Memoirs of an Addicted Brain: A Neuroscientist Examines his Former Life on Drugs

A gripping, ultimately triumphant memoir that's also the most comprehensive and comprehensible study of the neuroscience of addiction written for the general public.

FROM THE INTRODUCTION:
"We are prone to a cycle of craving what we don't have, finding it, using it up or losing it, and then craving it all the more. This cycle is at the root of all addictions, addictions to drugs, sex, love, cigarettes, soap operas, wealth, and wisdom itself. But why should this be so? Why are we desperate for what we don't have, or can't have, often at great cost to what we do have, thereby risking our peace and contentment, our safety, and even our lives?"

The answer, says Dr. Marc Lewis, lies in the structure and function of the human brain.

Marc Lewis is a distinguished neuroscientist. And, for many years, he was a drug addict himself, dependent on a series of dangerous substances, from LSD to heroin. His narrative moves back and forth between the often dark, compellingly recounted story of his relationship with drugs and a revelatory analysis of what was going on in his brain.

He shows how drugs speak to the brain - which is designed to seek rewards and soothe pain - in its own language. He shows in detail the neural mechanics of a variety of powerful drugs and of the onset of addiction, itself a distortion of normal perception.

Dr. Lewis freed himself from addiction and ended up studying it. At the age of 30 he traded in his pharmaceutical supplies for the life of a graduate student, eventually becoming a professor of developmental psychology, and then of neuroscience - his field for the last 12 years. This is the story of his journey, seen from the inside out.

"Memoirs of an Addicted Brain . . . takes on all of human longing. Unlike many of his brain science colleagues and fellow addicts, Dr. Lewis can write. One moment, he is remembering the details of his life as an addict; the next, he is reconstructing, based on newer scientific findings, what the drugs were doing to his brain. The result is not just a book about a brain on drugs, but a picture of addiction as an unavoidable urge of human nature. . . . It's the way he drapes his scientific understanding of human chemical function over the frame of his own life that makes his memoir compelling."
--"The Globe and Mail"

"In his book, Lewis seamlessly integrates the physiology and psychology of addiction with his own vivid, disturbing memories. It's a fascinating and fact-filled glimpse into the world of needles and need."
--"Georgia Straight"

"[Memoirs of an Addicted Brain] is compelling, and for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's mechanistic approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now enjoys."
--"The Wall Street Journal"
" "
"Marc Lewis's Memoirs of an Addicted Brain is a cracker. . . . The science is up to the minute. Lewis clearly knows his stuff."
--"The Australian"

Praise for "Memoirs of an Addicted Brain"
"An engrossing swirl of personal history, themes of loss and triumph, deftly rendered brain science, and clear thinking on the dilemma of addiction. Illuminating even to experts, accessibly written for all."
--Gabor Mate M.D., author of "In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts"

"Kirkus"
"Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict....as [he] unspools one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the particulars of brain activity."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Meticulous, evocative... Lewis's unusual blend of scientific expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and allure of addiction."
"Wall Street Journal"
"Compelling...for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's...approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now enjoys."
"Chronicle of Higher Education"
"He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs."
"Boston Globe"
"A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes, it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage experimentation, late-'60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist, able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with metrical rapids of semi-hard science."
"Guardian"
"Marc Lewis's brilliant - if not wholly sympathetic - account of his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological determinism on its sleeve ... Lewis has certainly woven his experiences into an unusual and exciting book... ("Memoirs of an Addicted Brain") is as strange, immediate and artfully written as any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of having been composed by its subject."
"The Fix"
"The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas De Quincey's seminal" Confessions of an Opium Eater..."[an] electrifying debut."
"Midwest Book Review"
"A powerful survey recounting the author's powerful addiction and how he broke an intense hold on drugs... This will appeal to a range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science and health holdings alike."
"BBC Focus Magazine"
"(W)hile the narrative of Marc's life is a real-page turner, what makes this such an interesting and unusual book is that it also contains detailed descriptions of the neuro-chemical changes that are going on inside Marc's brain as he takes the different drugs, and later as he wrestles to come off them. After reading the book, I felt that I understood for the first time what addiction is like at both the personal and the chemical level."
"The Independent (UK)""Fascinating"

