Book Club Discussion Questions

[Michelle]

If someone suffers from anxiety or extreme shyness, do they typically self-medicate?

Is there a relationship between genius and insecurity?

In the American culture, do we expect famous, creative people to drink or do drugs?

Nature versus nurture. Do creative people that suffer from addiction problems come from unhealthy homes and use their creativity to escape the troubles they have at home?

Does creativity increase with the use of drugs and/or alcohol?

Does sensitivity to the world around them or high-level creativity lead to a need for escape or does this 'difference' lead to ill treatment by others when young resulting in a need to escape?

Freud says we repeat painful real-life experiences in order to gain mastery over them, do you believe this to be true?

Hunger. Liquor. Need. Pieces. Wrote. Discuss the poem referred to in the book.

How large a roll does mental illness factor in the creativity/addiction equation?