Literature which derives from the Latin word 'litterae' is the art of written works and is not bound to published sources, although, in certain circumstances, the unpublished sources may be exempt. In other words, literature refers to writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, such as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. David Carr's memoir, The Night of the Gun, can be considered a part of literature because he uses his experiences and memories to portray important themes and messages about the effects of addiction. More importantly, Carr's memoir is a collection of random memories that express and form ideas that he uses to convey to the public the effects of drugs in his life. In my opinion, any literary work should convey meanings, themes and messages from which the audience can get an idea of ​​the author's intentions. It is not simply a book about a man suffering from an illness, but about the larger question of how memory is useful and not useful to all of us, drunk or not. It's about the stories we tell ourselves so we can continue to live with ourselves, rather than in spite of ourselves. And it's about how these stories are constructed and how the invented parts actually reveal more about our humanity, particularly when we finally recognize them as such. Students in English 110 should read The Night of the Gun as it not only provides valuable lessons, but also allows students to see past fiction and gain greater truth about memory, identity, and the meaning of addiction and recovery. The literary value of The Night of the Gun, lies not only in its lessons, but also derives from the author... half of the newspaper... life as a drug addict in the present had great relevance to Carr's memoirs. The timeline of events in both Carr's memoir and the forum shows students that while time has passed; the addiction only grew to a higher level. Students are educated to the point where they begin to understand that addiction is not a myth or a simple little problem. The realizations offered by the forum and the reality of Carr's memoirs show students that, just as addiction was widespread in the past, so it is in the present as more and more people begin to fall into this category. It has not only literary but also moral value. Carr's memoirs offered great insight into the life of an addict that I couldn't have gotten elsewhere. The basis of Carr's book provided contextual evidence that left readers thinking critically about what he was really trying to convey.