There was no bright light in my death, but perhaps that is because I wasn't destined for the angelic beauty of heaven. No, my short lived life had been played out with so much sin and excess that there would no doubt be a special cage in hell with my name on it. In my death, I felt and saw nothing. No warmth, no cold, no light, no darkness, just nothing. When I woke, he was gone, the only piece of perfection in my ugly world. Part of me was grateful that he had finally found the good sense to leave. Another part of me was broken, irrevocably and agonizingly broken.
"The first time I saw a play was when I was twelve and a nerdy math major in junior high. Our class went to downtown Los Angeles and saw a Shakespeare play. I forget which one we saw (I only remember it was about a king), but I fell in love with theater right then and there. They were talking in some weird variation of English to my mind, but the actors were so good, I could immediately understand what they meant. I came from a working-class family, and the only thing I'd watched until then was TV or a movie. I probably developed a neural network at that time, which connected the scientific part of my brain to my artistic part"--
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in drama as well as Tony Awards for best play and best actor, Tracy Letts has emerged as one of the greatest playwrights of the twenty-first century. Understanding Tracy Letts, the first book dedicated to his writing, is an introduction to his plays and an invitation to engage more deeply with his work—both for its emotional power and cultural commentary. Experiencing a Tracy Letts play often feels akin to reading a Cormac McCarthy novel, watching a Cohen Brothers film, and seeing an episode of Breaking Bad at the same time. His characters can be ruthlessly cruel and funny, selfish and generous, delusional and incisive, and deceptive and painfully honest. They keep secrets. They harbor biases and misconceptions. And in their quest to find love and understanding, they often end up being the greatest impediments to their own happiness. As a writer, Letts can move seamlessly from the milieu of a Texas trailer park to the pulsating nightlife of London's countercultural scene, the stifling quiet of small-town Ohio to the racial tensions of urban Chicago. He thrives in the one-act format, in plays like Mary Page Marlow and The Minutes, as well as the epic scope of August: Osage County and Linda Vista. With a musician's sense of timing, Letts shifts between humor and heartache, silence and sound, and the mundane and the poetic. And he fearlessly tackles issues such as gender bias, racism, homophobia, and disability rights. Contemporary American life thus becomes a way to comment on the country's troubled history from Native American genocide to the civil rights movement. The personal narratives of his characters become gateways to the political. Understanding Tracy Letts celebrates the range of Letts's writing, in part, by applying different critical approaches to his works. Whether through the lens of disability studies, the conspiracy genre, food studies, the feminist politics of quilting, or masculinity studies, these readings help bring out the thematic richness and sociopolitical dimensions of Letts's work.
Millions of people are beset by addiction. Whether drugs, alcohol or behavioral addictions such as gambling and pornography, the human cost is enormous—both for the victims and their families. Many yearn for freedom but don’t find this through existing treatment programs, where the relapse rate is often high. A missing ingredient in most programs is an awareness of the unseen forces behind addiction. Known for centuries, these forces are often overlooked in the modern scientific approach to disease and healing. Wanting to Be Free explores the spiritual dimension of addiction and presents an integrated approach to recovery. Combining spiritual techniques with the most effective mental, emotional and physical therapies, it outlines a unique pathway for those pursuing the path to true freedom.
The revised third edition of the formerly titled Substance Use and Abuse retains its comprehensive, holistic examination of the field of substance use and misuse from a Canadian perspective. Now organized into seven sections, the 30 chapters examine the nature of addiction; explore biological, psychological, and social theories that attempt to explain addiction; discuss drugs that produce addiction, along with a review of prevention, treatment, and treatment system options; and consider the legal and ethical issues that those working in substance use and addiction frequently encounter. Thoroughly updated to reflect contemporary issues and recent advances in the field of addiction counselling, Rick Csiernik’s much-loved text features new content on the changes to cannabis law and culture in Canada, the opioid crisis and public response, as well as expanded content on cultural competence, non-substance use addictive behaviours, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention. Substance Use and Misuse is an essential and timely resource for counsellors treating individuals dealing with addiction, and for courses across social work, human services counselling, psychology, and mental health and addictions programs. FEATURES: - Now divided into seven sections with 30 chapters to enhance student comprehension and learning - Contains new information on contemporary themes including the opioid crisis, e-cigarettes and vaping, risks and benefits of THC and CBD, principles of good family skills training, sample dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) activities, and a sample intervention script - Includes an enhanced treatment section with updates on harm reduction, traumainformed care, the transtheoretical model of change, and motivational interviewing
A Study Guide for Tracy Letts's "August: Osage County", excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Drama for Students.This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Drama for Students for all of your research needs.
People are dying in The Pit. The poorest section of California's Dunhill County seems to have a love affair with tragedy, yet lately, more and more unfortunate souls are slipping through the cracks. Dr. Kendra Hamilton got herself off the mean streets. Her mother, Violet, wasn't so lucky--she's the latest fatality on The Pit's ever-growing roster of shattered lives. And although she knows Violet was living on the edge, Kendra is convinced her death was no accident. Someone is preying on society's forgotten people. . .and Kendra intends to find the killer. All she has to do is get the police--one stubborn detective in particular--to take her seriously. In her quest for justice, Kendra will risk everything. Now, as the investigation reveals a trail of corruption and shocking betrayal, she stumbles upon a world in which the lines between duty and desire, benevolence and madness, living--and merely surviving--are irrevocably blurred. And where a cold-blooded psychopath is determined to turn life on the wrong side of the tracks into a death sentence. . .
STEPHEN SPEAKS WORLDWIDE ON ADDICTION 60 second book trailer available in sample or visit www.addictbook.com The most incredible enlightening true story ever told. From an affluent family Stephen aged 14 ran away to become involved in organised crime and immense wealth. As his amphetamine addiction took its toll he ended up living in shop doorways for over five years when a miracle saved his life. This page-turner emphasises not only the true horror of London’s 60’s criminals and drugs but is also an authentic insight into what leads some children into crime and addiction. Translated into 4 languages Addict has become a cult book in many countries.
