"Going into his "why," Perry's audiobook is a fascinating listen."- AudioFile This program is read by the author. A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK BY TIME, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, GOODREADS, USA TODAY, AND MORE! The beloved star of Friends takes us behind the scenes of the hit sitcom and his struggles with addiction in this candid, funny, and revelatory memoir that delivers a powerful message of hope and persistence. “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.” So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who traveled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more. In an extraordinary story that only he could tell—and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it—Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humor, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening—as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the audiobook fans have been waiting for. A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.
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"Listening to this bio/memoir was a generally good experience and I have no regrets on purchasing it. Throughout this self-narrated audiobook, Perry takes us into his personal world as he reflects on his life before, during and after being a part of one of TV’s most successful shows. His insight is both illuminating and enlightening. He talks candidly about his successes, failures, relationships and more while exploring the lessons learned along the way.
I particularly enjoyed some of the parts where Matthew dives deep into life behind-the-scenes at Friends. He talks about how even though they were all close friends on set there were still moments where tensions were high between cast members due to different opinions or creative differences. He talks about how those arguments helped their acting dynamic become stronger.
Overall I recommend this audiobook memoir to any fan of the Friends tv show and also to anyone who wants to gain insight from someone who has experienced success at such an incredible level while still dealing with personal issues. For anyone looking for insight on relationships or advice on dealing with difficult times in life, this audiobook will provide plenty of valuable lessons and provide plenty of thought provoking ideas along its journey."
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Karin Janowitz (5 out of 5 stars)