James Frey

James Frey is an American writer and businessman, born on September 12, 1969, in Cleveland, Ohio. He is best known for his controversial bestselling books, particularly A Million Little Pieces (2003) and its sequel, My Friend Leonard (2005), which were marketed as memoirs detailing his experiences with addiction and recovery. However, significant portions of these narratives were later revealed to be exaggerated or fabricated, leading to a major public controversy and discussions about the authenticity of memoirs.124

Early Life and Education

Frey graduated from Denison University in 1992 with a degree in history. After college, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a screenwriter and wrote several films, including Kissing a Fool (1998).23

Career Highlights

• Memoirs: His debut book, A Million Little Pieces, initially received acclaim and was selected for Oprah Winfrey's book club, which greatly boosted its sales. However, after investigations questioned the truthfulness of his accounts, Frey faced backlash and admitted to fabricating parts of the story during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2006.34
• Subsequent Works: Following the scandal, Frey continued to write and publish novels such as Bright Shiny Morning (2008) and The Final Testament of the Holy Bible (2011). He also founded Full Fathom Five, a transmedia production company that has produced various young adult series.15
• Esports: In addition to his writing career, Frey is the CEO of NYXL, an esports organization based in New York.1

Personal Life

Frey's works often reflect his personal struggles and ambitions. He has expressed a desire to be remembered as one of the great writers of his time. Despite the controversies surrounding his work, he maintains that the emotional truths in his narratives resonate with readers.45

James Frey's LinkedIn username is jamesfreyse, indicating his professional presence on that platform.