Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful cover art

Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful

A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love and Loss

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful

By: Stephanie Wittels Wachs
Narrated by: Stephanie Wittels Wachs
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $31.99

Buy Now for $31.99

About this listen

The space between life and death is a moment. But it will remain alive in me for hundreds of thousands of future moments.

One phone call. That's all it took to change Stephanie Wittels Wachs's life forever.... Her younger brother Harris, a star in the comedy world known for his work on shows like Parks and Recreation, had died of a heroin overdose. How do you make sense of such a tragic end to a life of so much hilarious brilliance?

In beautiful, unsentimental, and surprisingly funny prose, Stephanie Wittels Wachs alternates between her brother's struggle with addiction, which she learned about three days before her wedding, and the first year after his death, in all its emotional devastation. This compelling portrait of a comedic genius and a profound exploration of the love between siblings is The Year of Magical Thinking for a new generation of listeners.

A heartbreaking but hopeful memoir of addiction, grief, and family, Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful will make you laugh, cry, and wonder if that possum on the fence is really your brother's spirit animal.

©2018 Stephanie Wittels Wachs (P)2018 Tantor
Addiction & Recovery Entertainment & Celebrities Grief & Loss Parenting & Families Personal Development Funny Witty

Critic Reviews

"Beautiful, funny, and epically poignant." (Sarah Silverman)

All stars
Most relevant  
Loved this. listening along as I bawled my eyes out and grieved alongside the author. I devoured this in one listen, but it won't be the last time I sit to be with the story of Harris' passing.

the boy who hung the moon

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.