Cocaine’s Son: A Memoir

(Villard) A fur merchant, Itzkoff’s father struggled with drug addiction while raising two children in New York. Iztkoff shares the confusion, arguments, and twists and turns in their relationship. Itzkoff also describes his own drug use and loneliness in college. Eventually, father and son entered therapy and travelled together so Itzkoff could learn more about his father’s past. Ultimately, with Itzkoff’s marriage, the author seems to come to a new understanding of his father. Itzkoff is a culture reporter for The New York Times and lead contributor to its ArtsBeat blog.

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The February 2026 cover of PAW, featuring a photo of Joseph Nye.
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February 2026

Lives Lived & Lost in 2025, Saying ’yes’ to more housing; AI startup stars