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Dear William: A Father's Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLERFEATURED ON CBS MORNINGS WITH GAYLE KINGA BEST BOOK OF THE SOUTH (reckon)2022 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST — MEMOIR"Shot through with hope, purpose and an unflinching love, it's a story that must be read." —Newsweek"Essential, poignant, and insightful reading." —Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewAward-winning columnist and author David Magee addresses his poignant story to all those who will benefit from better understanding substance misuse so that his hard-earned wisdom can save others from the fate of his late son, William.The last time David Magee saw his son alive, William told him to write their family's story in the hopes of helping others. Days later, David found William dead from an accidental drug overdose.Now, in a memoir suggestive of Augusten Burroughs meets Glennon Doyle, award-winning columnist and author David Magee answers his son's wish with a compelling, heartbreaking, and impossible to put down book that speaks to every individual and family.With honesty and heart, Magee shares his family's intergenerational struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues, as well as his own reckoning with family secrets—confronting the dark truth about the adoptive parents who raised him and a decades-long search for identity. He wrestles with personal substance misuse that began at a young age and, as a father, he sees destructive patterns repeat and develop within his own children. While striving to find a truly authentic voice as a writer despite authoring nearly a dozen previous books, Magee ultimately understands that William had been right and their own family's history is the story he needs to tell.A poignant and uplifting message of hope translates unimaginable tragedy into an inspirational commitment to saving others, as David founded the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi. His mission to share solutions to self-medication and addiction, particularly as it touches America's high school and college students, emphasizes that William's story is about much more than a tragic addiction—it's an American story of a family broken by loss and remade with love.Dear William inspires readers to find purpose, build resilience, and break the cycles that damage too many individuals and the people who love them. It's a life-changing book revealing how voids can be filled, and peace—even profound, lasting happiness—is possible.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2021
47 people are currently reading
1536 people want to read
About the author
David Magee
19 books30 followersDavid Magee is the bestselling author of the award-winning Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss, a Publisher’s Weekly bestseller featured on CBS Mornings, and other books including his forthcoming memoir is A Little Crazy (September, 2024), a sequel to Dear William, about mental health and finding purpose and joy written in his inspirational and vulnerable voice.
He's also host of the new podcast (launching Sept. 10, 2024) A Little Crazy. Learn more at www.alittlecrazy.com.
David is a sought-after speaker in communities, business, schools and universities, about mental health and substance misuse challenges and solutions, and he was involved in creating the William Magee Center and the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi, named after his late son.
Previously, David was a daily newspaper publisher, a media company president, small business owner, a regular guest on CNBC, and once hosted a national cable TV and radio program (The David Magee Show).
He and his wife Kent, a yoga for addiction teacher, live in Oxford, Mississippi.
He's also host of the new podcast (launching Sept. 10, 2024) A Little Crazy. Learn more at www.alittlecrazy.com.
David is a sought-after speaker in communities, business, schools and universities, about mental health and substance misuse challenges and solutions, and he was involved in creating the William Magee Center and the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi, named after his late son.
Previously, David was a daily newspaper publisher, a media company president, small business owner, a regular guest on CNBC, and once hosted a national cable TV and radio program (The David Magee Show).
He and his wife Kent, a yoga for addiction teacher, live in Oxford, Mississippi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
November 15, 2021
While the author lost his son to addiction, the book mostly talks about the generational effects of the author’s own struggles with addiction and a troubled childhood. It is a cautionary tale.
Memoirs are tough to rate. After all, this is the author’s story to tell, and I wish him the best in his journey of recovery and healing. I won’t go into details, but while I applaud his bravery in telling his story, appreciate the message, and have the utmost sympathy for his unimaginable loss, I wasn’t as taken with it as I anticipated.
* I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
* Publication date Nov 2, 2021
Memoirs are tough to rate. After all, this is the author’s story to tell, and I wish him the best in his journey of recovery and healing. I won’t go into details, but while I applaud his bravery in telling his story, appreciate the message, and have the utmost sympathy for his unimaginable loss, I wasn’t as taken with it as I anticipated.
