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Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing summary
Matthew Perry
A Memoir
16 mins
Brief summary
'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing' by Matthew Perry is a memoir that reveals his struggles with addiction, fame, and relationships. It offers a raw and honest perspective on how he navigated through these challenges in Hollywood.
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Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
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A troubled childhood left Matthew Perry on an unfortunate path.
On a stormy Tuesday night in 1969, one day after the end of Woodstock and a month after the Moon Landing, Matthew Langford Perry came into the world screaming – and didn’t stop.
His parents – a folk singer and a beauty queen – were quickly driven crazy by their colicky son. Concerned and overwhelmed by the constant crying, they took the baby to a doctor. This was how little Matthew Perry, at the developmentally critical age of two months, came to be prescribed the major barbiturate phenobarbitol.
Needless to say, the crying stopped – but this would be the first of many times that Matthew’s problem was fixed with a substance instead of by learning to do the internal work.
At nine months Matthew’s parents broke up, and he was left with his 21-year-old mother while his father pursued his dreams of becoming an actor in California. As Matthew grew up, he learned to be an entertainer and a caretaker – to try and please people and make them laugh.
He found himself fighting for the attention of his mother, who was kept busy as the press secretary for the Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. When his mother had another baby, Matthew started feeling like he didn’t belong in the family, and that's when the behavior problems began. He had problems at school because he smoked and got into fights. At one point he even beat up the son of his mother’s boss – the future prime minister Justin Trudeau.
But one of the most significant events of his childhood came at the age of 14: his first drink. He was with two friends – brothers Chris and Brian Murray. No one was home, and for whatever reason, they decided to get drunk. They got hold of a six-pack of beer and a bottle of wine, and finished it all in 15 minutes in Matthew’s backyard.
As you might expect, the brothers began vomiting. But Matthew’s experience was different. He simply lay on his back, in the grass, looking at the moon, and something changed. He realized that, for the first time in his life, everything was fine. The world made sense, all his problems were gone, and he was happier than he had ever been.
While this revelation didn’t immediately lead to regular heavy drinking, it was in that moment that the seed was sown – the seed that would lead to what he calls the Big Terrible Thing, or alcoholism and addiction.
You see, Matthew Perry suffers from anhedonia – he can’t enjoy anything unless it’s exciting… or he’s drunk.
But all this will come later. At 15 years old, Matthew is angry, fighting with his mom, and feeling alienated in Canada. He decides to move to LA to get to know his father and see if Hollywood can fill the gaping hole inside him.
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What is Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing about?
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (2022) is the intimate memoir of critically acclaimed actor Matthew Perry. From his troubled childhood to his meteoric rise to fame in the hit sitcom Friends to his lifelong struggle with substance abuse and addiction, Perry holds nothing back as he reveals his life, thoughts, and soul.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing Review
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (2021) is an intriguing exploration of love, friendships, and life's unexpected challenges. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- Packed with thought-provoking themes and relatable characters, it provides a fresh perspective on the complexities of relationships.
- Through its narrative depth and emotional resonance, the book captures the complexities of human connections, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.
- With its honest portrayal of the highs and lows of love and friendship, it manages to strike a balance between realism and hope, making it an undeniably compelling read.
Who should read Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing?
- Friends fans looking for a deeper insight into one of the show's strongest comedic voices
- People curious about the darker side of celebrity lives
- Anyone struggling with addiction
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Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing FAQs
What is the main message of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing?
The main message of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is about navigating the complexities of relationships and finding our own path to self-discovery.
How long does it take to read Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing?
The reading time for Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing varies depending on the reader's speed, but on average, it takes several hours to complete. The Blinkist summary, on the other hand, can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing a good book? Is it worth reading?
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is worth reading because it offers an insightful exploration of human relationships, filled with relatable characters and thought-provoking themes.
Who is the author of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing?
The author of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is Matthew Perry.
What to read after Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing?
If you're wondering what to read next after Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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