From highflying Playboy editor to pathetic, homeless alcoholic, this account charts an Icarian fall from grace. It's the sobering tell-all tale of a young, successful, hubristic, hard-drinking journalist who, in his meltdown, becomes the scourge of pubs around the South Africa. Regularly found comatose, collapsed in a puddle of his own excesses, he became a frequent patient in lock-down psychiatric wards, confronting himself after being granted a court-order for two years in rehab. The story stands out in a world awash with so-called misery memoirs and victim literature, providing a new take on addiction. Far from being a mere account of sordidness and degradation, it also peels away the misconceptions about this disease. This is a story of triumph: a broken man finds his way home to become a functioning human being again and a working journalist. Delving deeply into the myths and misinformation surrounding addiction, the book provides an examination of a condition that's been dubbed "the most democratic and painful of all diseases."

About the Author
James Siddall is a freelance journalist who has previously worked on a host of publications, from Scope magazine and South African Playboy to the Zululand Observer. He specializes in motoring and lifestyle writing, as well as corporate journalism.


Book Information
ISBN 9781920601003
Author James Siddall
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Jacana Media
Publisher Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd