUY THIS BOOK! Read it slowly and take in the madness. Don't stop reading it until you have finished and comprehended every last phrase.

When It Ended I Felt Like a Friend Had Left

First,I'm glad I didn't believe the other reviews and ordered this book anyway. Wurtzel is honest and tells it like it is. I enjoyed this book because it was real-Wurtzel shared many events and feelings that most people would keep to themselves. I felt sad when the book ended because I wanted to read what happened next. Hopefully, Wurtzel will have another book to continue her story.