* I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
* Publication date Nov 2, 2021
December 6, 2021
Wow! I'm a real outlier on this one. I just felt like the title suggested the focus of the book was going to be on his son, William. Instead it was about the author, who I had a hard time liking or even garnering much sympathy for. I feel awful saying this about a memoir, which I never like to be critical of, but things in this one made me cringe.
September 27, 2021
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I picked up this book not long after my 32 year old son’s death due to end stage alcoholism. I also have experience in 12 step programs. This was a great tool for me to help deal with the pain from losing my son to alcoholism. I really enjoyed the pace and tone of the book and I felt it was very helpful.
For folks who have no connection to a 12 step program, it is great for learning about the family disease of alcoholism. It really gave me a new insight to my own 12 step program and is also great for folks in 12 step programs also!
I picked up this book not long after my 32 year old son’s death due to end stage alcoholism. I also have experience in 12 step programs. This was a great tool for me to help deal with the pain from losing my son to alcoholism. I really enjoyed the pace and tone of the book and I felt it was very helpful.
For folks who have no connection to a 12 step program, it is great for learning about the family disease of alcoholism. It really gave me a new insight to my own 12 step program and is also great for folks in 12 step programs also!
November 3, 2021
Love this story and this family!!
Great book on addiction,adoption,family, heart break,loss,college ,oxford MS,
Redemption and HOPE!
I highly recommend!!
Great book on addiction,adoption,family, heart break,loss,college ,oxford MS,
Redemption and HOPE!
I highly recommend!!
April 16, 2025
I’m so biased towards this book because of all the connections I had to the story. It mentions Alpine, McCallie, Lookout Mountain, my old youth pastor, and more. That being said, this is an amazing and hard story of loss and redemption. It’s beautiful to see hope in all that is broken. Gives me more compassion for getting to do ministry to college students.
October 31, 2024
This was well written but I felt it was more about the author's childhood than about his experience with his son William. It was interesting but not necessarily what I expected.
November 2, 2021
Let me do a…kind of disclaimer. I have met David Magee…he probably does not even remember it. We met at Ole Miss. My husband and David were in the same pledge class at Sigma Nu and I was a Sigma Nu Little Sister…back in the day….way back in the day. But, when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. Let me say, my 5 star rating has nothing to do with our previous interactions. This book is outstanding on so many levels!
David Magee has had his share of troubles growing up. He comes clean in this memoir about his mistakes, his own alcohol use, and his family dynamics. Life tends to throw us curve balls. How we react to these curve balls is what it is all about. It took David a while to come to terms with everything which occurred in his life. But, it has made him stronger and wiser. And this comes out strong in this memoir.
This is a book everyone should read. It will open eyes and possibly help others in this situation. This book is expressive and must have been cathartic to write. Nothing can ever ease the pain of losing a child and you can feel the author’s pain and guilt all through this memoir. But, you can also feel purpose. The purpose to help someone else through his loss.
What an outstanding man William was. He had such a bright future. But life turned on its axis. Hopefully this tragedy will help someone else in trouble. If you know anyone which needs help and guidance, please reach out: Magee Center at Ole Miss
Need a life changing story you will not soon forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
David Magee has had his share of troubles growing up. He comes clean in this memoir about his mistakes, his own alcohol use, and his family dynamics. Life tends to throw us curve balls. How we react to these curve balls is what it is all about. It took David a while to come to terms with everything which occurred in his life. But, it has made him stronger and wiser. And this comes out strong in this memoir.
This is a book everyone should read. It will open eyes and possibly help others in this situation. This book is expressive and must have been cathartic to write. Nothing can ever ease the pain of losing a child and you can feel the author’s pain and guilt all through this memoir. But, you can also feel purpose. The purpose to help someone else through his loss.
What an outstanding man William was. He had such a bright future. But life turned on its axis. Hopefully this tragedy will help someone else in trouble. If you know anyone which needs help and guidance, please reach out: Magee Center at Ole Miss
Need a life changing story you will not soon forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
October 20, 2024
I can’t recommend a book any more!!!!!!!!!
