Preview
  • The Bitter Taste of Dying

  • A Memoir
  • By: Jason Smith
  • Narrated by: Paul Costanzo
  • Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (779 ratings)

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The Bitter Taste of Dying

By: Jason Smith
Narrated by: Paul Costanzo
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Publisher's summary

In his first book, author Jason Smith explores the depravity and desperation required to maintain an opiate addiction so fierce, he finds himself jumping continents to avoid jail time and learns the hard way that some demons cannot be outrun. While teaching in Europe, he meets a prostitute who secures drugs for him at the dangerous price of helping out the Russian Mafia; in China he gets his Percocet and Xanax fixes but terrifies a crowd of children and parents at his job in the process; and in Mexico Smith thought a Tijuana jail cell would be the perfect place to kick his Fentanyl habit but soon realizes that the power of addiction is stronger than his desire to escape it.

The Bitter Taste of Dying paints a portrait of the modern-day drug addict with clarity and refreshing honesty. With a gritty mixture of self-deprecation and lighthearted confessional, Smith's memoir deftly describes the journey into the harrowing depths of addiction and demonstrates the experience of finally being released from it.

©2015 Jason Smith (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about The Bitter Taste of Dying

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Best book about recovery I've read!

This is an awesome account of one addict's journey to recovery and life after becoming sober. There is a lot of truth and hope in this book!

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Good Book

This book is a lot of peoples stories. This book may change a person's life. Look there are others out there that understand. Good material.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Not a world I know up close, nor would want to

An invitation to listen to someone's personal hell story is an ask, especially if it's a tale that's difficult to relate to (thankfully). But Smith's self-deprecating humour wins the day - it's both impactful and approachable.

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Non addict enlightened

I have several addicts in my family. I felt like this was enlightening as far as how it can happen and it’s effects on the addict longer term.

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A great story for anyone who is or knows an addictions

Great insight into the the struggles of addiction and the hope of recovery. One of the better addiction memoirs I’ve read.

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Loved it!

Finished it in a day!!! The narrator made this story come to life!!! Couldn’t put it down! Buy this book ASAP

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Great book

Super story about his experience! Tragic, sad, inspirational and funny! I really loved this story.

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Great story of pit of addiction and the way out.

Good and too-familiar tale of middle class addiction and how good people find their way to the bottom...sometimes repeatedly. His sharing of the "me today", "me future", "me yesterday" cracked me up..and is SO true.

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Raw and good overall

Warning - crude language. However despite the language this story is captivating. Jason takes you through his life as an active addict and everything the man put himself through since he was 17 and first got hooked. This story is sad and raw. And it's sad that so many people in our world today face the same or similar stories. He is one of the lucky ones to have survived his heavy addiction to tell us how it is on the other side.

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Excellent!

I’ve read a lot of quit lit and this was definitely one of the best. Succinct and to the point. Recommend for anyone struggling with addiction.

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