Current:Home > reviewsMatthew Perry's memoir tops Amazon's best-selling books list days after his passing -Thrive Financial Network
Matthew Perry's memoir tops Amazon's best-selling books list days after his passing
View
Date:2025-04-20 16:41:03
Matthew Perry’s 2022 memoir "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing" is a best seller once again, taking the No. 1 spot on Amazon's Best Sellers list a few days after his sudden passing on Saturday. It replaced Britney Spears explosive memoir "The Woman in Me," which slid to the No. 2 spot.
The book, which was an instant hit, opened up about life behind the scenes of "Friends," chronicling the actor's battle with alcohol and drugs. Perry wrote with candor and compassion and showed his dedication to continue fighting a near-fatal battle.
"There is light in the darkness," Perry wrote in the prologue. "You just have to look hard enough to find it."
Throughout the book, Perry details an array of health complications stemming from his substance use, including alcohol-induced erectile dysfunction and pancreatitis at age 30. But one of the most eye-opening experiences in his journey was when he nearly died at age 49 after his colon exploded from opioid use. As a result, the actor was in a coma, on life support, for two weeks. What followed was five months in the hospital and nine more with a colostomy bag – a traumatic experience that ultimately "miraculously remove(d) my desire to take drugs."
In fall of last year, Perry said he was 18 months sober. He said he was grateful to be alive and to finally share his story – with concerned "Friends" fans and addicts who face stigma and judgment.
Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist
"In the end, admitting defeat was winning," he wrote. "Addiction, the big terrible thing, is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down."
Appreciation:Why Matthew Perry was 'Friends' with all of us: Remembering the iconic actor
'The world will miss you':Matthew Perry's ex-fiancée, 'Friends' co-stars grieve actor
Death and tributes
Perry, who was best known for playing sarcastic, wisecracking Chandler Bing on NBC's smash hit comedy "Friends," was found dead Saturday in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home, according to TMZ, the first to report the news. He was 54.
Nicholas Prange, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman, confirmed the death, saying city firefighters responded "to find an adult male unconscious in a stand-alone jacuzzi. A rapid medical assessment, sadly, revealed the man was deceased prior to first responder arrival. The circumstances are under investigation by LAPD and the LA County Medical Examiner."
Perry's sudden death left his millions of fans and family heartbroken. While fans lined up outside his home in Los Angeles and the Friends apartment in New York to pay their tributes, Perry's "Friends" family broke their silence on Monday to share their grief.
Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc released a joint statement paying tribute to their friend and co-star, which read: "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.
"There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able," their statement continued. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
Contributing: Bryan Alexander, Gary Levin, Jenna Ryu and Laura Trujillo
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Ice Spice Slams Speculation She’s Using Ozempic After Weight Loss
- Meghan Markle Shares How Her and Prince Harry’s Daughter Lilibet “Found Her Voice”
- Over 165,000 pounds of Perdue chicken nuggets and tenders recalled after metal wire found
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Parents of Texas school shooter found not liable in 2018 rampage that left 10 dead
- Semi-truck catches fire, shuts down California interstate for 16 hours
- What time is the 'Love Island USA' Season 6 reunion? Cast, where to watch and stream
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- PHOTO COLLECTION: Election 2024 Harris
Ranking
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- 1 person is killed and 5 others are wounded during a bar shooting in Mississippi’s capital
- Bama Rush: Recruits celebrate sorority fanfare with 2024 Bid Day reveals
- Alabama sets November date for third nitrogen execution
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Jannik Sinner twice tests positive for a steroid, but avoids suspension
- Lainey Wilson’s career felt like a ‘Whirlwind.’ On her new album, she makes sense of life and love
- 16-month-old dead, 2 boys injured after father abducts them, crashes vehicle in Maryland, police say
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
Why Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy told players' agents to stop 'asking for more money'
Native Americans go missing at alarming rates. Advocates hope a new alert code can help
Chet Hanks, Kim Zolciak and Macy Gray Detail “Sexual” and “Weird” Surreal Life Experience
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Injured Lionel Messi won't join Argentina for World Cup qualifying matches next month
'DWTS' 2018 winner Bobby Bones agrees with Julianne Hough on his subpar dancing skills
What advice does Little League's Coach of the Year have for your kid? 'Let's EAT!'