Structure

The book is separated into an introduction, 25 chapters, and an epilogue. The book’s structure is almost completely linear, with the introduction being the main exception. The introduction begins in the middle of the main narrative, with an episode from one of Nic’s earlier relapses. David then writes in general about the specific nature of his emotional struggles regarding Nic’s addiction. Chapter 1 then begins with Nic’s birth and progresses linearly from there. The book covers Nic’s childhood, teenage years, and his struggles with addiction, which most strongly affected his life in his late teens and early twenties. At the time that the book was finished, Nic had been sober for three years, and David, Karen, Jasper, and Daisy had benefitted from therapy. However, this relative sense of closure is tempered by the ever-present possibility of a relapse.

The book’s structure also serves...