Survival of the Coolest

By William Pryor

William Pryor, a great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, was a heroin and then alcohol addict for twelve years in the sixties and seventies. He brushed death several times, but, against overwhelming... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1904555004
• ISBN13: 9781904555001
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Intl Pub Marketing
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Arguing strenuously against the "war on drugs" mentality

The Survival Of The Coolest: An Addiction Memoir is the true story of one of the great-great grandsons of Charles Darwin, his addiction to heroin, near-death experiences, and eventual treatment and recovery. Arguing strenuously against the "war on drugs" mentality that pervades today, The Survival Of The Coolest tells of a life where drugs were an effect, not the cause of the author's severe problems. An invaluable, soul-baring personal testimony of descent and redemption, offering a real-world viewpoint of the problem of drug addiction from one who has been there firsthand.

Addiction tale with a positive outcome

As a Darwianian scholar, I'm always fascinated by anything Darwin, so I picked up this book. William Pryor, Darwin's great-great grandson grew up in a world of priveldge that few will ever comprehend. Yet he felt empty and his search for fulfilment and identity took him into the world of hardcore drug addiction at the height of the beatnik movement. He 'hung out' with some of the biggest names in rock and roll forever searching for the illusive answers. When he finally hit rock bottom, and opted for a 'clean' life he found at least a portion of the identity he had been seeking. His recovery has allowed him to build a successful business career as a renowned entrepreneur in Britain and gives him the right to discuss drug-addiction and recovery from a vantage point that few of us ever want to know. This book should be required reading by all those in the recovery field and anyone who was ever baffled by the illure of illicet drugs.