Diary of an Oxygen Thief
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam , Netherlands |
| Products | Books |
Diary of an Oxygen Thief is a Dutch novel released in 2006, authored anonymously and independently published in Amsterdam by NLVI. It unexpectedly rose to prominence, being described by New York Magazine as a "surprise dark-horse Williamsburg best seller," largely due to its resonance within Brooklyn’s independent artistic and literary communities.
Summary
Framed as a personal memoir, Diary of an Oxygen Thief chronicles the life of an Irish advertising professional based in London who initially derives satisfaction from emotionally mistreating women. Upon joining Alcoholics Anonymous and attaining sobriety, he begins to regret his former behavior. After relocating to the United States, he faces the challenges of adapting to corporate environments and navigating social advancement while struggling with paranoia, addiction, and emotional distress. During his time in New York, he develops a romantic relationship with an emerging photographer. The book’s title symbolizes the narrator’s intense self-hatred, feeling undeserving even of the air he inhales.
Reception
Between its initial publication in 2006 and 2016, Diary of an Oxygen Thief maintained a position among the top 20 best-selling titles on platforms such as Amazon and iTunes. Its commercial achievements prompted Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint to reissue it in 2016, thereby increasing its visibility within mainstream literary circles.