Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster

144 Pages·2012·1.43 MB·English

by  Kristen Johnston

“It felt like I was speeding on the Autobahn toward hell, trapped inside a
DeLorean with no brakes. And even if I could somehow stop, I’d still be
screwed, because there’s no way I’d ever be able to figure out how to open
those insane, cocaine-designed doors.”

The two-time Emmy Award-winning actress has written her first book, a
surprisingly raw and triumphant memoir that is outrageous, moving, sweet,
tragic, and heartbreakingly honest. GUTS is a true triumph—a memoir
that manages to be as frank and revealing as Augusten Burroughs, yet as
hilarious and witty as David Sedaris.
With GUTS, Johnston takes us on a journey so truthful and relatable, so
remarkably fresh, it promises to stay with the reader for a long, long time.
“One of the best books written from the addict’s perspective I’ve ever read.”

—SCOTT BIENENFELD, M.D., addiction psychiatrist

“Hilarious and moving . . . as engaging as any fiction.”

—ISAAC MIZRAHI

“GUTS is an amazing, alive, crazy, breathing, raw, throbbing, and above all,
brilliant testament to one woman’s courage, humor, and heart. Everyone who
reads it will live lighter.”

—BRAD LAMM, interventionist and bestselling author

“GUTS is hilarious and heartbreaking and truly shocking. . . . [Told] with
remarkable mastery.”

—SCOTT ELLIOTT, artistic director of The New Group

“GUTS is at once deadly serious and wildly hilarious— an impossible magic
trick at which you are powerless not to stare.”

—ROB BURNETT, executive producer, The Late Show with David
Letterman

“GUTS is utterly brilliant, every page brimming with Kristen’s sexy wit.
Disarming in its honesty, hysterically funny, and so heartbreakingly brutal.”

—KATE WINSLET
“GUTS is spirited, raw, and thrilling . . . with an unapologetic ferocity and a
generosity of spirit that instantaneously engages your heart.”

—GEORGE C. WOLFE, director and writer

“GUTS is the opposite of the usual ‘celebrity tell-all’—a captivating, laugh-
out-loud, totally vulnerable, and excellently crafted book.”

—ANDY COHEN, VP of programming and host at Bravo TV

“GUTS is absolutely dazzling and completely inspirational on so many
levels. I’ve never read anything like it.”

—TATUM O’NEAL

“GUTS is a shamefully moving, entertaining, painful, hilarious, brave, and
ridiculously honest tour de force.”

—KATHY NAJIMY

“I was shocked, enlightened, awed, and moved to tears.”

—JOE MANTELLO, director

“Told with fearless, devastating honesty, laser-precision humor, and a
refreshing lack of self-pity.”

—JOE SCHRANK, editor and co-founder of TheFix.com

“Kristen Johnston’s heart and soul are transcribed in this book, and her wit is
irresistible.”
—CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
KRISTEN JOHNSTON is an actress, a teacher, and now, of course, an
enormously celebrated writer. Johnston is one of the founding executive
directors of SLAM, which is dedicated to creating New York City’s first sober
high school. She lives in New York City with her pit bull, Pinky, who suffers
from a food addiction. Visit her website at www.gutsthebook.com.
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
SimonandSchuster.com
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JACKET DESIGN BY KRISTEN JOHNSTON

FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID NEWSOM

AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPH BY ART STREIBER—© 2011 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
COURTESY OF TV LAND.

COPYRIGHT © 2012 SIMON & SCHUSTER
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