"Kirkus"
Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict .as [he] unspools one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the particulars of brain activity.
"Publishers Weekly"
Meticulous, evocative Lewis s unusual blend of scientific expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and allure of addiction.
"Wall Street Journal"
"Compelling for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now enjoys.
"Chronicle of Higher Education"
He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs.
"Boston Globe"
A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes, it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage experimentation, late- 60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist, able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with metrical rapids of semi-hard science.
"Guardian"
Marc Lewis's brilliant if not wholly sympathetic account of his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological determinism on its sleeve Lewis has certainly woven his experiences into an unusual and exciting book ("Memoirs of an Addicted Brain") is as strange, immediate and artfully written as any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of having been composed by its subject.
"The Fix"
The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas De Quincey'sseminal" Confessions of an Opium Eater "[an] electrifying debut.
"Midwest Book Review"
A powerful survey recounting the author s powerful addiction and how he broke an intense hold on drugs This will appeal to a range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science and health holdings alike.
"BBC Focus Magazine"
(W)hile the narrative of Marc s life is a real-page turner, what makes this such an interesting and unusual book is that it also contains detailed descriptions of the neuro-chemical changes that are going on inside Marc s brain as he takes the different drugs, and later as he wrestles to come off them. After reading the book, I felt that I understood for the first time what addiction is like at both the personal and the chemical level.
"The Independent (UK)" Fascinating "

Kirkus
Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict .as [he] unspools one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the particulars of brain activity.
Publishers Weekly
Meticulous, evocative Lewis s unusual blend of scientific expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and allure of addiction.
Wall Street Journal
"Compelling for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now enjoys.
Chronicle of Higher Education
He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs.
Boston Globe
A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes, it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage experimentation, late- 60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist, able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with metrical rapids of semi-hard science.
Guardian
Marc Lewis's brilliant if not wholly sympathetic account of his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological determinism on its sleeve Lewis has certainly woven his experiences into an unusual and exciting book (Memoirs of an Addicted Brain) is as strange, immediate and artfully written as any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of having been composed by its subject.
The Fix
The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas De Quincey'sseminal Confessions of an Opium Eater [an] electrifying debut.
Midwest Book Review
A powerful survey recounting the author s powerful addiction and how he broke an intense hold on drugs This will appeal to a range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science and health holdings alike.
BBC Focus Magazine
(W)hile the narrative of Marc s life is a real-page turner, what makes this such an interesting and unusual book is that it also contains detailed descriptions of the neuro-chemical changes that are going on inside Marc s brain as he takes the different drugs, and later as he wrestles to come off them. After reading the book, I felt that I understood for the first time what addiction is like at both the personal and the chemical level.
The Independent (UK) Fascinating "

Boston Globe
"A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes, it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage experimentation, late-'60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist, able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with metrical rapids of semi-hard science."

Guardian
"Marc Lewis's brilliant - if not wholly sympathetic - account of his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological determinism on its sleeve ... Lewis has certainly woven his experiences into an unusual and exciting book... (Memoirs of an Addicted Brain) is as strange, immediate and artfully written as any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of having been composed by its subject."

The Fix
"The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas De Quincey's seminal Confessions of an Opium Eater...[an] electrifying debut."

Midwest Book Review
"A powerful survey recounting the author's powerful addiction and how he broke an intense hold on drugs... This will appeal to a range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science and health holdings alike."

Kirkus
"Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict....as [he] unspools one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the particulars of brain activity."

Publishers Weekly
"Meticulous, evocative... Lewis's unusual blend of scientific expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and allure of addiction."

Wall Street Journal
"Compelling...for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's...approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now enjoys."

Chronicle of Higher Education
"He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs."