Pain Killers | Jerry Stahl | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Jerry Stahl discusses his new novel, Painkillers, and shares anecdotes from his career as a writer for film and TV.

Transcript

hello everybody welcome to Google authors program event with Jerry Stahl Jerry's going to talk to us about his new novel painkillers he's the author of the narcotic memoir classic permanent midnight which some of you may remember was made into a movie with Ben Stiller and he's also written three other novels in a collection of stories he lives in L... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎥 Jerry Stahl started his career as a failed drug addict but found success as an author and writer for film and TV.
• 😷 Stahl's novel, Painkillers, is inspired by the history of medical experimentation during the Holocaust.
• 🛄 Stahl aims to make difficult subjects accessible to readers through storytelling.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Jerry Stahl's career as a writer begin?

Stahl initially worked as a failed drug addict before writing a book that was turned into a movie, leading to opportunities in Hollywood and TV.

Q: What is the inspiration behind Stahl's novel, Painkillers?

Stahl was inspired by the history of medical experimentation during the Holocaust and the connections to present-day events.

Q: How does Stahl approach writing about controversial topics?

Stahl aims to make his characters relatable and focuses on making difficult subjects accessible through storytelling.

Q: What is the significance of the title, Painkillers?

The title refers to the theme of addiction, both in terms of drugs and the pain caused by past trauma.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jerry Stahl introduces himself and talks about his journey as a writer and author.

• He reads a few passages from his novel, Painkillers, including a scene involving an ex-wife and a born-again hooker.

• Stahl discusses the inspiration behind his book, including the history of medical experimentation during the Holocaust and links to present-day events.