July 9, 2023
Cried on the plane. Enough said.
November 30, 2021
A raw, unflinching memoir from a successful family man whose two sons both suffer drug overdoses, one of them fatal, the other nearly so, while his daughter suffers an eating disorder and his marriage falls apart.
The author, a business writer who has written multiple biographies of famous CEOs and big businesses, draws a clear, self-incriminating line between his own drinking and prescription drug abuse and his sons' drug use, as well as between his own bad behavior (he cheats on his wife) and his marriage ending. His wife is described as a near-saint, and he doesn't fault her at all for ending their marriage.
Magee spends a large part of this autobiography looking back on his childhood, in which he is consumed by hatred of his adoptive father, a closeted gay man who likes to take photographs of his male students, and his long-suffering mother, who pretends not to see that her husband is gay and endures endless emotional abuse from her adopted daughter/ Magee's sister. I found his relationship with and lack of feelings toward his adopted family painful to read about; he made me wonder if all adopted children feel this emotionally disconnected from their adoptive families. His sister, in particular, is described as nearly demonic; he shows her no compassion, and he is obviously still deeply resentful that his mother left her entire secretly amassed fortune to his sister. (I mean, who wouldn't be resentful, but it just seems sad he is never able to have any humane connection with his sister, not even when she turns out to have been the victim of sexual abuse in her adolescence.)
The author, while hard on his adoptive family, is also hard on himself, recalling his hypocrisy as he waved his wine glass around while lecturing his kids on substance abuse. As someone who has lost a child to addiction, I admired his ability to draw this connection clearly; I know firsthand how difficult and painful it is to do that, Magee is eventually able to reach a place of forgiveness toward both his adoptive family and his biological mother, who repeatedly rejects and disappoints him, and most importantly toward himself.
Magee also recounts meetings with his biological mother, father, and siblings. He meets some siblings over his biological mother's objections -- and finds an incredible coincidental connection with his adoptive father, whose family was already part of his life before he knew they were biologically related, a connection he discovers through DNA testing. He describes getting his under-age biological sister alcohol, which nearly caused her to be arrested, and how his interactions with his other biological siblings also involved alcohol. His adoptive family were tee-totalers, which he seems to resent.
I was a bit disappointed the book focused so much on Magee's early years. The title "Dear William" suggests the book is going to focus more on his son's overdose, but the events that nearly killed his middle child and did kill his firstborn take up a fairly small portion of the book. The rest of the book was engaging, but I didn't always understand the author's reactions or emotions. Still, this is an important contribution to the addiction memoir genre, and I would recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest reveiw. (less)
The author, a business writer who has written multiple biographies of famous CEOs and big businesses, draws a clear, self-incriminating line between his own drinking and prescription drug abuse and his sons' drug use, as well as between his own bad behavior (he cheats on his wife) and his marriage ending. His wife is described as a near-saint, and he doesn't fault her at all for ending their marriage.
Magee spends a large part of this autobiography looking back on his childhood, in which he is consumed by hatred of his adoptive father, a closeted gay man who likes to take photographs of his male students, and his long-suffering mother, who pretends not to see that her husband is gay and endures endless emotional abuse from her adopted daughter/ Magee's sister. I found his relationship with and lack of feelings toward his adopted family painful to read about; he made me wonder if all adopted children feel this emotionally disconnected from their adoptive families. His sister, in particular, is described as nearly demonic; he shows her no compassion, and he is obviously still deeply resentful that his mother left her entire secretly amassed fortune to his sister. (I mean, who wouldn't be resentful, but it just seems sad he is never able to have any humane connection with his sister, not even when she turns out to have been the victim of sexual abuse in her adolescence.)
