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The Night of the Gun: A Reporter Investigates the Darkest Story of His Life: His Own Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,903 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From David Carr, the “undeniably brilliant and dogged journalist” (Entertainment Weekly) and author of the instant New York Times bestseller that the Chicago Sun-Times called “a compelling tale of drug abuse, despair, and, finally, hope.”
Do we remember only the stories we can live with, the ones that make us look good in the rear-view mirror? In The Night of the Gun, David Carr redefines memoir with the revelatory story of his years as an addict and chronicles his journey from crack-house regular to regular columnist for the New York Times. Built on sixty videotaped interviews, legal and medical records, and three years of reporting, The Night of the Gun is a ferocious tale that uses the tools of journalism to fact-check the past. Carr’s investigation of his own history reveals that his odyssey through addiction, recovery, cancer, and life as a single parent was far more harrowing—and, in the end, more miraculous—than he allowed himself to remember.
Fierce, gritty, and remarkable, The Night of the Gun is “an odyssey you’ll find hard to forget” (People).
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"This book is amazing. Very gritty and a direct response to James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces." Carr is an exhaustive researcher and a very adriot writer. His story has me thinking of a whole new kind of research paper for my juniors..."
— Yag (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“[A] beautiful, horrifying memoir. David Carr has summoned everything that matters about the loaded gun of substance abuse.”
— Stephen King, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“[A] remarkable narrative of redemption.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“[A] fierce, self-lacerating tale…writing full of that special journalistic energy that is driven by a combination of reporting and intelligence.”
— New York Times -
“Narrator Charles Leggett delivers a shimmering performance. His unabashed tone is revealing to no end, almost as if he is being interrogated and has nothing left to lose. The shock value of Carr’s story is all the more effective because of Leggett’s believable performance.”
— AudioFile -
“After years of abuse, the memoir has found its white knight, galloping in to show how a personal story can be engrossing, shocking and true.”
— New York Review of Books -
“Carr’s live-wire combination of autobiography and journalism explores not only the secrets of his own life but also the ways in which the stories we all tell ourselves evolve into the versions we can live with. The Night of the Gun makes plain how hard, and how necessary, it is to face the past with diligence and humility.”
— Slate magazine
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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One of the 2008 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Nonfiction
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Oprah Pick of the Best Memoirs of a Generation
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A Slate Magazine Best Book in Nonfiction of the Last 25 Years
The Night of the Gun Listener Reviews
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" A good look at the life of someone losing their life to addiction and a look at the falibility of memory. Carr takes an unflinching look at himself and the life he led and the damage he did to family and friends. "
— Pam, 1/25/2014 -
" another druggy memoir... pretty interesting but also very sickening at times. "
— K.T., 1/24/2014 -
" This dude is so self-involved and grating. I don't know why I kept with this memoir til the end when I disliked its subject/author so thoroughly. "
— Hallie, 1/24/2014 -
" Really interesting to read, since he approached this as a journalist. Some parts were hard to read/follow, but that also what I get for reading before bed. Definitely recommend. "
— Meaghan, 1/23/2014 -
" Another memoir of addictions and substance abuse. Enough said. "
— Daniele, 11/29/2013 -
" So loved this. Brutally honest, shocking. Felt like I was right there w Carr. "
— Jane, 10/23/2013 -
" The author's wit keeps this book going to the end, and it's hard not to like him though he reveals that he was a horrible asshole in his past. Everyone loves a flawed hero, and Carr is one of the best. "
— Kim, 10/15/2013 -
" Stunning book. After some discursive ruminations on the nature of memory and personal narratives, Carr dives into the raging river of his own life. You emerge with him, at the book's end, thrilled that you are both alive and rational. "
— Henry, 5/19/2013 -
" Brilliant work. Well-written with a brutal honesty that makes us appreciate and love him, all the while hating him. "
— Tara, 5/14/2013 -
" One of my latest favorites "
— Elena, 11/29/2012 -
" Meandering at times (not surprising for a "recovering addict" memoir) but a unique storytelling approach, weaving together present-day interviews of people the author wronged during his dark days. "
— Jason, 1/9/2012 -
" excellent book at the beginning and middle but the end is lacking. Story of a crack addict father that turns his life around and investigates his life because he cant really remember all the crazy shit. "
— Justin, 12/25/2011 -
" Excellent memoir on addiction. Drags a bit in the last third, but hard to put down otherwise. "
— Rachel, 11/5/2011 -
" This guy had a ton of grace and patience for his own mistakes, but none for anyone else. "
— Kathleen, 6/17/2011 -
" Interesting addition to the genre of writing about addiction. Not a fantastic book, but I'm always up for a good drug story. It's insane what some people will go through to feed those demons. "
— Danielle, 6/13/2011 -
" Sometimes you can realize that your life hasn't gone so badly. "
— lisa_emily, 5/21/2011 -
" Boy, can David Carr tell a story! Especially his own! Fascinating and brutually honest. If you liked A Million Little Pieces, you'll enjoy this. "
— Heather, 3/29/2011 -
" I only got one chapter in, and, despite his clear specific intelligent writing, he is probably banging his chest on his "lovely children", and how flipped over his life is. OK OK, once was enough, but three times in the first 20 pages?!<br/>Unfinished "
— Kam, 3/6/2011 -
" This book is honest and daring. A look at the life inside the world of drug and alcohol addiction. The book was very dark, but real. I appreciated the altruism of this story. "
— Laura, 1/28/2011 -
" Honest and painful but also very funny, charming, and hopeful. I also loved the fact that much of it took place in Minnesota. "
— Sarah, 1/17/2011 -
" like most memoirs, it was about 100 pages too long. "
— Carolyn, 1/17/2011
About David Carr
David Carr (1956–2015) was one of the most prolific and celebrated journalists of our time. He edited and wrote for a wide variety of publications, including the Twin City Reader in Minneapolis, the Washington City Paper, Inside.com, New York Magazine, the Atlantic, and the New York Times, where he created “The Carpetbagger” and the “Media Equation” columns. His memoir, The Night of the Gun, in which he chronicled his battles with substance addictions and his ultimate recovery, was a New York Times bestseller.
About Charles Leggett
Charles Leggett, AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is based in Seattle where he works onstage at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT, and Seattle Shakespeare Company, among many others. His voice work is also featured in the first two Dungeon Siege video games as well as in Hoyle’s Casino Empire.