The Paula Gordon Show |
The Art of Responsibility | |||
If you want to quit doing drugs or quit drinking, that “want” is
what essential, says James Frey. Then you’ll find a way. After
half a lifetime profoundly addicted to drugs and alcohol, he landed in
an addiction treatment center, where apparent differences evaporate --
you’re is just someone in a huge amount of trouble and you have
to figure out a way to deal with it. Or you’ll die. |
Conversation 1 James Frey tells Paula Gordon and Bill Russell what stories matter most to him and wonders why people have gotten frightened of feeling greatly. |
Conversation 2 Having spent the first 23 years of his life teaching himself to be invulnerable, Mr. Frey found that the result is a loss of humanity. He depicts the solitariness of true alcoholism and drug addiction, which he defines. He considers what he calls a weird kind of upside to his nearly complete self-reliance. Serious addiction is not for the feint of heart, he says, detailing the huge consequences of what a hard, hard life it is. He introduces his “Fury” and describes plausible biological roots for both his rage and his addictions. 10:54
sec
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Conversation 3 Having spent the greater part of his life wanting more-more-more-more-more-more-more, Mr. Frey compares his own self-destructive drive to other people’s pursuit of money, women or cars. He describes what it took when he confronted the idea of ending his assault on himself. He proudly declares himself a heretic and explains why he rejects 12 Step programs. He explains why he chose to take full responsibility for his own actions rather than what he considered substituting one dependency for another. It’s harder, he says, but it ultimately works better and explains why, keenly aware of what he calls the paradox of addiction. If you want to quit doing drugs and drinking, you’ll find a way, he says, convinced “the want” is what counts. Describing how the ancient Tao Te Ching helped him, he insists that if he can quit, you can. 11:46
sec
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Conversation 4 There was more truth for him in paradoxes and contradictions than in simple answers, Mr. Frey says, and talks about the complicated lives addicts live. In a treatment center, he says, all of the apparent differences among people disappear -- ultimately you’re a person in a huge amount of trouble and you have to figure out how to deal with it or you’ll die. The thing about addiction that is so tough, he believes, is that there is no “right” or “wrong” and no way currently to “fix it.” He expresses hopefulness about medical breakthroughs. His books themselves are explored. 11:53
sec
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Conversation 5 Hollywood made him successful but not happy, Mr. Frey remembers, caught up in the idea that money matters but feeling empty, finding his life awful. After he describes his years in Los Angeles, he remembers what he wanted when he decided to be a writer, why it mattered to him and how it contributed to his singular style. The profound problems associated with crack cocaine are raised. 10:42
sec
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Conversation 6 Describing his experience of physical illness as a metaphor, Mr. Frey summarizes how he learned how to stop hating himself and became comfortable looking himself in the eye. Finally, he considers what’s ahead. 4:24
sec
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Acknowledgements We admire James Frey’s courage, candor and compassion.
We thank him for telling his stories from which all of us can learn
more about what it is to be human. |
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