The author, while hard on his adoptive family, is also hard on himself, recalling his hypocrisy as he waved his wine glass around while lecturing his kids on substance abuse. As someone who has lost a child to addiction, I admired his ability to draw this connection clearly; I know firsthand how difficult and painful it is to do that, Magee is eventually able to reach a place of forgiveness toward both his adoptive family and his biological mother, who repeatedly rejects and disappoints him, and most importantly toward himself.
Magee also recounts meetings with his biological mother, father, and siblings. He meets some siblings over his biological mother's objections -- and finds an incredible coincidental connection with his adoptive father, whose family was already part of his life before he knew they were biologically related, a connection he discovers through DNA testing. He describes getting his under-age biological sister alcohol, which nearly caused her to be arrested, and how his interactions with his other biological siblings also involved alcohol. His adoptive family were tee-totalers, which he seems to resent.
I was a bit disappointed the book focused so much on Magee's early years. The title "Dear William" suggests the book is going to focus more on his son's overdose, but the events that nearly killed his middle child and did kill his firstborn take up a fairly small portion of the book. The rest of the book was engaging, but I didn't always understand the author's reactions or emotions. Still, this is an important contribution to the addiction memoir genre, and I would recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest reveiw. (less)
January 18, 2022
We all have had loved ones be effected by addiction. David Magee
unabashedly tells his raw story about his life, his wonderful family, and the dangers of drugs & alcohol. I couldn’t put this book down. Thanks for sharing your powerful story
unabashedly tells his raw story about his life, his wonderful family, and the dangers of drugs & alcohol. I couldn’t put this book down. Thanks for sharing your powerful story
February 23, 2022
The book is raw and hard to read, but a beautiful story of lives lived within Gods story….obviously….because we would never choose this story for ourselves. However, God puts all the pieces together in ways only God can.
January 22, 2023
This was a sobering story of drug and addiction in oxford. Beautifully written in a way that is so honest and real you feel as if it’s your own story. So good
October 23, 2021
I hate writing reviews of memoirs. This is someone’s life story, who am I to judge? Obvious from the title, this is a devastatingly heavy book. I thought this story would be about William but it’s actually mostly about the author, David, and his struggles with addiction and issues as an adopted child. He and his wife seem to have a very normal life, raising three kids in private schools. This book does a great job of highlighting that we never know what families are really struggling with behind closed doors. Addiction runs deep in this family and if you’re like me, you’ll be asking what more can this family take?? I didn’t feel a strong connection with David as the storyteller. I’m curious how this book would read from his wife Kent’s perspective. As a mom of to teens, I know I’m terrified of drugs and alcohol becoming an issue for my kids and their friends.
November 16, 2021
I thought this book was going to be similar to Beautiful Boy by David Sheff in which he chronicles his son’s addiction. However, more than writing about the pain and trauma of losing his child William to an overdose, the writer has painstakingly raked over the past and his own mistakes and flaws in unflinching detail, almost to make some kind of sense out of a tragedy. I was enraptured by his story and couldn’t put it down. The early dysfunction the author experienced growing up was worded with such honesty, I could feel myself nodding along, then shaking my head at parts, I really felt his story and found this book to be complex, intriguing and incredibly moving. 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.
November 14, 2021
Couldn’t put it down. Finished it in a day like everyone else. Gave it to my mother to read next. The most profound book I could have read right now at this point in my life. Reminded me of reading a David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs short but without all the laughs, mainly just heartbreak, loss, & yet ots of hope. Although I was in tears half of the time, the stories shared were absolutely fascinating and surprising. It touched me so much since the stories are all too familiar & so close to home. David‘s voice is so honest & raw, filled with such compassion & realness demonstrating immense breadth and sheer LOVE. *Oughta be made into a film IMO.
May 23, 2022
It is rare for me to finish a book in a day, but that is because David’s story is that captivating. He writes with honesty and vulnerability without sparing any of the hard details which is refreshing. It is heartbreaking to read, but there is healing and redemption. Very thankful for David further opening my eyes to the substance abuse problem that is rampant in America and especially on the college campus. His story grew a greater empathy within me for those struggling and I am thankful for the work he is doing at Ole Miss.
