Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster

Written by Kristen Johnston

Narrated by Kristen Johnston

The New York Times bestseller—a harrowing and hysterical memoir by the two-time Emmy Award-winning actress from the hit television show 3rd Rock from the Sun.

“It felt like I was speeding on the Autobahn toward hell, trapped inside a DeLorean with no brakes. And even if I could somehow stop, I’d still be screwed, because there’s no way I’d ever be able to figure out how to open those insane, cocaine-designed doors.”

Actress Kristen Johnston has written her first book, a surprisingly raw and triumphant memoir that is outrageous, moving, sweet, tragic, and heartbreakingly honest. Guts is a true achievement—a memoir that manages to be as frank and revealing as Augusten Burroughs, yet as hilarious and witty as David Sedaris. Johnston takes us on a journey so truthful and relatable, so remarkably fresh, it promises to stay with you for a long, long time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Mar 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781442353060

Kristen Johnston

Kristen Johnston is an actress, a teacher, and now a celebrated writer. She is one of the founding executive directors of SLAM, and she splits her time between New York City and Los Angeles.

Reviews for Guts

[Vicki Rekedal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Listening to Kristen read her own work made this book great. She is witty and rawly transparent. Helpful to the listener.

[Jen Kallbrier Sheldon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this audiobook! It made it so much better to hear it from Kristen rather than reading it myself. I laughed, cried and felt so much compassion for her as I listened. She is so brave to expose all of her secrets. I really feel that this book will help so many struggling addicts. I have always thought she was super hilarious and I loved third rock from the sun but learning how tortured and awkward she felt growing up made her so much more personable to me and I respect her so much for sharing. I definitely recommend this book to everyone because as she said in the book everyone is addicted to something, like it or not. Thank you Kristen. (((Hugs)))

[bibleblaster · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this immensely. Johnston keeps a sort of breakneck pace through the depths of addiction and the slower, stumbling walk into the light of day...and retains an irreverent yet profound sense of humor about it all.

[Sharon Graci · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

She is hilarious. Had me smiling multiple times with her viewpoint. Thank you for writing!

[Star Gater · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Raw. Explains her disappearance. Fast listen/read.

She does not limit the profanity.

[theresa murphy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love this book. caught me off guard. Truth be told, is told here.




I love when books make us feel human.
anyone that needs a pick me up please read

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book because I loved the actress on Third Rock from the Sun. I thought it would be a funny memoir about acting, being beautiful, achieving success again and again. Instead, it's about Johnston overcoming her addiction. I guess I'm naive, but I didn't even know she had an addiction! She glosses over her childhood and even her beginning acting success, which originally bugged me, because that's what I wanted to read about. The book instead centers around her stomach actually ripping open and releasing acid into her body due to ingesting so much wine and medication. The majority of the book focuses on her period of recuperating in a London hospital, and finally getting sober after the fact. Pretty funny at times, kind of depressing and sad, but she has a fresh, honest way of approaching addiction that redeems it all.

[Alyssa LaHood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Raw, real and very moving. A must read or listen!

[sriddell_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Kristen Johnston and I loved this book. And hearing her narrate her story on the audio version was magic!

She's hilarious, even while describing the worst moments of her life. She was an addict, and hit rock bottom really hard. This book is that story along with the start of her recovery from addiction.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

SUBTITLE: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant DisasterJohnston skyrocketed to fame with her role on the popular 3rd Rock From the Sun sitcom as “Sally” the alien who lost the best and had to come to earth as a woman. What few people knew, however, was that she was an alcoholic and a drug addict (painkillers). While her career ambition and focus had always been live theater, this detour to fame and tabloid scrutiny exacerbated her feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. The result was a major medical disaster that nearly killed her. I applaud her honesty and her bravery in laying it all out there, but I’m not a great fan of her delivery. Really, does she need to constantly use such foul language? This was really not my cup of tea. It was a fast read, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it to anyone.Full disclosure: I knew her father quite well. He was my state representative, and I worked on his campaigns back in the day. He had a wonderful photo of his children that always put a smile on my face. This is back in the ‘80s and I remember how proud he was of Kristen when she got the part of Smitty in her high school production of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. I joined a group of campaign staffers to watch her perform in that show. I could not help but think of Rod as I read her memoir.

