Running with Scissors

More about the book

The #1 New York Times Bestseller and an Entertainment Weekly Top Ten Book of the Year, this memoir recounts the life of a boy raised under unconventional circumstances. His mother, a poet with delusions of grandeur, relinquished him to her eccentric psychiatrist, who resembled Santa Claus. At just twelve, he found himself in a chaotic environment, living with the doctor's peculiar family and befriending a pedophile in a shed. This account captures an outlaw childhood where rules were nonexistent, Christmas decorations remained year-round, Valium was treated like candy, and boredom could be alleviated with electroshock therapy. It’s a funny yet harrowing tale of survival amid extraordinary challenges. The author expresses deep gratitude to those who supported him, including his publisher and various individuals who contributed to the book's creation. He acknowledges the real-life family depicted, recognizing their differing memories of events and emphasizing that the narrative was not meant to harm them. Ultimately, he thanks his brother for exemplifying the value of individuality.