Books like Speed by William S. Burroughs

A nonfiction novel chronicling the adventures of a group of friends on their cross-country journey of discovery, featuring characters like Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty as real-life friends Neal Casady.

Irvine Welsh’s debut novel follows a tight-knit group of Edinburgh young men as they navigate drug addiction, friendship, and the harsh realities of everyday life.

The Soft Machine continues William S. Burroughs’ avant‑garde journey into surreal, dystopian landscapes, exploring themes of war, poverty, bureaucracy and addiction in a distinctive, chaotic style.

In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee navigates the American expatriate scene, chasing a gay admirer named Allerton amid the vibrant LGBTQ underground.

After a career as a top New York ad copywriter, Augusten Burroughs must confront his own alcoholism while navigating the challenges of sobriety and a troubled relationship in this candid memoir.

Gordie Jessup, a 16‑year‑old student, faces his family's turmoil when his older brother Chase falls into a two‑year addiction to crystal meth, leading to arrest and relentless debt. With the family’s future hanging in the balance, Gordie must decide whether to step in and risk everything to restore peace.

The Addict opens a window on the very private world of prescription drug addiction, revealing the harrowing and riveting story of a young woman whose life has been taken over by an impulse that she can't control and a need that she can't extinguish.Lucy's first appointment with Dr. Michael Stein was on a sunny day in April, and the minute she sat down she said, "I'm here for your program," beginning a series of intimate encounters during the course of a year that took her back to the origins of her addiction and unraveled a life driven by compulsion and the constant pursuit of the next pill. The Addict follows Lucy from the start of her treatment, through relapse, to her eventual long-term recovery, including her breakup with a destructive boyfriend whose own addiction to drugs surpassed hers. This is an unforgettable tale of a young woman living on the edge but determined to take control of her life.Here also is the deeply personal account of a doctor on the front lines of an epidemic. In this masterful work, Michael Stein brings in other patients whose experiences are like Lucy's but in many ways are completely different. Dr. Stein explains what doctors are thinking and feeling about addiction, and how they make difficult decisions with difficult patients. He also aims to change the way we think about addiction, arguing that it should be treated as we treat diabetes or high blood pressure — as a disease within the medical system.This affecting and thought-provoking book will resonate with anyone struggling with chemical dependence. In The Addict, Dr. Stein creates a portrait of the intimate bond between one patient and one doctor, a relationship that is profoundly moving and incredibly compelling.

The Outsider presents a penetrating portrait of a Black man’s struggle with societal alienation and internal conflict in Harlem, illuminating the corrosive effects of racism on identity and behavior.

Louisa May Alcott's early writings, based on diary entries from the ages of eleven and thirteen, offer insights into her thoughts, feelings, and early poetic efforts.