52 pages • 1 hour read
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is a 2022 memoir by Canadian American actor Matthew Perry. The book recounts the impact of parental divorce on Perry’s childhood, his teenage years as a nationally ranked tennis player, and his fame as Chandler in the sitcom Friends. The “Big Terrible Thing” of the title refers to the author’s life-threatening battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Perry’s motivation for sharing his experiences is to help other people living with addiction. Recurring themes in the memoir include The Nature of Addiction, Fear of Abandonment, and The Fantasy and the Reality of Fame. The narrative tone is frank and often darkly humorous. This guide refers to the 2022 Headline eBook edition.
Content Warning: This book includes descriptions of substance use and addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Summary
Matthew Perry was born in Canada in 1969. As a baby, he had colic and was prescribed barbiturates to help him sleep. His parents separated when he was nine months old, and his father moved to California to become an actor. At the age of five, Perry went to visit his father for the first time.
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