Hand to Mouth

Hand to Mouth: A Chronicle of Early Failure is a candid memoir by Paul Auster, detailing his early life as a struggling writer.

The book explores themes of poverty, artistic failure, and the challenges of pursuing a literary career.

It includes personal anecdotes from his time working various jobs, including stints in the Merchant Marine and as a freelance writer, as well as his attempts at creating commercial ventures like a baseball card game.