Kirkland Hamill’s grandfather was very rich. His mother and father raised him and his brothers in grand fashion until Grandpa's death exposed major cracks in the family fortune. When his dad left his mom, she took Kirkland and his brothers to Bermuda where they attended a prestigious school, but never knew how they were going to pay for groceries.  In his first book, Filthy Beasts, Kirkland tells the story of a youth spent in flux between affluence and the alcoholism that came with the country clubs and yachts of his early childhood, and the deprivation and calamity of the years beyond that. The book is sad but immensely engaging and full of stories that will leave you gobsmacked. For example, because life in his mother’s home was chaotic, he decided he’d attend boarding school at Andover (as one does when they can’t afford milk) and then attend college at Tulane. The whole story makes you wonder what the point of money or status or social standing is if when one can’t — or chooses not to — provide a stable, loving home for their children. It also makes you think, “maybe I should be a bit more empathetic to others" because I have no idea what someone is dealing or has dealt with in their lives.  The good news is that, through Al-Anon and self-determination, Kirkland found himself, his calling, and a stable-adulthood. He currently resides in Baltimore with his husband, Dave, and a dog named Blue. His writing has appeared in Salon,The Advocate, and will likely be appearing in a whole bunch of other places based on the quality and success of this inaugural effort.  Find out more about Kirkland and order the book on his https://kirklandhamill.com/ Take a moment to rate and review Crazy Money here. Read Paul’s latest on Medium. Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/

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Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano.

Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values.

Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’ve found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.