Calling a Wolf a Wolf Summary
Kaveh Akbar

Calling a Wolf a Wolf Overview

Calling a Wolf a Wolf by Kaveh Akbar is a collection of poetry that addresses above all else the struggle between the individual and the thrall of their addictions. Throughout the loosely linear narrative of the book, the speaker of the poems transitions from the late stages of their battle with alcoholism into the early stages of recovery, offering their perspective on their shifting sense of self and the world around them as they progress on their journey. This book addresses several major themes, including hunger, the process of recovery, the conflict between the body and the mind, the failures and successes of language, and the struggle with faith.