In this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection Augusten Burroughs recounts Christmases past and present--as only he could. With gimleteyed wit and illuminated prose, he shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best.

The author of "Running with Scissors" delves into new territory with his most personal and unexpected memoir yet. "A Wolf at the Table" is the story of Burroughs' relationship with his father, his stunning psychological cruelty, and the redemptive power of hope.

Here's a partial list of things I don't believe in: God. The Devil. Heaven. Hell. Bigfoot. Ancient Aliens. Past lives. Vampires. Zombies. Homeopathy. Bigfoot. Canola oil, because there's no such thing as a canola. Note that 'witches' and 'witchcraft' are absent from this list. When really they should be right there at the top. The thing is, I wouldn't believe in them, and I would privately ridicule any idiot who did, except for one thing: I am a witch.'...

You may not know it, but you've met Augusten Burroughs. You may have seen him on the street, in bars, on the subway, at restaurants: a twenty something guy, nice suit, works in advertising. Regular. Ordinary. But when the ordinary person had two drinks, Augusten was circling the drain by having twelve when the ordinary person went home at midnight, Augusten never went home at all. Loud, distracting ties, automated wake-up calls and cologne on the...

Life after rehab, from the author of "Running With Scissors."

304 PAGES. $16.00. 2001058857. TRUE STORY OF A BOY WHOSE MOTHER GAVE HIM AWAY AT THE AGE OF TWELVETO BE RAISED BY HER UNORTHODOX PSYCHIATRIST. DN.

After seeing a less-than-conventional psychiatrist for her problems at home who gives her too many prescriptions and bad advice, a mother ends her marriage and sends her young son to live with the doctor and his odd family.