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had no idea what to expect, but it wasn't this honest, insightful & well written book on Kristen Johnson's addiction and recovery....It had little to do with her fame & stardom and there was only the slightest mention of 3rd Rock....I did not find her descriptive narrative loathsome, boring, or pitiful... There was no "poor me", although she did describe the "poor me" attitude she held while recuperating in a London Hospital w/ ruptured ulcers/stomach, & intestines....As I stated, I liked the writing: clear and intelligent, not emotionalYea for Kristen Johnson ♥

[sheriawilkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster by Kristen JohnstonA riveting memoir by Kristen Johnston on how she over came addiction . Told with quick-wit, humor and raw honesty, I was pulled in from the first page. At times I could relate to what she was saying, (as) part of what happened to her, has happened to me. I was always a fan of Ms. Johnston, and like her even more after (Reading) her soul baring, courageous story. A highly recommend to all.

[dysmonia · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This memoir of Kristen Johnston's (best known as Sally from 3rd Rock from the Sun) addiction to alcohol and hydrocodone reminded me of Portia de Rossi's book about her struggles with eating disorders and over-exercising. They have the same quality writing, they're about the same length, they can be read in one sitting, and they're by Hollywood actresses who are B-list in terms of fame. Both books are honest, free of trash-talk, and both women take responsibility for their problems, which is refreshing.

Johnston is a little grating. Her writing comes across as her trying too hard to be funny. I don't know if she is that funny: her character on 3rd Rock certainly was, but that part was written by other people (which isn't to say she didn't execute it beautifully -- she is a talented person). But her book was interesting enough to entertain me for three or four hours, and that's really all I wanted out of it. I didn't even know it was an addiction memoir until after I picked it up from the library, I just knew it was autobiographical, and I admit I'm fan of "that alien show."

[ownedbycats · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book!!!!

[justablondemoment · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an okay book. I was expecting more on her drug abuse and it was more on her hospital stay for a stomach problem. The surgery she needed was however, a complication brought on by her drug abuse. She never really touched on the "bottom" as most of these types books do. The depression she suffered and the feelings of self-loathing was talked about but I never could quite grasp how her addiction effected her. The story read like a scattered mind that is randomly telling things. The surgery she went through was ACK not something I would ever want to endure though.

[chaptersandchats · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kristen Johnston has written a candidly open and honest book about her triumph over addiction. I was in awe as I read the events that compounded on her psyche until her only escape became drugs and alcohol. I knew Kristen had a story to tell but wasn't prepared for the emotion that jumped from the page in the laying bare of her life. I found myself wanting to be Kristen's protector, ass-kicker and biggest supporter at various times throughout the book.Within the pages of “GUTS” Kristen regales us with her now famous sharp tongued wit as she retells the story of coming-of-age as an “outsider” in school, to finding her outlet in comedic acting. She shares the torment and bullying that unfortunately has become a rite of passage in most of our educational institutions. When Kristen outlines the course of her addiction to drugs and alcohol, I, being someone who is at best addicted to coffee and a great pair of shoes, had absolutely no idea how quickly something that starts out as a social drink can become a puddle of quicksand that can drag you in over your head with nothing to hold onto. To say Kristen had a fall from grace would be crass. To have lived through what could have been the end of her life, and frankly our loss, and surface on the other side determined to break her addictions and claim back her life is nothing short of a triumph. She doesn’t candy coat the process or make it movie of the week pg rated. She tells it like it is making no apologies and owning up to her mistakes.Kristen has actually written this book. She hasn’t stood behind the shoulders of a ghost-writer watching them do all the work and taking the credit. She dug in her heals and pulled every detail from her GUTS good and bad. I have to say the woman has balls of steel and I applaud her for writing a book that anyone who addiction has touched needs to read.