December 23, 2022
Not at all what I was expecting but I devoured this book! Something about reading about a place that felt so familiar but yet so distant from my experience was incredible. Somehow, I learn something new about Oxford every time I pick something up! Doesn’t hurt that one of my favorite people in the world, Beth Ann, was his editor… a must read for anyone who has, does, or will love Oxford or a college student
June 30, 2024
3.5 stars. I heard this author on a podcast I respect and checked out his book on Libby. It’s primarily a heartbreaking account of the generational impact of addiction and betrayal (the author was adopted as a baby) and clinging to hope in the messiness of life and broken relationships. It was hard to read his firsthand accounts of the brokenness he grew up in and the brokenness that continued throughout his own family ultimately culminating in the loss of his son to a drug overdose. I appreciated his honesty, lack of trumped-up drama or excuses and seeing his desire to use own his story, brokenness, and pain to help others.
December 9, 2021
Perfect Title
This book is perfectly titled. It covers each topic well. It's not an easy read, but it would make a difference for anyone who has experienced loss because of addiction. I also recommend this book to anyone who works with those who struggle with addiction.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is perfectly titled. It covers each topic well. It's not an easy read, but it would make a difference for anyone who has experienced loss because of addiction. I also recommend this book to anyone who works with those who struggle with addiction.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
September 12, 2021
A beautiful story of family and fatherhood.♥️
November 9, 2021
Highly recommend this memoir, it is not only about his son William it is so much more! I feel he is very open and honest about his struggles along with other family members as well. I could not put it down, listened to the audiobook read by author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 5, 2022
4.5 stars
September 19, 2022
So sad but so good😩
April 4, 2025
Sad but hopeful story. All time top 5
February 6, 2022
Couldn’t put it down. Will be in the running for my favorite book of 2022.
January 13, 2022
Both encouraging and heartbreaking. A unique story with issues that are all too common. Thank you, David for sharing so that others can be saved! God bless you.
January 20, 2022
This book was raw, powerful, emotional and yet hopeful. I’ll be thinking about it for a very long time.
November 3, 2021
159 // “My beautiful family of five: all breaking, one by one. I desperately want to help, but I, their father, am broken.”
DEAR WILLIAM is a vulnerable and moving memoir about addiction and substance abuse and its impact on this family who tragically lost their son to an accidental overdose. I picked this book up on the recommendation of both @anniebjones05 and @wacoreads expecting it to be a memoir on loss and grief and addiction. It is, but it’s also so much more than that! @davidmageewriter so generously shares with readers his search for identity, the complicated histories of both his adoptive and birth families, the brokenness of his own family, and his fight to make his family whole again. It’s both tender and compelling. I felt so honored to be invited into this family’s most intimate and difficult times, and I admire David’s desire to use their grief and heartbreak to help others. I had the privilege of talking to David about his book for an IGTV for @momsdonthavetimetogrieve and was moved to tears by our conversation. This is an incredible memoir — highly recommend!
DEAR WILLIAM is a vulnerable and moving memoir about addiction and substance abuse and its impact on this family who tragically lost their son to an accidental overdose. I picked this book up on the recommendation of both @anniebjones05 and @wacoreads expecting it to be a memoir on loss and grief and addiction. It is, but it’s also so much more than that! @davidmageewriter so generously shares with readers his search for identity, the complicated histories of both his adoptive and birth families, the brokenness of his own family, and his fight to make his family whole again. It’s both tender and compelling. I felt so honored to be invited into this family’s most intimate and difficult times, and I admire David’s desire to use their grief and heartbreak to help others. I had the privilege of talking to David about his book for an IGTV for @momsdonthavetimetogrieve and was moved to tears by our conversation. This is an incredible memoir — highly recommend!
January 13, 2022
You will simply not be able to put this book down. David writes an incredibly compelling story that will break your heart and draw you into every word. He writes with incredible honestly and vulnerability and leaves it all on the table. This story will make you cry and inspire you to do bigger things with your life. Everyone needs to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews