Overview

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE ECONOMIST

By turns philosophical and darkly comic, an ex-smoker's meditation on the nature and consequences of his nearly lifelong addiction.


Written with the passion of an obsessive, Nicotine addresses a lifelong addiction, from the thrill of the first drag to the perennial last last cigarette. Reflecting on his experiences as a smoker from a young age, Gregor Hens investigates the irreversible effects of nicotine on thought and patterns of behavior. He extends the conversation with other smokers to meditations on Mark Twain and Italo Svevo, the nature of habit, and the validity of hypnosis. With comic insight and meticulous precision, Hens deconstructs every facet of dependency, offering a brilliant analysis of the psychopathology of addiction.

This is a book about the physical, emotional, and psychological power of nicotine as not only an addictive drug, but also a gateway to memory, a long trail of streetlights in the rearview mirror of a smoker's life. Cigarettes are sometimes a solace, sometimes a weakness, but always a witness and companion.

This is a meditation, an ode, and a eulogy, one that will be passed hand-to-hand between close friends.

ISBN-13

9781590517932

ISBN-10

1590517938

Weight

0.64 Pounds

Dimensions

5.40 x 0.80 x 7.80 In

List Price

$16.95

Format

Hardcover

Language

English

Pages

208 pages

Publisher

Other Press

Published On

2017-01-10



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Price
Used, Like New
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spellbound
★★★★★

McKeesport, PA, USA

LIKE NEW! ! ! Has a red or black remainder mark on bottom/exterior edge of pages.
$10.00

 Free delivery by: 30 Mar 2026

Used, Good
Seller details
BayStateBooks
★★★★☆

North Smithfield, RI, USA

The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact including the dust jacket if origina...
$11.16

 Free delivery by: 30 Mar 2026

Used, Very Good
Seller details
Big River Books
★★★★★

Powder Springs, GA, USA

This book is in Very Good condition. The cover and pages have minor shelf wear. Binding is tight and...
$11.72

 Free delivery by: 30 Mar 2026

Used, Good
Seller details
Bonita
★★★★☆

Santa Clarita, CA, USA

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
$34.00

 Free delivery by: 30 Mar 2026


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