If you've read Burroughs' other works--Dry, Running With Scissors, et al--you know that his dark humor bubbles up whether he's talking about succumbing to the excesses of alcohol or watching another relationship go down the drain. Here, in one of the strangest self-help books you'll ever read, he shares his particular philosophy about trying to lose weight and failing; how to survive the loss of a child; what to do if you're diagnosed with cancer; and a lot more.

Burroughs is a terrific writer, and his words here will bring you to tears. If you're reading this, you're probably going through some situation in your own life. While this may not provide all the answers, it could certainly point you in the right direction.

If this was just another how-to guide, it could be easily dismissed. But the fact that the author has experienced his own living hell with alcoholism makes him seem like a gentler and more caring author. He's been there and done that, and he wants to help you avoid his mistakes.

• A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father
• Possible Side Effects
• Running with Scissors
• Magical Thinking: True Stories
• Dry: A Memoir