We cannot understand all-too-many subjects of biographies without comprehending alcoholism. The stories of Jim Jones (Jonestown, Guyana), John Huston, Van Gogh, “Sybil,” Hemmingway and Spencer Tracy.
Viewing the subjects of biographies through the lens of alcoholism
I’ve long maintained that fundamental changes to personality resulting from alcoholism are so all-encompassing we cannot understand an alcoholic’s life without an appreciation for “euphoric recall,” whereby the addict views everything he says or does through self-favoring lenses, and its inevitable result, an inordinately large sense of self-importance. This egomania is fueled by wielding power, taking three main forms: abuse of others, a willingness to take extraordinary risks and overachievement. These behaviors of alcoholics are completely different from those that occur if addiction is never triggered. Further, behaviors committed by any particular early stage alcoholic are dramatically different from those committed later in life, as the addict spirals into the latter ...
