"Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing" by the late actor Matthew Perry has significantly increased sales since his recent passing. Perry, widely recognized as Chandler from the television series "Friends," openly shares detailed stories about his experiences and struggles in his memoir.
The book, which provides a candid account of Perry's journey throughout his acting career, high-profile relationships, and battles with drugs and alcohol, resonated deeply with readers. Despite his passing at the age of 54, the impact of his story has only grown stronger, leading to his book reaching a doubling of sales.
The memoir shares details about his health challenges. It recounts a harrowing incident in 2019 when his colon burst due to excessive use of opioids, nearly leading to his death. Perry had undergone a seven-hour surgery. Although he survived, Perry reveals that he was in a coma for two weeks, followed by five months of hospitalization.
Perry reflects on his challenging and expensive journey with addiction. According to the actor's memoir, he has invested over $7 million in efforts to achieve sobriety and has undergone rehab 15 times. The rehab also cost $650,000 for temporarily halting production and re-recording his lines in a movie. In his words, he considered it a 'small price to save my life.'
Perry needed to make genuine amends, recording his slurred parts for the entire film through looping. Additionally, he committed to an extensive press effort to rectify the situation and make things right.
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Before the book's publication in 2022, Perry gave an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. He stated his goal to share his experiences to support others facing similar challenges. In hopes that it might offer comfort and understanding to individuals going through similar hardships, he underlined the significance of sharing his story from a place of safety.
Before his death on October 28, Perry had been actively planning to establish the Matthew Perry Foundation, aiming to assist individuals dealing with addiction. His loved ones turned this dream into reality following his passing, launching the foundation on November 3, 2023.
The foundation aims to recognize addiction as an illness, challenge societal stigmas surrounding it, and advocate for improved and fair treatment. It receives support from the National Philanthropic Trust, a reputable public charity.
In a 2022 podcast promoting his memoir, Perry expressed his wish to be remembered for his efforts to assist others rather than just for his role in "Friends." He emphasized the importance of collective support in overcoming addiction, believing that working together daily can lead to success.
Perry has left a lasting legacy through his commitment to helping others and his strong desire to improve the lives of those facing addiction. His memoir is gaining more readers, inspiring those navigating life's challenges and seeking comfort and understanding.
The memoir sold more than 2.5 million copies and is truly a reflection of the widespread resonance of Perry's emotional narrative. The book is available for purchase at various bookstores.
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