Smacked

A Story of White-Collar Ambition, Addiction, and Tragedy

By: Eilene Zimmerman

Narrated by: Eilene Zimmerman

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

A journalist pieces together the mysteries surrounding her ex-husband’s descent into drug addiction while trying to rebuild a life for her family, taking listeners on an intimate journey into the world of white-collar drug abuse.

"A rare combination of journalistic rigor, personal courage, and writerly grace." (Bill Clegg, author of Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man)

Something was wrong with Peter. Eilene Zimmerman noticed that her ex-husband looked thin, seemed distracted, and was frequently absent from activities with their children. She thought he looked sick and needed to see a doctor, and indeed, he told her he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Yet in many ways, Peter seemed to have it all: a beautiful house by the beach, expensive cars, and other luxuries that came with an affluent life. Eilene assumed his odd behavior was due to stress and overwork - he was a senior partner at a prominent law firm and had been working more than 60 hours a week for the last 20 years.

Although they were divorced, Eilene and Peter had been partners and friends for decades, so when she and her children were unable to reach Peter for several days, Eilene went to his house to see if he was okay.

So begins Smacked, a brilliant and moving memoir of Eilene’s shocking discovery, one that sets her on a journey to find out how a man she knew for nearly 30 years became a drug addict, hiding it so well that neither she nor anyone else in his life suspected what was happening. Eilene discovers that Peter led a secret life, one that started with pills and ended with opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine. He was also addicted to work; the last call Peter ever made was to dial in to a conference call.

Eilene is determined to learn all she can about Peter’s hidden life, and also about drug addiction among ambitious, high-achieving professionals like him. Through extensive research and interviews, she presents a picture of drug dependence today in that moneyed, upwardly mobile world. She also embarks on a journey to re-create her life in the wake of loss, both of the person - and the relationship - that profoundly defined the woman she had become.

©2020 Eilene Zimmerman (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“Poignant.... An engrossing narrative laden with elements of pathos and mystery.” (The Boston Globe)

“Journalist Eilene Zimmerman’s up-close-and-personal look at the cost of addiction is among the timeliest and most relevant books of the new year. Smacked is an unvarnished and wrenching exploration of opioid abuse in a wealthy, white-collar world that resonates across classes and cultures.” (Newsweek)  

"A searing and extraordinary memoir, Smacked peers into the life of the white collar addict, showing us how the enslavement to not just drugs, but wealth and success, in this country can ruin marriages and families. Zimmerman achieves not just gorgeous prose and a suspenseful and engrossing story, but also more compassion and insight than I have encountered for this subject. Smacked is unputdownable and addictive, in the best way possible." (Claire Bidwell Smith, author of The Rules of Inheritance)

Fantastic and captivating.

Between Eilene’s exceptionally clear and soothing voice, her story is astounding. Listening to how she remembers this tragic event, relives the signs from prior to the realization and her overall outcome is amazing. I couldn’t turn this book off. Thank you Eilene, for your story and the research. I’m better because of this book.

Knowledge is power

My first written review ever. I’m glad I saved it for this one. The end is about her research which is not something I usually listen to, but I am glad I did. The research done here is a glimpse into explaining the WHY so many people ask. It ties into her real life experience and I found it incredibly insightful into trying to comprehend something that has been ravaging some of my friends, your friends, our nation, our world.

Veers off course

I lost interest when the book veered from being a compelling memoir to a research paper, citing too many sources. They jarred me away from the heart of the story.

Too many stats-sounded like a research paper.

Title is misleading-its more about the family than the addict. Also they don’t find out he’s an addict til after husband died.
Then the book turns into a research paper about lawyers and their tendencies to become addicts. Boring👎

One of the best books I came across lately

Not only Eilene has a pleasant voice (some audio books I can’t, just because of the voice of the person reading it) but her book makes you want to listen to everything non stop. The detailed version of her life event and the eye opener information regarding addiction was a life changing for me.

Love this book!!

I heard about this on the podcast Family Secrets, and i had to listen!! So honest!

Enlightened!

I work in the legal world and as the discussion begins on how to address mental health in this field I found the information provided by Zimmerman to be relevant to me. Thank you for sharing this intimate view of you and your family.

Must read! Eye opening.

Zimmerman does an amazing job at sharing her story of life and the unthinkable. I had no idea what an epidemic exists among the brightest and most successful people. This can happen to anyone. We are all at risk some more than others.

it was okay

she got very into stats at the end of the book I knew the data so it did not interest me. she was very naive about drugs. just thank God one of her kids wasn't using.

Touching

worth the listen if you'd trying to understand why the least expected would turn to illegal use of drugs